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Farmer(s) |
Andrew Dygert, Cordelia Hall |
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Products |
Diversified organically grown vegetables, Honey, Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Grapes, Eggs, and Hay |
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Farmland |
On our 350 Acre working farm, you can find in addition to the intensively managed vegetable farm, smaller community gardens, Apiaries, Orchards, Vineyards, and hundreds of acres of pasture and timber. |
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Farm History |
East Hill Farm is a small scale not for profit diversified organic vegetable farm based out of the Rochester Folk Art Guild, an intentional community of craftspeople in Middlesex, New York. Over the course of its 40 year history the farm has transitioned from growing mainly field crops, grains, and hay with a tractor and a team of draft horses, as well as raising sheep and cows for meat, milk, and wool in the the 1960′s-80′s to its present incarnation. There have always been small community gardens on the farm to feed the residences of our community, but growing large quantities of vegetables to market has been a fairly recent development here. |
| Philosophy | Good stewardship to the land has been a guiding principle for more than 40 years at the Rochester Folk Art Guild, and the farm has practiced organic and bio-dynamic growing methods since its founding in 1967. Today we follow the organic farming principles set by the federal government, as well as our own set or rigid environmentally ethic farming practices that stretch far beyond the boundaries of the organic certification process, in an attempt to not only grow the highest quality product possible, but at the same time nourish the land that nourishes us, rather than depleting it of resources, nutrients, health, and vitality. |
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Soil |
Life on earth is totally dependent upon the top layer of humus which covers it. Without it we would not exist. Which is why the health and well being of our soil is our primary concern at East Hill Farm. We utilize composted vegetative matter and manure, cover crops (used both rotationally and underseeded), crop rotation, mulching, and finely ground rock powders, in an attempt to build long lasting soil fertility, health, and encourage micro-organisms to thrive. |
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Weed Control |
We utilize no mechanized or chemical weed control practices. We use only hand tools, mulch, and strategically timed planting and hand cultivation to control weeds. |
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Pest Management |
We feel that nearly all pest and disease problems can be solved or avoided by building health soils, growing healthy plants, and understanding pest and disease life cycles. |
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Water Use |
Gravity fed irrigation from a spring fed pond, rain water collection, and some well water when necessary. |
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Workers |
Andrew Dygert, Cordelia Hall, some help from community members, interns, and woofers. |
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Organic Certification |
Not certified, using organic practices |
For more information on the Rochester Folk Art Guild or East Hill Farm, please visit us at our website www.rfag.org
