Growing Sustainably: Exploring Liberty Farms' Regenerative Agriculture Practices
Liberty Farms, located in Ghent, NY, has been supplying our store with organic meats and sandwiches. Now, they also offer fresh mushrooms and wool yarn! Keep reading to discover more about this farm and the distinctive farming practices that set Liberty Farms apart.
Liberty Farms' Commitment to Sustainable Agriculture
Liberty Farms encompasses over 600 acres and is a Certified Organic Farm committed to regenerative agriculture and fostering healthy communities in the Hudson Valley. Our diverse range of organic vegetables nourishes our CSA and farmers' market clients across New York State, while our vibrant flowers add color and joy to their lives.
The fields, fertilized with on-farm compost, hold NOFA-NY certification (Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York) and employ biodynamic and intensive growing methods. The farm strictly avoid pesticides, herbicides, and GMOs, opting for open-pollinated seeds for produce. The result is a rewarding harvest of vibrant, high-quality produce.
In addition to vegetables and flowers, Liberty raises NOFA-NY certified organic chicken and eggs, as well as certified-animal welfare and pasture-raised lamb, pork, and beef. Their farming practices are designed to improve both our land and the environment. The rotational grazing schedules for animals play a crucial role in soil regeneration. Poultry helps aerate the topsoil, while ruminants fertilize it.
Liberty's commitment to sustainability extends to low-waste practices, such as utilizing "ugly" veggies and eggs to feed its pigs and producing organic mulch and compost to fertilize hayfields and gardens. Through aligning with natural cycles and ecosystems, the farm not only provides communities with healthy, organic food but also contributes to reversing climate change and rebuilding soil health. Each element on the farm, from veggies and flowers to animals and people, plays a role in reclaiming and restoring acres of farmland.
What makes Liberty Farm special?
Liberty Farm uses regenerative, organic, and biodynamic farming practices, raising beef and poultry. Continue reading to learn what each of these terms means.
Certified Organic
Did you know that New York State ranks third in the nation for the number of organic farms we have?
As per the USDA standards, certified organic produce is cultivated on soil that has been treated with minimal to no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides within the 3 years leading up to harvest. Many producers opt to steer clear of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides due to their potential adverse effects on human health and the environment. When it comes to organic meat, the requirements entail raising animals in alignment with their natural living conditions, allowing them to graze on pasture, providing organic feed and forage, and refraining from administering antibiotics or hormones.
Regenerative Agriculture
Regenerative Agriculture is a term that signifies a systems-based, holistic approach to land stewardship aimed at enhancing both productivity and biodiversity (increasing the number of species of living organisms) over time. This practice places a strong emphasis on soil regeneration and organic matter development. While many conventional agricultural practices destroy topsoil, create runoff that pollutes nearby waterways, and disturb the carbon storage capacity of agricultural fields, regenerative agriculture reduces the negative environmental impact of farming.
Biodynamic Farming
Biodynamic farming incorporates organic and regenerative practices, approaching the farm as an ecosystem where all aspects of the farm, from the soil, compost, plants, animals all play a role in helping the farm thrive.
So, what does Grass-Fed mean?
While one might assume that meat comes from cows raised on pasture, freely grazing on grass under the sun, the reality is that most beef cattle are raised in Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). In these operations, cows are confined indoors in cages throughout the day, consuming corn, soy, and other inexpensive feeds that can lead to health issues. On the contrary, grass-fed operations allow cattle to graze on grass outdoors during warm months and transition indoors to a diet of hay in the winter.
Liberty Farms holds the certification of being Grassfed by A Greener World. This certification from A Greener World is distinctive, being “the only certification and logo in the U.S. and Canada that guarantees food products come from animals fed a 100 percent grass and forage diet, raised outdoors on pasture or range and managed according to the highest welfare and environmental standards on an independent farm.”
Adhering to higher standards and implementing better farming practices results in better quality food. When given the choice, opting for grass-fed and organic options supports farmers dedicated to enhancing the health of our ecosystem, animals, and people.
Visit Liberty Farms
Liberty Farms boasts a comprehensive equestrian center and an event barn ideal for weddings and gatherings. It also provides overnight accommodations at its boutique glamping site. Located at 114 Ostrander Rd in Ghent, NY 12075, the farm welcomes visitors. The farm store operates daily from 7 am to 7 pm. For more information, you can also explore the website at www.libertyfarmsny.com.