City slickers at a farm

We took a long drive this weekend to Ghent, NY (sort of close to Albany) to visit the Hawthorne Valley Farm and the Hawthorne Valley School (a Waldorf school). We go up there about two or three times a year to get fresh milk. We like the taste and the health benefits of their milk, so we stock up on it and keep it in our chest freezer. We normally buy our milk at the Park Slope Food Coop, but every now and then we like to pull out a couple of half gallon containers from our freezer to enjoy. If you live in the NYC area, you may have seen their delicious maple vanilla yogurt in the dairy section of your local supermarket. (The Hawthorne Valley Farm has mostly organic and all-natural stuff, kind of like at the Park Slope Food Coop. Coming soon is a post on the PSFC.) Here is a sampling of their special products, namely biodynamic organic raw milk, organic raw milk cheeses, organic yogurt, and organic lacto-fermented vegetables ("relishes"):


The Hawthorne Valley School is actually a Waldorf school, just like the school that my husband went to growing up in Australia. There are several here in the U.S. Some require a tuition and some are actually free. (All three of the Waldorf schools in the NYC area not surprisingly, have a hefty tuition.) The architecture of the school buildings in general is right in line with the principles based on the Waldorf school philosophy. Their structure is unique in that they are never completely square. Very subtle and tastefully done. We got there just in time for the reception that followed the graduation ceremony and we were able to look at the 12-graders' art projects. I was just amazed at their talent. (Sorry, no pictures, I was too busy running around after Liam.)

Just before we shopped, we took a stroll around their grounds. Having been born and raised in the (mostly) concrete jungle that is NYC, I truly appreciate every moment I am outdoors in the fresh country air; out in the middle of nowhere, miles and miles away from a large city or town for that matter. I am still, well and truly a city girl, but being out in the country is truly wonderful!


There was a creek that very much interested Liam. Daddy must not have tied his Converse sneakers on tightly because Liam quickly took them off and thought we would actually let him climb down like the other children on to the creek. Sorely mistaken, mister Liam. I quickly put his sneakers back on and we played instead. We threw around a big red ball that was laying around on the green and then played with the other one hanging from a rope. It started to drizzle, so we popped open the umbrella and made our way to the store. Happily, it stopped drizzling on our way over there, so we decided we had enough time to check out the farm animals before popping into the store. We stopped, of course, to smell the roses.


Liam, of course, loved the horses, chickens, the one rooster we saw, and the precious cows. Liam got such a kick when I explained to him where the milk came from and he quickly pointed in the direction of my personal, portable, dairy factory. We laughed and laughed. Then the cows were let out for the night to pasture. Bill took some pictures of the herd as they came down the dirt road. In fact, it was the same dirt road that Liam managed to fall on just moments before the cows went through. Nice. Good thing I brought an extra change of clothes for him. (Click here for more pics taken with Bill's fancy camera.)

Fun farm animals, luscious greenery all around as far as the eye can see, good wholesome food, delicious milk, and fresh country air! Until next time, Hawthorne Vally Farm. See you in the fall!!