Sustainable Living
By Shawn Dell Joyce
Some farms grow more than just fresh food, some grow the future of the foodshed in our region and Phillies Bridge Farm is one. It’s a farm, run by a nonprofit corporation with the mission of educating people about the importance of sustainable agriculture, and training new farmers in organic and biodynamic practices. It the kind of farm you can bring your kids to and have them directly experience what it means to grow food, and be connected with the earth and it’s seasons.
Phillies Bridge Farm is located in Gardiner, about five miles from New Paltz and sits on 65 acres of local history. The farm is the ancestral home of the Ottaway family that built the newspaper empire that once owned the Times Herald Record and Wall Street Journal. The farm is a wildlife sanctuary, and one of the few places that is habitat for the rare Bog Turtle.
The farm started in 1995 as a C.S.A. (Community Supported Agriculture) meaning you pay for a portion of the harvest up front, and pick up a weekly share of whatever comes out of the fields. Its one of the largest and most successful C.S.A. projects in our region, and has expanded over the years to serve many other communities including Rosendale, Kingston, and many foodbanks.
My studio was once the drop off for Orange County shareholders, and I have had a long and fruitful relationship with this farm. The nonprofit Wallkill River School worked with Phillies Bridge more than six years ago to start a benefit art auction. Many of us artists have painted on the farm through the years, and offer our artworks at auction. This year the auction is Sat. Sept. 25 at 1pm.
In addition to growing fresh, organic vegetables, selling directly to the public and donating to local food banks, the farm also has extensive children’s programs. I’ve been on the farm when busloads of inner-city school children have arrived and experienced a farm for the first time. One child was astonished that green beans grew on a bush, having never experienced anything that wasn’t canned. The farm welcomes children through the school system as well as at the “Farm Camp” in the summer.
My son was lucky enough to go to farm camp several times and came home singing songs like; “Dirt, you made my lunch! Thank you dirt! Thanks a bunch!” As a mom who’s had to listen to a thousand advertising jingles, that was music to my ears! Where else will our children learn how important top soil is to our health and the planet?
I will never forget the experience of picking cherry tomatoes with my son one bright summer day on the farm. The tomatoes were golden and orange, a special heirloom variety, and were barely warm in the sun. We would pop one in our mouths as we picked and the juicy globes would explode tasting like pure sunshine. My son relished fresh tomatoes, and would eat many things on the farm that he scorns today.
Farms like Phillies Bridge make a huge difference in our community, connecting people with no access, to the land that sustains us. Bringing eaters in direct contact with the people who grow their food, putting a human face on the local food system. Please join me in supporting this farm by becoming a member, and attending the annual art auction. Get more info at www.pbfp.org
Linguini Gremolata-Courtesy of Phillies Bridge Farm (reprinted from Orange County Bounty local foods cookbook available through Wallkill River School)
½ pound zucchini (about one large, or two small squash)
1 ½ c. cherry tomatoes
3 cloves of garlic (pressed or finely chopped)
2 tsp. lemon zest
2 T. parsley
3T olive oil
1 ½ tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
½ lb linguine
2 T pine nuts
Fresh basil leaves
Grated parmesan
To make the gremolata (a sauce to coat the pasta); combine the garlic, lemon zest, and parsley; set aside. Cook pasta per directions. In a saute’ pan, heat olive oil and sauté squash with garlic, salt and pepper. Add ½ c. boiling pasta water to the squash with cherry tomatoes. Cook for a few minutes, then toss with gremolata. Spoon onto plates, and grate a bit of parmesan and a few sliced basil leaves and pine nuts.
