Horse & Carriage Rides were one of the most popular parts of Events in the Village of Washingtonville this past year.
With some changing pictures in "Upstate" New York, some things seem to never change. Over 40 years ago, when I was a college student at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, fellow students would laugh when they saw pictures of my town, "Wait! They have TREES in New York? These days we hear similar questions about whether New York's rural lands still hold an important place, and whether they will in the future, with the cries for more housing and Governor Hochul calling it a "Crisis". It will also be another crisis if we don't take care of our land and food and existing housing as we should!
The short story is "YES", farming is alive and well. There are millions of "Oldtimers" that still live here, and more millions of their children and grandchildren that love farmland and open space, New York's spectacular scenery, and want to keep it that way. And there are hundreds of organizations and state parks dedicated toward maintaining it that way. After all, if you have experience with farming, you know that for one thing -"You are what you eat", and consequently WE IN NEW YORK CANNOT STAY HEALTHY UNLESS WE MAINTAIN OUR LAND AND WATER AND VIEWS TO STAY HEALTHY AS WELL. Both our bodies and minds know that intrinsically. And here is the proof that farmland and agriculture are still a vital part of both New York's health and economy!
In Orange County and elsewhere in NY, farm life has expanded to fit a new public's needs and wants. There are several dozen farms in just our area that offer fun and exciting activities for youth. The Girl and Boy Scouts have activities doing service work at some farms. Cornell Extension Agency has large Fairs, and Future Farmers club, as do other areas in the State. Farms today are very active in the communities that surround them, whether it's a parade, an Artisan Farm Market or even a "Pop-up" Event. It's the community atmosphere and love of the "country" that bring most people here. And there are dozens of wineries and cidery sites that use local products, sell local products, and offer entertainment while adults take a stress break during a busy life.
Equestrian farms have become fewer in number, but more educated and much more expensive. as are the secondary businesses that serve them (like Agway and Tractor Supply Co.) Board and Training, (often at $1,000/month plus training fees and untold monies for shows both local and across the US as well as the transportation to and from them, are still contributing significantly to the State's economy! Orange County alone has more than a dozen of these large Equestrian Facilities. Several Orange County farms grow process about 20,000
hay bales per season.
See the New York Farm Stats at the bottom of this page!!!!
And stay tuned for more stories and details about successful farms in Orange County.
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NEW BUSINESS SECTION
Above- A sweet updated country home that one of our readers has for sale
in Sparrow Bush.
Did you know that New York rate in the top 10 Apple and Onion
Sales of the United States?
So, is New York Agriculture dying - DEFINITELY NOT. But is it under stress by pressures to turn open space into high density housing - YES. But New York residents are proud of their open space and farmland, and are up for the challenge! And there are places in New York that have space to build a sensible number of new homes without putting the environment, its iconic views, and health at risk.
Snapshot stats:
Moral of the story: Like everyone else, owners of farmland and open space must learn to be resilient and creative to survive and prosper.
For additional information on how to advertise or subscribe, contact me at 845-381-0804 and ejreporter@gmail.com
Edie Johnson
Executive Editor
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