Kingston, New York Farm Tour

I thank Shaniqua Bowden, Director of Cultural Engagement and Sustainable Living at The Kingston Land Trust, for helping me plan this year’s farm tour in Kingston, New York, with our 2025 summer interns. On August 21, the farm tour was my first time organizing a trip outside the city, and we rented a minibus to travel to Upstate New York. Even on a rainy day, the energy stayed high because the interns were excited to see and learn.
We visited Hudson Valley Farm Hub, WILDSEED Community Farm, The Catalyst Collaborative Farm, Willowbrook Farm (Hudson Valley Fresh), and Harambee, Inc. At each stop, the interns gained a different perspective on how seeds begin the food cycle, how land holds history and memory, and how farms operate at a larger scale to feed communities. The students asked thoughtful questions, got their hands in the soil, took produce home, and experienced firsthand what it takes to sustain farmland.

For many, the tour was their first time stepping outside New York City into agricultural spaces. The trip gave them a deeper understanding of the challenges and possibilities that farmers face every day. They also connected their internship learning experience to real-world work impacting our food system.

I am grateful to Shaniqua Bowden and Monti Lawson for their support in making this possible and to the farms for welcoming us. I look forward to planning more opportunities like this, allowing young people to see beyond the classroom, step into new environments, and understand how land, history, and community build healthy communities.