Snow Hill Farm was established in 2004 in an effort to bring fresh healthy food to the community while practicing responsible organic farming. Our mission is to work in cooperation with other local farmers and community organizations to promote a healthy and sustainable environment through the advocacy of locally grown organic farming. For more information about our commitment to sustainable agriculture please read our farmer's pledge through the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY).

A working farm on over 100 acres, Snow Hill Farm is committed to preserving and sustaining the land's natural condition for future generations. At Snow Hill Farm we are sensitive to the area's native wildlife and encourage biodiversity while being as self-sufficient as possible.

Snow Hill Farm's primary crop is grass-fed all natural certified beef cattle, of which we are currently raising thirty Black Angus Cows.

In collaboration with Cabbage Hill Farm, we will begin raising Rainbow trout, through the integrated process of aquaponic farming. Snow Hill Farm also grows its own hay and produces much while rebuilding the farm's soil through the practice of composting. We also grow a diverse orchard of fruit trees including varieties of peach, plum, apple, pear and cherry. In addition, Snow Hill Farm is a certified tree farm through the American Tree Farm System, and a member of the Watershed Agricultural Council of New York.

Snow Hill Farm works primarily with schools and universities to promote healthy food habits. We believe that healthy eating and good nutrition are essential for academic success. In 2005 we began a program called Food For Thought, which introduces students to issues concerning food, nutrition, composting and organic farming practices. We also offer seasonal educational tours for classes and small groups. For more information about our Educational tours and schedules please contact us.


American Tree Farm System

Snow Hill Farm is situated on over 91 acres of forest area. Through our alliance with the American Tree Farm System, we aim to maintain the forest’s economic and environmental benefits for the farm’s future sustainability. At the same time, we intend to support the necessary conditions for preserving native wildlife populations and habitat. To achieve this we work closely with a certified timber farmer.

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Watershed Agricultural Council

Snow Hill Farm is proximate to the Titicus reservoir in Westchester County, New York and is situated within the New York City Watershed.The Watershed Agricultural Council is a not-for-profit organization that works to support the economic viability of agriculture and forestry through the protection of water quality and the promotion of land conservation in the New York City Watershed region.

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Beekeeping

“Birds, bees, bats and other species that pollinate North American plant life are losing population, according to a study released [on October 18, 2006] by the National Research Council. This ‘demonstrably downward’ trend could damage dozens of commercially important crops, scientists warned, because three-fourths of all flowering plants depend on pollinators for fertilization.”

From Juliet Eilperin - “Loss of species that pollinate is cause for alarm, researchers say” in The Washington Post (Thursday, October 19, 2006).

Snow Hill Farm has established a working apiary and utilizes the beehives to pollinate the farm’s fruit trees and other plant life. Beekeeping is a positive method for retaining the most natural conditions for healthy growth and harvest.

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Composting


“The maintenance of the fertility of the soil is the first condition of any permanent system of agriculture” – Sir Albert Howard, An Agricultural Testament, 1943.

Composting acts as land’s natural fertilizer. Using compost instead of commercial fertilizers improves soil texture, structure, aeration, and increases the soil’s capacity to retain water.

 For more information about composting, sustainable agriculture and a farm-scale composting resource list visit the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.

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Food For Thought

“Food For Thought” is an educational program, developed in tandem with Snow Hill Farm’s educational tours, which brings the knowledge of organic farming, nutrition and healthy eating habits to young people. It is a forum through which to initiate the coupling of a nutritious diet with responsibility and awareness in a fun and educational setting. On recent tours, for example, children were introduced to and explored the practice of composting through fun, informative lessons.

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Regional Farm and Food Project

The Regional Farm & Food Project is a member supported, farmer focused non-profit serving “small farms” in the Hudson Valley, from Washington County to Westchester County, and the Mohawk Valley from Albany to Syracuse, whose work aims to build supply and demand for local foods and sustain the balance between local food systems, the environment and good health.

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Aquaponics


An aquaponic system is a synergistic process that integrates plant and fish culture into a single, mutually reinforced and beneficial re-circulation system, where both plants and fish have the ability to thrive. Aquaponics is supported by a symbiotic relationship between three primary organisms: plants, fish and nitrifying bacteria. Aquaponic systems are synthetic environments founded on natural processes, which mimic the conditions found in lakes, ponds, and waterways. Also, due to the unique balance between the organisms in an aquaponic system, no chemical pesticides, antibiotics, or harmful water treatments are used, nor are they needed. For more information on Aquaponics, other controlled environment agriculture, or other resources available to organic farming please see our list of helpful local resources and websites.


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