Getting to Know the Staff | Denise Markut, Senior Manager of Stewardship
October 31, 2019
By Denise Markut
Many years ago, on the North Fork, I was a young aspiring farmer with a great passion for the land, my community, and the Community Supported Agriculture philosophy of sharing the harvest.
My grandparents were farmers in Vermont and it was always my dream to be a farmer too. I received my BS in Agriculture from UConn, and worked for 10 years growing food and livestock. In 1995, I decided to create the first CSA on the North Fork. I grew 200 crops for 45 families and loved the work and the close-knit community that was forming.
But I was struggling. I was a single mom raising 3 small boys. Running the farm alone made it difficult to meet the financial responsibilities at hand each winter. At that time, there were no programs like the Trust’s Farms for the Future Initiative to help new farmers succeed. Eventually I had to let go of my “farm dream.”
I came to work at the Peconic Land Trust and am the Senior Manager of Stewardship. I’ve worked with the Trust for 20 years and have had the most amazing adventure.
Denise Markut
We’ve created the Farms for the Future Initiative so new farmers don’t have to go it alone like I did. It provides affordable farmland leases, mentoring, infrastructure, safety training, and equipment.
I’ve blazed miles of trails on natural lands and worked with countless school groups. I’ve been able to use my passion and expertise to teach others how to grow their own food and connect with the land in a very humble but beautiful and fulfilling way – gardening.
Thank you for coming on this journey with me by supporting the Trust. You make all our work possible!
Denise Markut
Senior Manager of Stewardship
dmarkut@peconiclandtrust.org