Earth Day
Apr
Painting above: “The Fourth Estate (Italian: Il quarto stato) is an oil painting by Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo, originally titled The Path of Workers.”
As someone who has been fortunate enough to call this patch of land home in a region that we’ve been in love-at-first-sight with for it’s wild and protected natural beauty, Earth Day is not just a once a year theme.
When grazing animals and using regenerative practices, when cooking and baking using local farms and organic ingredients – we try to weave that reoccurring theme into everything we do.
In a way, these methods are part of who we are and that transparency is key to the good relationship we have with folks like yourself and our extended farmily of locavores.
We hope you feel the same way.
On this Earth Day 2025, we’re still very much committed to these ideals and the goal of establishing a thriving regenerative farm long after we are gone as it’s primary stewards.
And we’ve been thinking a great deal on some of the ways we can make this a reality now and for future generations, to hopefully build off of the humble foundations we’ve begun…
Rugged Interdependence
The whole reason we chose to live here in the Adirondacks, was because we saw the opportunity to live “La Dolce Vita” here: to eat well, live well and celebrate the harvest.
A scene in the movie “1900” is etched in my mind as the village harvests their pigs and many hands make little work.
We knew the work would be hard but favorable circumstances for sweat equity were abundant.
I wanted to be my own boss, homestead, start a business and bring the old farm back to life with good bread. There were many days of grit, dirt and immediate deep slumber as soon as my head hit the pillow.
Yet there are still miles to go before this Opus 40 can truly be called completed.
As the farm’s success and business grew, we know we’ve been spreading ourselves a bit too thin at times over the years.
Capitalism may favor individualism and rugged independence, but I feel now is the right time for “rugged interdependence” and working together in a sharing economy.
As part of our eventual farm succession plan, I want to tell you about something we’ve been researching and thinking about: forming a farmer/worker owned cooperative.
A cooperative that tries to address two dire issues we’re facing, especially in Essex County:
- access to farm land for those that want to feed their community
- and a lack of affordable housing opportunities
In addition to also becoming part of a thriving food and farm business, we feel this cooperative can provide equitable solutions to all of the above.
What do you think? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
triplegreenjadefarm.com/farm-coop-project/
