Natural Agriculture at CMF’s Farm at Sugar Maples

By Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson

The Catskill Mountain Foundation’s 4.5-acre farm at the Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts takes organic farming a step farther by following the Shumei method of Natural Agriculture. Founded in the 1930s by the Japanese spiritual leader Mokichi Okada, Shumei centers Natural Agriculture as a basic principle.

Like traditional organic farming, Shumei farming uses compost liberally and avoids chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Its goal, though, is to grow food plants the same way they would grow in nature. For this reason, the Shumei method avoids many of the fertilizers typically used in other organic farming methods. No manures and no soil amendments from outside the farm are used, only compost made from plants that grew onsite. Seeds are saved from the crops grown on the farm and used to plant the next year’s crops. Over time, the generations of saved seeds result in seeds especially suited for the farm’s specific local environment with its unique soil structure and weather patterns.

The farm at Sugar Maples got its start after Peter Finn, who founded the Catskill Mountain Foundation and chairs its board of directors, started an organic farm of his own in Hunter about 25 years ago. When the Shumei organization hired his PR firm, Finn became intrigued by the Natural Agriculture method and agreed to use his farm as a demonstration site. Shumei provided a full-time farm manager trained in their Natural Agriculture method. It was a beautiful change, says Finn, who had only been able to farm part-time due to his wide-ranging other responsibilites, to have an expert devoting full time to managing the farm. Community members praised the quality of the vegetables.

After five successful years with the farm in Hunter, ground was broken at Sugar Maples for a new farm. Compost made from local vegetation was spread on the fields. For the past two decades, the Sugar Maples farm has been producing high-quality vegetables which are sold to the public every Saturday during the growing season. In September, greens like lettuce, kale and chard are available, as well as root crops like carrots, beets, garlic and potatoes, and of course winter squash and tomatoes. In the spring, tomato plants are offered, as well as early season crops like spinach, arugula and sugar snap peas. Through the summer, green beans, scallions, zucchini, cucumbers, radishes and Chinese cabbage are also available.

Although the farmstand closed for the season at the end of September, it will reopen the first Saturday of May at 15 Big Hollow Road in Maplecrest in the Town of Windham. Open hours will be 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. every Saturday.

Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson enjoys gardening in Catskill. She also writes a weekly Substack series, The Generous Garden, online at mtomlinson.substack.com.