A successful Wall Streeter and his wife breathed new life into their 18th century Dutchess dairy farm, giving it a new role at the heart of the area's burgeoning farm to table movement.
Presented by Bill Bonecutter + Ann Dyal
With the advent of tremendous interest in locavore lifestyles and sustainably-sourced cuisine, Millbrook agents Bill Bonecutter and Ann Dyal created
Farm To Table Talk, a public radio program educating and advocating artisan enterprise and mindful “agri-ventures” north of New York City.
Situated in Clinton Corners, NY, Meadowland Farm is a historic homestead that has been owned by multiple generations of the same family since the 1790s. Prior to the Civil War, the Quaker-owned property even served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Taken with the natural beauty and the sense of community of the area, current owners, who maintain their primary residence in Westchester County, purchased the farm in 1997. They recognized the historical significance of the property and valued its multi-generational ownership and made every effort to preserve and restore the house and barns as well as the farm itself. Today's operation is a diversified operation producing lamb, beef, pork, rabbit, eggs, fruits, vegetables, flowers and cut-your-own Christmas Trees.
Image: Meadowland Farm
But one of the most remarkable aspects of the operation at Meadowland is that the farming is done by three passionate young individuals, who have embraced the lifestyle and found a passion for the land and are responsible for the farm's successful regeneration.
T. J. Baright came to the farm in 2010. Raised on a local family farm, was a young superstar in 4-H, routinely winning ribbons at the county fair while he dreamed of someday building a sustainable farming operation. He later attended agricultural and vocational schools and launched his career leasing land from local farms and managing livestock. When he was offered a management position at Meadowland, he jumped at the opportunity and has worked tirelessly to bring the farm back to its original glory.
The meadows are now filled with animals and have become a destination for visitors to the area. T.J. is joined in his efforts by Leah Garrard and Diana Cowdery, who apprenticed Westchester's Stone Barns Center for Agriculture and are now putting their knowledge and skills to work growing a large variety of fruits, vegetables and flowers. The farm welcomes visitors to peruse fresh produce and visit the animals at their property on Schultzville Road, and experience the flourishing farm to table movement in the Hudson Valley for themselves.
Listen below to hear T.J. tell more of Meadowland's story:
Farm to Table Talk airs Mon-Weds-Fri at 12:30pm and Sunday at 8:00am on Pawling Public Radio