We’ve decided that we’re not continuing Black Brook Farm Growers this year. It was a very difficult decision, but as much as we’ve enjoyed the last two years on the farm, Dave and I both feel as if we’re not ready to commit 100% to an agrarian lifestyle quite yet. Because so much planning in farming is very long term (you don’t see the results from your efforts until many years down the road) in order to really create a economically and ecologically viable farm we would have to commit to staying here for a long time. Dave and I are still young, and we still want the opportunity to travel and experiment with different career paths, and we feel as if this experimentation wouldn’t be possible while maintaining this farm in Carlisle.
So, we’ve moved back down to New York City and left all the beauty the farm has to offer behind. Dave’s working in film, and I’ve continued to work in restaurants and also been doing some work with Slow Food USA, which is based in Brooklyn. If possible, our dream is to take a road trip across the United States visiting and working at different farms through the WWOOF program (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). Where ever we are, we hope to keep learning about farming and food. My mom has also had an exciting couple of months, but you’ll have to ask her about that.
We started Black Brook Farm Growers because we wanted to learn about farming, and because we wanted to get this beautiful, nutrient-rich land back into production. Well, we’ve definitely learned a TON, not just about farming, but also about ourselves. We’ve become stronger, mentally and physically, and we’ve moved back down to New York City with more confidence, a stronger commitment to local food and the environment, and a much more solid relationship with each other and with our families. As far as getting the land back into production, we’ve found a couple women in the area that are interested in keeping the garden going, so it’s so the land will still be used, now under the name Dancing Tomato Farm. Visit their website for information about where to buy their vegetables. If you’re interested in a CSA share, our friend Andrew Rogers is starting a CSA over at Clark Farm and I’m sure it’s going to be great. You can get more information at the Clark Farm website.
If you have any questions about our decision feel free to email us. Thank you to everyone who supported us these past couple of years. It’s been an amazing experience.
Happy Spring!
Gallagher