With a sighting of the sun this morning, Cropsey Community Farm in New City has another call out for volunteers to help at the farm this weekend.
This week’s heavy rains had the team at the farm scurrying to put protective covers on the crops and preparing for planting. With some sunshine, the farmers plan on cultivating, seeding, planting and preparing new beds.
The farmers plan to be at Cropsey on Little Tor Road in New City this morning, take a break for lunch at noon, and then start work again around 1:30 p.m. The farmers say there’s lots that volunteers can help with.
The lower field at the farm is dry enough to handle some cars parked there, if you come up the driveway adjacent to the home of Jim and Pat Cropsey do so cautiously and park next to the barn. Remember, it’s a working farm, so if you go to help out dress appropriately and plan on getting dirty.
This week, the farmers got a surprise visit from U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, D-Rockland/Westchester, who was in New City for several meetings. Lowey toured the farm and met with leaders of the Rockland Farm Alliance. The group asked Lowey for help in convincing federal officials that the Cropsey Community Farm, which leases five acres of protected farm land now owned by Rockland County and the Town of Clarkstown, should be considered eligible for programs that support farming.
Farm Alliance leaders say federal officials, so far, won't consider the Cropsey Community Farm for federal aid.
