Local, Organic and Sun Powered

"Shipping is a terrible thing to do to vegetables. They probably get jet-lagged, just like people." ~Elizabeth Berry

I recently visited Hepworth farms in the Hudson valley. It is 400 acres of pristine, storybook farmland overlooking the Hudson river. The family has been tilling the soil there since 1818; that's seven generations. Amy Hepworth is now at the helm, and has been transforming the tradition of the farm since the early eighties when she returned from Cornell with a more holistic view of agriculture. Amy and her partner Gerry now run the most flourishing independent organic farm in New York. Amy has aptly been named a 'rockstar' farmer.

Amy and Gerry Hepworth with one of their employees.

As we drove through the fields on her tractor it became clear to me that for a vision of this propensity and courage to work; the farmer must be dedicated to her people, to the integrity of organic farming - and she has to be willing to work hard and against all forces of weather and mainstream agriculture. Hepworth is all of these, and she eats maggots as well as sharing her softer side to the three men I am visiting with; the founders of Brooklyn Salsa - who source most of their ingredients directly through Amy.

Hepworth is at the forefront of sustainable, organic and local farming.

In the field outside her simple processing office there are three enormous solar panels, tilted toward the beautiful early-October sun. Amy has been exploring solar power since the eighties. She is a fount of knowledge, with a wide understanding of where the food industry has been, and where it must go. She is a real woman holding strong to her creed in REAL FOOD.

Brooklyn Salsa Guys; Matt, Rob and Casey get excited over Solar Power.

The Hepworth family story is an inspiring one, and would be a great lesson in science or understanding food source, the interrelations of people and place. For example, if we take two pieces of fruit; An apple from Hepworth and a pink lady apple from New Zealand and traced their stories back - asking questions of source - What would we find? I believe that by tapping into our local folk and food sources, we are able to learn more about the industry that feeds us and how it effects the greater ecology. At Hepworth it's all about ecological sustainability; refusing to sell more of just one thing because she persists on diversifying her crops.

Amy Hepworth's personality style is not for the faint at heart; she is hardcore, intelligent and brazen (and loves operating big machinery). I believe she is an amazing teacher. A handsome rendition of the modern farmer. Of course, she doesn't have time to teach kids about what she is doing, but I do ..and you might too.

You can read more about their farm and story here. Or buy her unbelievably inspiring produce at Whole Foods or the Park Slope Food CoOp in NY.

My cup is full.

The Kinsey family live in the fecund foothills of Mount Meru, one mile above sea level. They live on a compound where they grow most of their food, have goats that supply milk for yogurt and cheese, beehives and an abundance of brightly coloured flowers that flourish amidst the greenery. The only sounds you can hear are of birdcalls and flight, buzzing of insects, roosters, cows and always children playing in the distance. It is a true paradise here and it couldn’t be so without the foundation of a beautiful family and a great deal, and long legacy of Love.

Erwin Kinsey came to Tanzania just after receiving his B.A. in animal science from the University of Vermont. He was very young, and sent to work as a dairy advisor on a large governmental farm in the Southern Highlands. A relatively new non-profit was providing livestock and technicians to this government breeding ranch, which, more than 30 years later is well recognized as Heifer International. Erwin later became the program director development in Tanzania and eventually the Africa regional Director for Heifer International.

Heifer International has become active in over 100 countries, providing livestock to individuals and families. It was founded by Dan West, who was distributing milk to people left poor and hungry by civil war – when he had the revelation, “Not a cup but a cow.” This notion has evolved into one of the most successful, and sustainable rural development programs in Tanzania. In the following days I will give more time to this work and what he is doing now, but first let me give you a picture of the whole family.

Erwin met Esther in the Southern Highlands, where her Swiss parents ran a coffee plantation. Her Great Grandfather arrived in Tanzania in the mid-twenties. Esther was a dedicated nurse, and midwife. After some time Erwin and Esther were married, and together moved to Northern Tanzania where they raised their family together. They had three boys, Ethan, Elliott and Eric, whom are undoubtedly African. When I met Esther in 2004, she immediately embraced me and I instantaneously adored and admired her. She carried the role of Matriarch with grace and power, caring for her mother who was bed ridden with dementia, making feta, yogurt and ice cream from the Nubian goats they raised (and selling it at a local school), concocting homemade calendula from her garden, baking bread and generally running this beautiful home and family. In my heart I felt deeply moved to quickly return to Tanzania and do an apprenticeship with Esther, on how to be a mother, a Christian and how to prepare such delicious cheese, among other things. Sadly, soon after I left Tanzania the Grandmother passed away and six months later Esther was diagnosed with advanced cancer. She battled and was treated for about a year before passing away soon after the whole family had been on a great Safari together. Their whole community supported them in love.

Back in 2004, when I showed up unexpected to their family holiday with their eldest son Ethan, they welcomed me with open arms. Ethan and I had met at the Safari camp where I had worked for a season. He had come to take over my position as manager. His first day in camp I remember climbing up on the thatch roof of one of the bandas with my binoculars, he was on a rock, with his binoculars, watching birds – I was staring through mine at him. Within days we had kindled a closeness I had never felt before and shared a powerful and swift romance, mostly amidst the magic of the bush. We were both immensely excited by the small things around us.

Although our time together was somehow brief and our romance ended when I returned to America I have always felt very close to Ethan, and great gratitude and love for his entire family. Their model of Christianity was inspiring and quite unlike any I had, or have experienced since. It is full of truth, love, compassion, community and deep faith. All of the Kinsey men are very talented, but altogether modest. I feel utterly blessed to be here again, to awake early and drink coffee (which comes from the same plantation that Esther’s father began) with the boys, to watch the birds and insects and to feel and know so clearly that God is alive in everything. I look forward to talking to Erwin more about his insight on development, he now runs an NGO that supports farmers in turning to organic farming and sustainable agriculture. Ethan is training guides to be experts in the bush and with clientele, and also runs his own Safari company (see ethan-kinsey.blogspot.com). Elliott is doing community development work in hunting areas and Eric is working at a gelato shop in Arusha (for now).