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Susan Paykin was working as an environmental policy wonk when it hit her: She wasn’t just interested in issues related to the earth; she wanted to plunge her hands in the stuff. Three years and three agricultural internships later, Paykin manages the nonprofit Common Ground Farm in Beacon, New York.
“We donate or sell, at a very reduced cost, produce to people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it,” says the petite 26-year-old.
“My two full-time apprentices are also young women who aren’t very tall. People tend to be surprised that it’s just us on the farm,” adds Paykin with a grin. “It’s fun to be defying a few stereotypes.”
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Smith, 33, spent a lot of time as a youngster on his grandmother’s farm in North Carolina, and later worked in the bar and restaurant industry. But it was a solo motorcycle trip through the winemaking regions of South America in 2010 that led him to the agricultural side of food and alcohol. He ended up in California’s Napa Valley, where his “world opened to careers in winemaking, farming, and ranching,” including spending time working in a winery, on a g
Lissa James Monberg and her brother, Adam James, have oyster farming in their blood. While both of them left Lilliwaup to pursue other endeavors – for Adam, 37, that included being a big-game guide and doing some horse-powered logging in Wyoming, while his sister went to the other side of the country for college and then to Colorado where she interned at High Country News – they eventually returned home to Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Siblings Lissa Jam
There had always been two great passions struggling within Liz Griffith: theater and her love of nature. After 15 years away from her family’s farm, during which time the 35-year-old lived in New York City and pursued her acting career, she returned to her roots to help ensure her parents’ vision for their orchard would continue. “After living in a city for over a decade, it became clear that many people did not really understand where their food came fro
Dear Buck, Weed control, cheesemaking and companionship are among some of the top reasons people are embracing backyard goats these days. But with lifespans that can range between eight to 12 years (or more!), and their inquisitive and independent demeanors, it is important to consider these five factors before taking the plunge with a coupla kids. 1. Check zoning and other ordinances first. Before you get all doe eyed about the goats you want, you first need to determine