We're in Business

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Better Farm's brand-new, custom-made farm stand and signs.
Last year was our first foray into organic gardening. Not knowing whether anything would grow in that hard, clay-rich North Country soil, Better Farm's interns and residents waded into the responsibility of no-till, no-pesticide, no-chemical fertilizer, 100-percent organic mulch gardening carefully. The ensuing crop—which supplied produce for the 12 people staying here—was all the indication we needed that whatever this mad experiment was, it was working.

So this year, we went bigger.

The amazing crop of interns (Jaci Collins, Natasha Pietila, Soon Kai Poh, and Elizabeth Musoke) set about doubling the size of this year's garden. Then, they (along with artist-in-residence Erica Hauser) built an additional bed for the herb gardens. Transplanting all the babies from the greenhouse took weeks. But when the proverbial smoke finally cleared, the veggies and fruits started coming. And coming. And coming.

With more food due than we can possibly eat, the latest mission has been to expand our outreach. First up was to begin the process of drying many of our herbs (parsley, cilantro, oregano, and dill so far). Next, and probably most important, was to upgrade from last year's farm stand:
Yes, it was totally adorable; but we needed more shade, more space, and more stability against the harsh winds and rains of the North Country. So we enlisted some nice Amish folks down by Pamelia, N.Y., to make us a farm stand just like theirs. We got to pick it up yesterday and stocked it this morning...


Organic, homemade soaps


Items available for sale (subject to season and ripeness):
Vegetables—cucumbers, onions, peas, lima beans, brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli, string beans (two varieties), squash (three varieties), pumpkins, cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes (several varieties), peppers (two varieties), soybeans, beets, carrots, lentils, lettuce, spinach, asparagus
Herbs—chives, mint, cilantro, parsley, oregano, basil, summer savory, chicory, amaranth, chamomile, echinacea
Baked Goods—breads by special order, custom pies, cookies, brownies, and other baked goods. Vegan options available
Homemade Body and Home Care—100% organic soaps, shampoos, conditioners, laundry detergents, and dish soap
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Nicole Caldwell

Nicole Caldwell is a self-taught environmentalist, green-living savant and sustainability educator with more than a decade of professional writing experience. She is also the co-founder of Better Farm and president of betterArts. Nicole’s work has been featured in Mother Earth News, Reader’s Digest, Time Out New York, and many other publications. Her first book, Better: The Everyday Art of Sustainable Living, is due out this July through New Society Publishers.