Group Forms to Keep Putnam Farming
MaryEllen Odell
Putnam County Executive
(845) 808-1001
May 19, 2014
Group Forms to Keep Putnam Farming
Promoting Putnam’s agricultural capabilities and supporting its numerous farming families will be the mission of a newly organized initiative, Keep Putnam Farming.
Partnering in this venture will be Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Putnam County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board and Cold Spring’s Glynwood Farm, an agricultural nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure that farming thrives in the Hudson Valley. The three-fold mission of the group will be to gain a better understanding of existing agricultural conditions in Putnam, to create greater awareness of available local agricultural products and services within the county, and to make those products and services available to the public.
The official launch of Keep Putnam Farming will take place at an open to the public meeting to be held at the Putnam County Golf Course, 181 Hill Street in Mahopac on Tuesday, June 3 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
“Community members will be welcome to participate in all Keep Putnam Farming activities, especially in the gathering of data and community discussions,” said Lauri Taylor, manager for the County’s Soil and Water Conservation District and the liaison for the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board. “These findings will be used to identify the most appropriate strategies to protect and enhance the economic viability of Putnam’s valuable agricultural resources.”
Noting the growth of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs and the many farm-to-table initiatives throughout the Hudson Valley, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell is excited with the prospect of partnering with Glynwood and including the public in this educational outreach.
“Keep Putnam Farming could not come at a better time for us,” said Odell. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Glynwood, especially as we move forward with the restoration and rejuvenation at Tilly Foster Farm. Since it is now known that the over-processing of our foods has a detrimental impact on our health, farming within Putnam, going back to our county’s agricultural roots, consuming fresh Putnam grown and raised products should be a priority for all of us.”
Taylor agrees.
“The challenges faced by local farmers is not easily understood by the general public. Agriculture is a business that needs to be recognized and supported throughout Putnam County,” she said.
Virginia Kasinki, Glynwood Farm’s director of Community Based Programs, is pleased that Glynwood was brought into Putnam’s initiative. Since 2003, Glynwood’s Keep Farming program has worked hands-on with 40 communities in New York and Massachusetts, providing them hands-on training, guidance and materials to help their farmers make farming a successful business venture.
“Glynwood is pleased to be expanding our mission in our home county,” she said. “In order for small and mid-size farms to survive, they must have the support of their communities; and for communities to sustain and grow their farm economies, they must support their farmers.”
For additional information contact:
Lauri Taylor Virginia Kasinki
Putnam County Soil & Water Conservation District Glynwood
Lauri.taylor@putnamcountyny.gov vkasinki@glynwood.org
845-878-7918 845-265-3338, Ext. 125
