“40 for 40”, Celebrating the Trust’s 40th Anniversary with You!
November 21, 2023
By Kathleen Kennedy
This year’s Connections activities included many tours of local farms. We hope you enjoyed these opportunities to meet your farmers and learn about the challenges they face to provide you with fresh local food and more!
April 1: Visit to Bianchi Davis Greenhouse in Riverhead to learn about the intricacies of greenhouse farming and the propagation and care of orchids.
May 13: Sylvester Manor and Farm - a walk through history at the Sylvester Manor estate on Shelter Island that included the renewed farming operation that returned cattle, chicken, and food production to the land.
June 10: Pike Farms - a visit to the home greenhouses of Pike Farms in Sagaponack to help transplant basil before touring their farmland and enjoying a taste of strawberries fresh from the field.
July 8: Ag Center - meeting poet/farmer Scott Chaskey at the Trust’s Agricultural Center at Charnews Farm in Southold where Scott read from his newest book, Soil and Spirit, Cultivation and Kinship in the Web of Life, sharing the evolution of his life as a farmer and poet.
July 13: Olde Road Farm, Southold - met the Murnane family and learned about the return to their farming roots with their purchase of the former Krupski Farm through the Trust’s “Farms for the Future Initiative.” Today they’re raising Wagyu cattle, sheep, chickens, geese, and crops.
August 30: Winds Way Farm: Gardening for Pollinators - a guided walk at Winds Way Farm in Jamesport to hear the history of their family farm and learn about the management of their small orchard and expansive garden using sustainable, low-impact practices that attract a myriad of pollinators.
August 31: Quail Hill Farm: Bees and the Beekeeper - a visit with beekeeper Mary Woltz of Bee’s Needs at Quail Hill Farm in Amagansett to better understand the challenges honeybees and all pollinators face and the value they offer to agriculture around the world.
September 8: Wolffer Estate Vineyard - A guided walk and wine tasting with winemaker Roman Roth at Wolffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack to understand that important connection between soil health, ocean breezes, and the beautiful East End climate to the award-winning wines they produce.
September 9: 8 Hands Farm - A conversation and guided walk with Tom Geppel of 8 Hands Farm in Cutchogue to hear of the challenges and rewards of raising Tamworth pigs, free-range chickens, cattle and Icelandic sheep his family raises to provide you with fresh, humanely raised food.
September 9: Quail Hill Farm: Chinese Medicinal Herbs - Meeting with Sarah Lu and Scott Chaskey at Quail Hill Farm in Amagansett to learn about the Chinese medicinal herbs that are growing there and how they are used.
Sept 22: McCall Vineyard and Farm Tour - A guided walk and wine tasting at McCall Wines with owner Russ McCall and his winemaker, Miguel Martin, to learn the history of this special property, the importance of terroir to the creation of good wines, and the challenges winemakers face to create award winning wines as part of Long Island’s North Fork wine trail.
Kathleen Kennedy
Senior Manager of Outreach
kkennedy@peconiclandtrust.org