Fit to Print Volume 23 Issue 4 December 2014 | Page 29

My wife and I started natural Earth Farms in 2008. After years of looking for land to start farming organically, we stumbled upon an overgrown 10 acre field when while passing by an antique sale in an old 1850s post and beam barn that was 2 miles away from our home. We took a small loan out as soon as the owner agreed upon renting it to us and we got to work. The farm had lain fallow for 7 years, which was perfect for our venture. Now it has been six years farming the land, and things could not be better. composting, adding trace minerals, and using cover crops to avoid soil erosion. Rotating crops helps control the depletion of nutrients and controls pest build up. Sometimes we have a picture perfect quality and sometimes, our produce is slightly imperfect, which is part of growing without the use of chemicals. Every seedling coming out of our greenhouse and transplanted in our fields was started by us early in the season and hand planted by us and our crew of volunteers. Most of our weed control is by hand or tractor mounted cultivation tools. We handpick all of our produce on the day it goes out. We love our job and we are very hands on in the entire process. Operating an organic produce farm. Many families these days are eating organic food. For some it is just a fad, but for others it is a way of life. There are many reasons why farming practices have evolved from natural method to the conventional techniques of today. Production, consistent quality, and pest control… the list can go on. To understand it well, here is a bit of an inside view... The first and foremost component in organic growing is our soil. We spend countless time and money improving our soil, building organic matter, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Our CSA Program is the heartbeat of our farm. Starting in January each year, we start offering shares of our produce for the upcoming growing season. A certain number of shares are sold based on what we can produce. This helps us with working capital to start up the farm. In return the members are receiving a discounted rate opposed to the high cost of store bought produce, not to mention how fresh it is. Starting in mid-June and ending in mid-November, EatSmart continued from page 10 members will receive a box Natural Earth Farms of produce each week to be picked up at one of our pickup locations. We guarantee 6 to 9 items per week. You can enjoy a large variety of organic vegetables that will change with the seasons. However, as exciting as this may sound, it is not for everyone. If you like to try new veggies and enjoy preparing and cooking them, you are a good candidate. If you only like certain vegetables, you may find our online market or our farm stand would be a better fit for you. You can read more about our farm, practices, and services we offer on our website, www.naturalearthfarmsny.com or like our facebook page. REWARDS It’s all about choices! Smart choices, that is! Attend a Workshop and learn about the diet that’s right for you! Diet #1- No Guesswork Diet For the person who wants to lose weight and be told exactly what to eat and when. Thursday, January 1st or Saturday, January 3rd 9:00 - 10am; Tuesday, January 6th 6:00 - 7:00pm Diet #2- Clean Eating Diet Not necessarily about weight loss but for the person who wants to eat clean. Days & Times: Thursday, January 1st or Saturday, January 3rd 10:00 - 11:00am; Tuesday, January 6th 7:00 - 8:00pm Cost: $80 for either workshop. Attend both Workshops and save 50% on the second Workshop! Eat Smart Diet and Nu tritional Counseling Services with Rachel Ezelius, Registered Dietitian [email protected] • 631-942-7841 Holidays 2014 FIT to Print 29