Glynwood’s farm incubator kicks off first year

Rocky start in 2013 gives way to acceptance

Last year, when Glynwood and OSI officials met with neighbors to announce the incubator plans, not everyone was thrilled. The Hudson Valley Farm Business Incubator was slated to shut down a popular CSA, the Brook Farm Project.

Glynwood’s announcement led to protests, a schism on the Brook Farm board of directors and some resignations, and a last-minute rally around Creek Iversen, a beloved farmer who entertained as well as educated.

Lawrence Badendyck is a supporter of the old Brook Farm who is still a little upset about what went down in 2013.

OSI was Brook Farm’s landlord, but they opted not to renew the lease to instead start the incubator.

“I think Glynwood can’t be trusted, and they shouldn’t be here in New Paltz,” said Badendyck, who is also a member of the Citizens of the Shawangunks group.

While he conceded that the fight for Brook Farm is over, he also worried deeply that Glynwood’s incubator combined with a Mohonk Preserve’s proposed Testimonial Gatehouse restoration would prompt both traffic and development west of the Wallkill.

Glynwood President Frith said she didn’t think worries about traffic or massive development were justified.

“There’s really no development in terms of our project. I think there might be a misconception that we’re going to build a bunch of stuff. But, in fact, what our work is going to do is first restore the soils and the land that badly need that agricultural restoration,” she said. “So there’s no new development.”

Traffic shouldn’t be a major issue, Frith added, since most incubator program participants will be living at the farm — again with nine of them total when the program is at full strength. Students will also be there to learn and work hard. There’s no plans for a lot of interaction between the general public and Glynwood’s program — outside of those open houses.

Hikers shouldn’t notice much difference, she noted.

“We want to make it visitor friendly for folks that are already taking advantage of the trails and that area — so they know that farming is a really important part of this project and this community,” Frith said. “But we’re not gearing the project toward attracting a large amount of visitors.”

For fans of farmer Creek, who might have worried about him after he left New Paltz, it should be noted he’s doing well.

Creek and most of the 2013 farm crew from Brook Farm have set up shop at Whirligig Farm in Hurley. Iversen said he’s already got peas in the ground, and farm workers have been busy transplanting onions and leeks.

“A lot of our supporters have actually followed us to Hurley, surprisingly — even those from New Paltz, which is somewhat distant. We’ve kept those supporters from Rosendale and Kingston, and picked up a few new ones,” the farmer said.

While 2013 was a tough year to get through, and Creek said he was sad to leave New Paltz, life moves on. He’s taking the good with the bad.

“We had a beautiful season in 2013, with a unique farm model that resonated with a lot of people in the New Paltz community. As frustrating as it was to need to relocate, perhaps things happened that are for the best,” he said.

Brook Farm Project the organization lives on, but Creek’s latest farm project isn’t directly involved with them.

To learn more about Whirligig Farm, search for them on Facebook or visit them at 1375 Hurley Mountain Road in Hurley.

Additional information about Glynwood can be found at https://www.glynwood.org/.