Upon my first visit to the Bruno Farms Custom Feeds operation in Ghent, NY, it didn’t take long for the realization to dawn that this was a science project gone full bloom. As it turns out, creating solid nutritional support for animals is also a bit of an art.

But she’s definitely not just sitting back, and those ‘few’ animals have led to a host of things happening with them at the family’s Clover Brooke Farm near Hyde Park, NY. 

“Floral & Field was created to support farmers and florists, particularly along the East Coast, who want to better understand the standards, systems, and relationships involved in selling and sourcing wholesale flowers,” says Alisa Bolduc, founder of Floral & Field, a farmer and wholesale consulting business.

We caught up with Berkshire Agricultural Ventures to find out more about their mission and offerings for food producers across the region. Read on to learn all about what makes BAV such a crucial support for the community’s farmers and the local food system as a whole.

Although Ben Shute didn’t grow up on a farm, he’s been immersed in the profession for his entire career. He first began working for other farmers while he was in college, and many of the farms that he apprenticed at were farms that functioned via community supported agriculture (CSA), which is a direct marketing model in which a community of consumers supports a farm via a weekly share of the farm’s harvest. 

If you’re an apple lover like me, then you know that there are few things better in this world than a nice, fresh hard cider. Autumn has always been my favorite season for many reasons – and apple picking is certainly one of them! We are lucky to live in a region that is bountiful with apple orchards and farms. Many of these farms also have on-site cideries where they use their estate-grown apples to ferment ciders, wines, and other delicious beverages. Next time you find yourself planning an apple-picking excursion, don’t miss out on stopping into the cideries at one of the orchards that I’ve rounded up below. 

Hudson Valley Jane, a cannabis farm and micro-dispensary, is dedicated to bringing farm-to-main street cannabis to Hudson Valley communities. The farm itself is located off of Route 82 in Ancram, NY, and the Hudson Valley Jane dispensary will open its doors on Main Street in Beacon, NY, on June 7. 

Increasingly, more farmers and agriculturalists are turning to social media platforms to build connections with their consumers, share their experiences and stories, and even to educate people about where their food is coming from and how it’s grown. Social media has provided an opportunity for farmers to market their products and services and also bridge the gap between rural communities and urban consumers. 

Sky High Farm is not your average Upstate New York farm. A registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, since its inception, Sky High Farm has donated 100% of the vegetables and protein grown and raised on the farm to food access partners throughout New York state. 

It cannot possibly come as a deep, dark secret that the Hudson Valley is steeped in farming history, ranging from the days of Native Americans on up to today. If your intention is to farm in a productive fashion, common sense would tell you that it is advantageous to find yourself some good soil in which to grow your product – if you’re standing in the Hudson Valley, you’ve come to the right place. 

If you’re taking a drive through the countryside and you find yourself on Route 83 in Amenia, NY, chances are you’ll come across Elk Ravine Farm. The farm – owned by Jim Archer and named for the Rocky Mountain Elk that it initially housed – sits on 90 sprawling acres that encompass multiple different habitats, including wetlands, marshes, meadows, and forests. 

What is energy-efficient construction, exactly? The term refers to designing and building structures that minimize energy consumption by incorporating features such as high-quality insulation, efficient windows, optimized building orientation, advanced heating and cooling systems, and renewable energy sources. Incorporating these features allows for a comfortable living space, while also reducing environmental impact and lowering utility bills.