September is Buy Local Month is the Catskills!

Pure Catskills is teaming up with Farm Catskills for a month-long celebration of the bounty of foods available and the multitude of great events happening in September! We’re asking members of our community to show their commitment to local farms and fresh foods by taking the Buy Local Challenge, a pledge to spend $10 each week on local food for the month of September – or even longer! Our goal is to sign on 500 community members by September 30th. In October, we’ll celebrate the thousand of dollars pledge toward our local businesses.

Buy Local Month kicks-off at Farm Fair to be held on Sunday, September 6 from 2:30 to 7:00 pm at the West Kortright Centre, East Meredith. Throughout September, Buy Local Month representatives will ask residents at local farmers markets and seasonal festivals to take the Buy Local Challenge.

Slow Food Catskills Putting it Up Workshop

Diane Frances of La Basse Cour in South Kortright talks cucumbers with a fellow pickler.

Rosalie Glauser of the Slow Down Food Company in Andes leading a canning demonstration.

Slow Food Catskills organized a great canning workshop called, "Putting it Up" at the Delaware County Historical Association. Over 50 canners learned tips and tricks on preserving string beans, cucumbers and tomatoes.

The Great Zucchini Challenge!

Slow Food Upper Delaware River Valley hosted a Zucchini Challenge last weekend at The Cutting Garden in Youngsville. It was a great day to celebrate zucchini with all sorts of contests - from professional and amateur cooking to a search for the largest cucurbit in the Catskills!

Prize-winning zucchini earrings.

The judge deliberate over the most delicious dish!


Sabrina Artel of Trailer Talk interviews cooking contest entrants.

Pure Catskills Member Profile: Allison Jones of Applegarth

Allison Jones of Applegarth Farms
Maryland, NY
A great livestock farm in Otsego County!

How did you get started in farming?
By deciding to reject factory-raised meats. If I was going to continue eating meat, I wanted to know that it had been humanely raised. I started with chickens and pigs and my business grew slowly as my demand grew.

Tell us some about your growing practices.
At Applegarth, we keep our numbers small so that our management leads to humane and safe treatment of our livestock. It is important to me to know each animal individually. Animals are pasture-based with hay in winter and grain during pregnancies and while nursing. Of course, hogs and chicken get grains. Animals stay healthy through herbal remedies and natural treatments.

What is a favorite local product of yours?
Local maple syrup and honey are popular around our house!

What is the most important reason to buy locally?
Accountability. That’s the one-word answer! Know your producer. All of our customers are invited to see our operation and the growing conditions here.

What is something you’d like to see develop to support agriculture in the Catskills?
More consumer education— it is the most vital piece for farmers. People need to better understand that food is seasonal and that it will lead to natural variations throughout
the year.

Poultry, eggs, lamb, goat, beef and pork from Applegarth are available on the farm and at the Green Earth in Oneonta. Feeder pigs and horse boarding services are also available. Contact Allison at allison@applegarthfarms.com or (607) 638-5784.

Members in the news: Snowdance Farm

Marc Jaffe of Snowdance Farm in Livingston Manor was recently featured in New York Magazine's Soup-to-Nuts Guide to a Local Thanksgiving. Read more for ideas on how to prepare your own local, heritage bird this holiday!

BioDiversity Pasture Walk

Lazy Crazy Acres Farm in Arkville hosted a group of farmers and educators for a BioDiversity Pasture Walk last week. Featuring Dr. Darrell Emmick of USDA-NRCS, the group learned about the best approaches for managing a pasture for diverse pasture species.

Check out some photos of a great fall outing...

Darrell Emmick in the field with some very friendly cows.

The group takes a closer look at the pasture grasses.

A sunny day at the Liberty Farmer's Market

So much is in season at the farmer's markets! Part of the Sullivan County Farmer's Markets, the Liberty Farmer's Market has all the local produce...