Back to the Land: A Conversation on Hudson Valley Farming with Pieter Estersohn

When:

Saturday, November 9
1:00pm

Admission:

$22

Details:

Join author and photographer Pieter Estersohn for a conversation on his newest book Back to the Land, Hudson Valley farming today, and the many ways it contributes to our cultural, economic, environmental, and community health. Joining Estersohn in conversation will be farmers highlighted in the book including:

NYBUZZ – Nancy Wu Houk (Page 150)

Obercreek Farm – (Page 112)

Davoren Farm – (Page 224)

Meg Downey – (Moderator)

Back to the Land: A New Way of Life in the Country: Foraging, Cheesemaking, Beekeeping, Syrup Tapping, Beer Brewing, Orchard Tending , Vegetable Gardening, and Ecological Farming in the Hudson River Valley

As a lifestyle choice, many people have recently made an exodus from the city to the country. One area in particular, the Hudson River Valley is booming because of legacy farmers and newcomers’ mutual respect for the land. This inspirational survey presents a broad cross section of individuals who are flocking to this bucolic region and providing their considerable newfound knowledge on such topics as vegetable farming, planting a flower-cutting garden, tending a fruit orchard, canning and pickling, foraging, harvesting biodynamic honey, brewing beer, baking bread from local grains, and much more. They are restoring historic barns and houses and using salvaged materials for contemporary structures. Picturesque fencing, trellises, and arbors abound. Community dinners and farmers markets are occasions for exchanging information on land preservation. A listing of noteworthy farm-to-table restaurants, inns, farmers markets, farm stands, and artisanal breweries completes this beautifully photographed book, which will inspire and empower.

Copies of Back to the Land will be available for purchase.

About The Author

Pieter Estersohn is a renowned photographer of architecture and interiors, whose work is seen in top shelter publications. He is a contributor to the World of Interiors and Elle Decor. Author of Kentucky and Life Along the Hudson, he is on the boards of the Historic Red Hook Advisory Council and the Calvert Vaux Preservation Alliance. Estersohn is also the photographer for many Rizzoli interiors books, including those for Charlotte Moss, Suzanne Rheinstein, and Victoria Hagan.

About Meg Downey

Meg Downey spent most of her career as a journalist. A two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, Downey was executive editor of the Poughkeepsie Journal and managing editor of the Tennessean in Nashville. Downey has won more than 40 national journalism awards, including the Edward J. Meeman Award for Environmental Reporting, involving editorials on farming issues. She has been an editor and contributing writer for 14 books, among them “The Hudson Valley, Our Heritage, Our Future” and “West Point, Legend on the Hudson” and served as copy editor for Pieter Estersohn’s book, “Back to the Land.” She currently serves as chair of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council and co-chair of the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, which Boscobel is part of. A graduate of Smith College, Downey lives in Millerton, New York, with her husband, Ed, whose grandparents came from Ireland to farm here in the Hudson Valley.