Introducing the five new farms participating in the Food Sovereignty Fund this year:
Ayni Herb Farm is a Queer, Trans, and BIPOC-centered herb farm, growing plant medicine guided by lunar rhythms on Haudenosaunee and Mohican lands in Hillsdale, NY. Farmers khadija and Amara grow herbs that sustain ecological abundance and offer educational programming that nourishes collective liberation. One of the core values of the farm is ayni, a Kichwa word that translates to reciprocity. This value shapes the farm's relationship to the land and community. Amara and khadija practice reciprocity by growing healing and culturally important herbs for local food access programs that serve poor, immigrant, Black, Indigenous, PoC, and LGBTQ+ communities in the Hudson Valley and NYC. They offer a free and low-cost fresh herb CSA program, Pick-Your-Own options, and herbal medicine using herbs that tend to some of the most pressing needs in our community. Through the Food Sovereignty Fund, Ayni is delivering culturally significant herbs to Nort East Community Center in Millerton.
Common Ground Farm is located on 6.5 acres of historic farmland leased from the Stony Kill Foundation in Wappingers Falls, NY. Every year, they grow a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers that are distributed to a multitude of destinations within 30 miles of the farm, including 9 different food pantries, distribution sites, and community meal programs, as well as the Beacon Farmers' Market. Common Ground produce is also used in educational programs, including Preschool on the Farm, Farm Camp, in-school lessons, and field trips. During the summer, Common Ground also offers a U-Pick CSA where members come to the farm to pick their own fresh vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Through the Food Sovereignty Fund, Common Ground Farm distributes vegetables to Fareground in Beacon.
Truman Farms is a Certified Organic farm nestled in serene Dutchess County. Spanning 65 acres, the farm embraces a commitment to sustainable farming rooted in faith. Under the leadership of John Morgan and Christian permaculturalist Chelo Hernandez, and with the help of team members Mirna Arteaga and Jonathan Caceres, the farm cultivates 2.5 acres using regenerative organic farming methods. The entire crew brings their passion for nature and sustainable agriculture to every harvest, ensuring each crop is grown with love and care. Truman Farms promotes biodiversity and embraces permaculture techniques, integrated pest management, and chemical-free practices to produce nutrient-rich organic food. Through the 2024 Food Sovereignty Fund, they are distributing produce to Dutchess Outreach in Poughkeepsie.
Sovereign Herbs is a Black Caribbean female-owned and run farm. Farmer Kat Lopez grows culturally relevant herbs that serve predominantly Black and Latinx neighbors at the Kingston Farmers Market, Multicultural BRIDGE, Columbia County Sanctuary Movement, Dutchess Outreach, and The Broadway Bubble. Sovereign Herbs' mission is to help build solidarity and mutual aid networks in Kingston and the surrounding community by encouraging customers to donate and by supporting food access to local, fresh, ancestral herbs for all our neighbors. Some of the herbs Kat distributes free of charge include but are not limited to cilantro, thyme, papalo, culantro, huacatay, and epazote. The Food Sovereignty Fund is supporting Sovereign Herbs' relationship with Dutchess Outreach this season.
Green Owl Farm is a Certified Naturally Grown, sustainable, small-scale Hudson Valley farm, growing and selling specialty long-season crops such as garlic, turmeric, ginger, saffron, rainbow fingerling potatoes, luffa gourds, and bottle gourds. Farmer Suzanne Kelly direct sells and wholesales these crops and value-added products at the Rhinebeck Farmer’s Market and throughout the Hudson Valley. The farm also grows over 50 types of vegetables for its 20 Week CSA. Green Owl's commitment to the land drives their growing practices --- sowing, cultivating, and harvesting with their feet on the ground and improving their soil’s vitality through crop rotation, green manure cover cropping, compost, and the use of only certified organic fertilizers. Suzanne works the farm beds without a tractor and with minimal tillage from hand tools, creating healthier soil and more nutrient-dense plants. This season, the Food Sovereignty Fund is contracting Green Owl Farm to distribute mixed vegetables to the Jayne Brooks Memorial Food Pantry in Rhinebeck, NY.
Welcome to these five new farms – we’re so glad to have them on board.
