Hawthorne Valley Farm

About Hawthorne Valley Farm

At Hawthorne Valley, farming is more than a livelihood—it’s a commitment to community, sustainability, and purpose. Through hands-on education, value-added enterprises, and direct relationships with those we feed, we strive to grow in ways that nurture both the land and the human spirit.

Welcome to Hawthorne Valley Farm—a place where farming is rooted in care, community, and connection. Since 1972, we’ve been nurturing this land in the heart of the Hudson Valley with the belief that how we grow our food matters.

Hawthorne Valley exists on the stolen ancestral land of the Mohican People, who call themselves Muh-he-con-ne-ok, or People of the Waters That Are Never Still. These lands and waters have been home to the Muh-he-con-ne-ok for countless generations. We pay respect to the Mohican People and their elders, past and present, and acknowledge the ongoing legacies of violence, displacement, and colonialism that bring us to today. We invite you to join us in uncovering the truth and pursuing a more just future.

As a certified organic and Biodynamic® farm, our approach is guided by the rhythms of nature and a deep commitment to regenerative agriculture and agroecology—ways of farming that recognize the farm as a living whole and seek to restore ecological balance. These principles echo long-standing Indigenous ways of knowing and being in relationship with the land. We strive to honor this kinship by tending soil, plants, animals, and community in a spirit of reciprocity, respect, and care.

We invite you to learn more about the values that shape our work, the story behind our fields and forests, and the people who bring this vibrant farm to life each day.

Read Hawthorne Valley’s Land Acknowledgement ➝

Nurturing the Land That Nurtures Us

At Hawthorne Valley Farm, we’ve been committed to biodynamic and organic agriculture since 1972. As a diversified, 900-acre Biodynamic® farm in upstate New York, our mission is to care for the land, grow food that nourishes, and foster a deep connection between people and the source of their sustenance.

Biodynamic agriculture is a holistic, ecological practice that works with natural systems, not against them. We never use GMOs, synthetic chemicals, or pesticides. Instead, we build fertility through composting, rotational grazing, and crop diversity—practices that build healthy soil and create a self-sustaining farm organism.

Our approach integrates plants, animals, and people into a living, breathing whole. From our dairy herd and grain fields to our vegetable gardens and forested pastures, everything plays a role in sustaining the balance of the farm and its community.

Explore Hawthorne Valley’s Annual Report and 50th Anniversary Commemorative to discover how our farm and diverse initiatives work together as an interconnected whole. These publications offer insight into the shared purpose and collaboration that define our Association.

Rooted in Purpose: The Farm’s Founding Vision (1972-1993)

Hawthorne Valley Farm was established in 1972 to serve as the foundation for what is now known as the Visiting Students Program—an immersive farm-based educational experience. From the beginning, the mission was twofold: to be a working biodynamic farm and a place of learning. This “dual mandate” was essential to ensure both educational value and financial sustainability. Of note, in 1985, Hawthorne Valley Farm became one of the first farms in the United States to obtain Biodynamic certification from the newly established Demeter US. As the farm grew, it expanded into several departments—including a dairy, bakery, farm store, and presence at NYC’s Union Square Greenmarket—yet by 1993, financial challenges put its future in jeopardy.

A Turning Point: Renewal and Resilience (1993-1998)

With the farm facing deep financial crisis, a leadership transition in 1994 brought in Steffen and Rachel Schneider to rebuild. Through the creation of new management structures, the founding of the CSA, and a renewed focus on biodynamic practices, the farm slowly found its footing. Each department began to stabilize, and the CSA expanded from 30 to over 250 members. That same year, Hawthorne Valley co-founded the Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (C.R.A.F.T.), a network of local organic and biodynamic farms dedicated to enhancing educational experiences for farm apprentices. The Annual Fall Festival was launched in 1995, and by 1998, the farm had turned a profit, developed its first Five-Year Plan, and emerged with a renewed sense of purpose.

Growing Together: Stability and Cultural Recognition (1998-2009)

This period marked a maturation of Hawthorne Valley Farm’s identity. A dedicated team carried the mission forward with passion and resilience. As food systems and sustainable agriculture entered mainstream conversations, the farm gained recognition through media coverage, speaking engagements, and consultancy requests. In 2000, the creation of a campus-wide Master Plan catalyzed future development, including the construction of the new Farm Store (2003–2004). The farm also deepened its educational role by welcoming the Farmscape Ecology Program, expanding staff, and refining leadership roles to support its growing complexity and impact.

A Decade of Growth, Innovation, and Community Impact (2010–2021)

Beginning in 2010 with a $2.5 million grant for farmstead improvements, Hawthorne Valley Farm has continued to evolve and grow while staying true to its mission. The farm earned Animal Welfare Approved certification in 2011 and significantly expanded in 2015 with the acquisition of Twin Maple Farm and 50 additional acres on Schnackenberg Road, reuniting parts of the historic Burfeind Farm. That same year, a USDA grant launched the Farm Beginnings program for aspiring farmers. In 2016, our Creamery introduced its signature watercolor cow label, and in 2017, we kicked off the Healthy Food for All Initiative, leading to the launch of Rolling Grocer 19’s mobile market in 2018 and a storefront in Hudson by 2019. Also in 2019, there was a transition in Farm leadership and Spencer Fenniman become the Director of Farming. A Place Corps silvopasture project took root in 2020, and 2021 brought new infrastructure, including a biodynamic prep station and CSA cold storage. Rolling Grocer 19 became fully community-led that year, reflecting our ongoing commitment to food access and community resilience.

Three Years of Growth: Building Soil, Community, and Climate Resilience (2022-2024)

From 2022 to 2024, Hawthorne Valley Farm deepened its commitment to education, collaboration, and ecological stewardship. It hosted The Climate Farm School, joined the Hudson Valley Bulk Order program, and partnered with local farmer-led software startup Grown

By to streamline CSA operations. A capital campaign funded new deer fencing, while research with Yale explored basalt’s role in soil carbon capture. The farm became Real Organic Project Certified and promoted regenerative practices regionally. Educational offerings expanded for students from Hawthorne Valley, Bard, and Williams College. Enrolled in NRCS’s Conservation Stewardship Program, the farm saw major gains in soil health and efficiency through cover cropping, fallowing, and high tunnel use. In 2024, CRAFT celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Interested in digging deeper into our history? Click this link to read our 50th Anniversary Commemorative.

How We Are Unconventional By Nature

Our farm embodies Hawthorne Valley’s tagline—unconventional by nature—by challenging the norms of modern industrial agriculture and embracing a holistic, regenerative approach to land and community. We leave horns on our cows, raise animals with dignity, and prioritize biodiversity over efficiency. Rather than scaling up through monocultures or automation, we grow through relationships—adding value to our raw ingredients through our creamery, bakery, and farm store, and connecting directly with the people we feed. Every choice we make reflects a deep respect for the natural world and a belief that farming can nourish both ecological and human health. In this way, our farm is not just a place of production, but a living expression of values that run counter to convention—and deeply in tune with nature.

How The Land We Steward Feeds Our Community

At Hawthorne Valley, the land we steward nourishes more than bodies—it nurtures connections, learning, and a sense of shared purpose. As a true Biodynamic farm, our goal is to cultivate food of the highest quality while caring deeply for the health of our soil, animals, and ecosystem. Every harvest reflects our commitment to sustainability, balance, and reverence for the natural world.

Through our farm store, bakery, and creamery, we add value to what we grow and raise, allowing us to farm at a human scale without placing undue stress on the land. By selling directly to our community—on the farm, at Greenmarkets in NYC, and through our CSA—we create opportunities for meaningful relationships between people and the source of their food.

This nourishment extends beyond the plate. Children, students, and young adults engage with the farm through educational visits, vocational training, and seasonal work, deepening their understanding of where food comes from and how farming practices shape our environment and our lives. These experiences help cultivate not just future farmers, but thoughtful stewards of the earth.

In this way, the land feeds our bodies and our community—it teaches, connects, and inspires.

Why We Believe in Direct-to-Consumer

We believe in direct-to-consumer marketing because it allows us to grow our farm in a balanced, intentional way—reducing stress on the land, plants, and animals while staying true to a human scale of farming. By adding value to our raw ingredients through our creamery, farm store, and bakery, and selling those products directly through our farm store, CSA program, and Greenmarkets in NYC, we’re able to avoid the industrial, monoculture-based farming models that dominate much of agriculture today. These direct channels not only offer greater financial sustainability through higher profit margins, but also foster lasting social connections—bringing people onto the farm, deepening their understanding of where their food comes from, and nurturing a shared sense of purpose. Supplying food to Hawthorne Valley’s school, summer camp, and visiting student programs further strengthens these relationships and reinforces our commitment to community-centered farming.

Education, Apprenticeships & Youth Programs

Our farm serves as a vibrant educational hub where learning is rooted in the rhythms of the land. Through hands-on experiences in farming, food production, and land stewardship, we welcome students, apprentices, and visitors of all ages to engage with the complexities and rewards of sustainable agriculture. Whether through our school, summer camp, visiting student programs, or vocational training, we offer immersive opportunities to explore what it means to live in harmony with nature and contribute to a more just and resilient food system. This integration of education and agriculture allows us to cultivate not just crops, but a deeper understanding of our interconnectedness with the earth and each other.

Delivery & pickup

Specialties

• aged-cheese
• agritourism
• biodynamic
• creamery
• csa
• dairy
• eggs
• farm-store
• flowers-plants
• grass-fed-beef
• heritage-breed
• honey
• livestock
• meat
• organic
• organic-dairy
• organic-produce
• pastured-eggs
• pastured-meat
• poultry
• produce
• raw-dairy
• raw-milk
• sourdough-bakery
• vegetables

Categories

• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
• CSA
• Farm pickup
• Farm shop
• Farm store
• Farmers Market Vendor
• Mail Order
• NYC CSA pickup
• NYC Greenmarket
• On-Farm
• Wholesale
• raw-milk
• raw-dairy
• pastured-eggs
• fermented
• csa
• organic
• regenerative
• biodynamic
• grass-fed-beef
• pastured
• cheese

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