Since the 17th century, the North Fork of Long Island has been farmland, and 350 years after European settlers came here, some of the same families farm the same land. In the face of industrialization, development, skyrocketing land costs, and climate change, farming has endured. Today small-scale, sustainably operated farms raise food for the local community and beyond. Two of those farmers have agreed to step away from harvesttime long enough to talk about the challenges and rewards of sustainable farming in a time of climate change and why farming continues on the North Fork of Long Island.
Laurie McBride has farmed on the North Fork all her life, and she is currently the farm stand manager for Wickham’s Fruit Farm in Cutchogue, NY, a family farm since 1661. She grew up on a farm in Riverhead, NY, was a Cornell Cooperative Extension Suffolk County Agricultural Stewardship Technician for twelve years, and currently serves as the District 11 representative to the Long Island Farm Bureau.
Abra Morawiec and her partner, Chris Pinto, are the founders of Feisty Acres, a poultry farm on the North Fork of Long Island that specializes in heritage breed, pasture-raised game and domestic birds. They sell at Prospect Park Market, and run a CSA from their farm in Peconic, NY.
