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The county department of planning and Cold Spring-based Glynwood are making it easier to do successful farming in Putnam. Meetings have helped farmers network with each other and communicate and obtain cooperation from municipal officials.
Keep Putnam Farming representatives will be on hand at an evening of networking Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Char Steakhouse at 151 Bryant Pond Road in Mahopac hosted by the Putnam Valley and Putnam County Chambers of Commerce.
A Farmers Forum potluck dinner will be held at Farm at Holmes at 60 Denton Lake Road in Holmes on July 30.
Virginia Kasinski, director of community-based programs at Glynwood, is one of the leaders of the Keep Putnam Farming initiative.
"We want to know what challenges farmers are facing today," Kasinski said. "We've been conducting surveys with local farmers."
Kasinski said they plan to survey the public and found out where they get their food. Restaurants will also be surveyed to find out where they buy their products.
"We want to bring farmers, residents and elected officials in this dialogue to offer greater economic opportunities," Kasinski said. "We want to preserve Putnam's cultural background. We have farms in this county that are over 200 years old and are still operating."
Glynwood is a 225-acre not for profit farm that works to ensure agricultural thrives in the Hudson Valley. The farm has livestock and produce and offers farmer training programs and apprenticeships. They have also started an incubator farm for agricultural entrepreneurs.
"We are a multi-purpose organization," Kasinski said. "We have a lot of programs running educating people on the importance of agricultural and building collaborations throughout the valley to ensure agriculture remains viable."
Keep Farming Initiatives have also been done in Columbia, Greene and Dutchess County.
"We want to ensure these farms stay in business," Kasinski said. "We want to know what their challenges are."
Kasinski said they want to make sure farmers receive a fair wage and that communities are farmer and agricultural friendly.
"Putnam County supports farming," Kasinski said. "We want to give farmers the best support we can give them."
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