Produce Pick-Up at Cropsey Community Farm a Huge Success

On April 15th, Debbie Anderson of Tomkins Cove knew nothing of where her husband was taking her for her birthday. Her husband Eddie, however, had a plan; painstakingly researched. Eddie mapped out his route, knew he had the perfect gift and they were off and running.

First, the two who have been together since Debbie was 13 and Eddie was 15, enjoyed a little breakfast. Then a ride to South Little Tor Road where Eddie purchased a share of the farm for his wife who always wanted a big garden and one day hopes to retire on a farm.

“Eddie knew that I love introducing new foods at my daycare center and he surprised me with this wonderful gift," said Debbie "But the funny thing is he got very into it and is now building me raised beds in our yard and making me a wonderful garden.”

Along with the Andersons, over 190 members picked up their first bounty - head lettuce, pre-washed and packaged baby mesclun mix, swiss chard, radishes, kale, cabbage and escarole at the

“This week is the culmination of years of work on the part of many people dedicated to the cause of increasing local food production in Rockland County,” stated Naomi Camilleri, Executive Director of the (RFA). “We are so proud of what our community has achieved, creating not only a new small-scale sustainable community farm, but also building an awareness of the importance of preserving our rich farming history while creating a culture that brings community together. Together we are proving that small farms will be a reality in Rockland County again.”

Mary Ellen Burrell, who along with her husband Mark and daughters Corianne and Katie, are farm members also picked up her produce.

“I love having the farm literally in my own backyard, but it’s not only about organic vegetables but about sustainability and community togetherness,” said Burrell.

Pick-Up Week Happens

The pick-up days were held in Jim and Pat Cropsey’s old red barn and the members enjoyed music; viewings of baby Barn Swallows; meeting community friends and munching on free delicious snap peas. They had the opportunity to purchase breads from Balthazar Bakery in Englewood http://balthazarbakery.com, cheeses like  European cheddar, rosemary/garlic, herb and southwest chipotle from Lynn Haven in Pine Bush http://www.lynnhavennubians.com, items from Sprout Creek Farm http://www.sproutcreekfarm.org, apples from Concklin Orchard, jams from Jam Man in New City and maple syrup from The Broekema Family of Kerhonkson, NY.

“This is a great harvest and I am happy to see additional items like cheese and bread here at Cropsey,” said Greg Askildsen, Cropsey Farm Manager, “people want to know their grower, and this is a wave going on across the country.”

Tamika Adjemin, Community Coordinator for the farm, was very busy dodging downpours, along with Arielle Bareket, assistant farmer and Jon Rucker, farm apprentice. They along with several volunteers and teenage interns, had been working day and night to insure that the pick-up days were smooth and flawless.

“This farm has brought a longing and awareness to our community, a grass-roots movement to re-establish fresh, local, healthy food from a farm right in our neighborhood," expressed Adjemin. "This first CSA pick-up week has been a deeply inspiring experience for us all.” 

Historic Time Line

The Cropseys, who still live on the property where Cropsey Farm is located, sold their acreage to the Town of Clarkstown in 2006 through the County’s Open Space Program. The Alliance, under a licensing agreement with Rockland County and the town, launched Cropsey Farm on five of the 25 acres.

In addition to the organic vegetables there will be an education/demonstration component to the farm. There are also plans to dedicate a small portion of acreage to growing specialty crops for schools.

Cropsey is under the umbrella of the Rockland Farm Alliance. In 2007 the non-profit RFA took shape under the leadership of John McDowell who ran the county's first CSA, Camp Hill farm in Pomona, over the past few years. The mission of the RFA, as stated on their website is:

"To facilitate local sustainable agriculture in Rockland County by creating farms that serve as models of small-scale agriculture with educational facilities dedicated to the development and teaching of sustainable farming practices to people of all ages."

Members of Cropsey Community Farm purchase a share before any seeds are sown and take an active role in farm operations, contributing as field workers, putting up fences, weeding, and office work, whatever is necessary to sustain a CSA.

“Today the issue of protecting and developing local food & water resources has become front and center across the nation.

"Those who are studying it give dire warnings, like Dave Church, head planner of Orange County, who said "any municipality that is not taking the production of local food seriously will be in trouble in the near future." Recently, NY Borough President Christine Quinn commissioned a 90-page report on how New York can improve its food system, with a particular focus on local food. Why? Because the existing food production system in this country is unsustainable.
 
In the last six months, the RFA has begun to see the fruits of our labor with the revitalization of Cropsey Community Farm, but many people do not know that the model agreement that made this farm possible has been called "cutting edge” by the American Farmland Trust, local USDA representatives, the director of the Hudson River Valley Greenway, and many entities around the state," said John McDowell, President of the Rockland Farm Alliance. "Those upstate are watching closely to see how Rockland proceeds in this effort, whether it will succeed in revitalizing a local food system, or continue the suburban model of eradicating prime farmland right in our midst.” 

Community members are enjoying their weekly pick-ups. New City is now on the map with farming as part of its history again and the Rockland Farm Alliance and Cropsey Community Farm and its members are bursting with pride.