Quail Hill Farm Fall Equinox 2026
October 2, 2026
The Nor’easter may have dampened the fields, but not our determination to celebrate the season. Thank you to all who were able to join us last Thursday for the Fall Equinox Gathering (our rain date). It was a beautiful evening – marking the changing of the season, sharing wonderful pot luck treats inspired by the farm’s produce, and welcoming a new sculpture to the facade of the barn!
And, most importantly, it was an evening to celebrate you – our community members who make Quail Hill Farm truly special, warm and inviting. All of us at the farm are thankful for your support and dedication.
As we enter the last few weeks of the 2026 Summer Season, we have accomplished so much together:
- Implemented a crop plan of 350 varieties of assorted vegetables and flowers for 250 CSA Members.
- Sent $45,000 worth of food, representing 8,000 lbs. of fresh produce, to our food pantry partners at The Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreation Center (The Center) and Springs Food Pantry. This includes both food grown specifically for the pantries as well as additional food from active gleaning of our fields, based on a new no-waste policy.
- Inspired and educated a new generation of farmers through our apprentice training program.
- Put in place a comprehensive production strategy -- reducing tillage, focusing on irrigation and cultivation, and cover cropping to improve soil & crop health.
- Resurrected our two small greenhouses, installed a new well on Birch Hill, and fully moved into a beautiful new barn that we are enjoying today.
Although we experienced challenges -- including extreme heat, irregular weather patterns, air quality alerts, disease and pests – we were undaunted, proving truly how resilient our farmers, land and farm members are. And how important our model of Community Supported Agriculture is.
Through your upfront support, and commitment to the risks and rewards of the growing season, we remain a model for CSAs around the country. As one of the first CSAs, what started as a wild experiment with 10 members, 37 years ago, has grown to be a nationally recognized Farm and apprenticeship program. And we are still here, going strong today and holding onto the true concept of CSA. My thanks to Scott Chaskey – who graciously joined us on Thursday – for his three decades of bringing the farm to life and his ongoing advice and counsel.
A highlight of the Fall Equinox party was the revealing of the new sculpture, Solar Scallop Sundial, by local artist Scott Bluedorn. Looking west over the beautiful farm fields along Deep Lane – across the valley of Quail Hill Farm and the fields of Birch Hill – the sculpture was commissioned by Deborah Ann Light’s son, Michael Light.
“At the first Equinox gathering at the farm two years ago when the new barn was completed, I turned to Scott Bluedorn who was next to me and said, ‘don’t you think something can fill up that blank space? I think you’re the guy to dream up something big," said Mike Light. “And here we are today, with that vision realized in a scallop shell and labyrinth that represents my mother, the farm, and the Trust. Thank you, Scott, for bringing that vision to life.”
In his artist statement, Scott Bluedorn writes: The ‘Solar Scallop Sundial’ is a sculptural piece that represents integral themes of the Quail Hill Farm story. The scallop form represents our native species Argopecten irradians, important to the bioregion as a wild food and emblematic as a symbol of the East End. It is particular to Quail Hill as a familiar item worn as a necklace by Deborah Ann Light, as well as being the logo of the Peconic Land Trust.
“Having grown up at Quail Hill, it was an astounding, amazing, and wondrous place. But sometimes lonely and I always fantasized about it being populated by people – an artist’s residency, or a cider mill because of all the apple trees. And then my mother took a giant leap in 1990 working with the Land Trust and Quail Hill Farm was born. And today’s gathering at the farm is not only a testament to my mother’s commitment to Community Supported Agriculture, but to all of you – to the Quail Hill community that made it happen,” added Mike.
“We are grateful to Mike for this generous gift to the farm and celebration of Deborah. Scott’s sculpture truly captures the spirit of both the farm and the Trust and its connection to Deborah and her extraordinary support of agriculture and land conservation,” said John v.H. Halsey, President, Peconic Land Trust.
Thank you Mike and Scott for this wonderful gift to the community!
photo caption: the farm crew with Scott Bluedorn and Mike Light
Throughout the season, many wonderful volunteers helped make the farm a true community place.
Thank you to Farm Committee members for your dedication to the farm: Fran Bermanzohn, Scott Chaskey, Kevin Coffey, Ellen Fries, Madelaine Haberman, Elizabeth Jackson, Mike Light, Kathy Masters, Debby Nevins, RJ Partington, Gordian Raacke, Jon Rose, Jane Weissman, and Melanie Woods.
Special thanks to the committee members who organized and lead community events throughout the season, including, including:
- Kathy for the Plant Sale
- Jane and Melanie for the Welcome Walks
- Jane with Kathy, Ellen and Melanie for organizing Coffee & Community
- RJ and Melanie for the mid-summer Pot Luck
- And Jane – again – for leading the Great Tomato Taste Off and all of the editing and writing skills that made the newsletter come together so beautifully all season long.
And to all the volunteers throughout the season who contributed to pot lucks, staffed the plant sale and GTTO tasting tables, joined us on Weed Wednesdays, and so much more.
The Farm Crew
Bountiful thanks to the amazing crew this season: Dov, Sal, Thomas, Summer, Chesa, Brynn, Mads, Layla, Brendan, Les and Jon. We have worked together so well this season. It's not easy, it’s physically and emotionally demanding, but also a ton of fun. I’m so proud of all of you!