Saratoga Farmers' Market

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Echo Creek Farm

Echo Creek: A growing family farm

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By Madison Jackson

Photo provided by Echo Creek Farm

After his first day of work at Pleasant Valley Farm, Mike Palulis came home to his wife Jennifer and told her that he had bought a tractor and wanted to try his own hand at farming. Despite his lack of experience in the field, the efficiency and dedication he saw at the farm resonated with him.

As the owner and operator of The Sushi Bar at Stratton Mountain, Mike’s work was seasonal, and with a growing interest in where his food was sourced, he decided to spend his off-season working with Paul and Sandy Arnold at Pleasant Valley Farm in Argyle, New York. Jennifer, a former gardener, while caught a bit off guard, agreed to dive headfirst into this new adventure with her husband.

Echo Creek Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

Now in their seventh season of farming at Echo Creek Farm and joined by their three children, the Palulis have worked hard to make their small, family-run farm produce top quality, USDA certified organic vegetables that anyone could feel good about eating.

Jennifer speaks very highly of the Arnolds, who also attend the Saratoga Farmers’ Market every Saturday, describing their help as invaluable over the years. The efficiency of Pleasant Valley Farm is what initially grabbed Mike’s attention and impressed him so highly, that it inspired a change in his career and livelihood. The Arnolds have mentored the Palulis over the years on everything from the timing of planting their seeds to new and innovative structures that will improve growing capabilities in all seasons. The mindful manner of farming practiced by the Arnolds has been one of the strongest impressions that influenced Echo Creek Farm over the years.

Photo provided by Echo Creek Farm

When asked why Echo Creek chose to become a certified organic farm, Jennifer replied, “we’re a family farm, growing food in a respectful manner is so important”. With their three young children growing up and playing on the property, Jennifer and Mike knew they wanted the farm to be the cleanest possible environment. While it is not an easy process to become certified organic, the Palulis want to grow produce that they can feel good about feeding their children as well as the rest of the community.

Echo Creek Farm attends the Saratoga Farmers’ Market every Saturday, ensuring their natural, organic produce is accessible to all. Along with an assortment of vegetables and greens, Echo Creek also produces honey, eggs, potted herbs, and flowers.

 

This week’s recipes: Enjoy two of Jennifer’s simple, healthy recipes that are perfect for hot summer days. Slow-Roasted Tomatoes and Simple Raw Kale Salad

Simple Raw Kale Salad

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AdobeStock

Recipe provided by Echo Creek Farm

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 5 cups kale*, cut into ribbons
● 2 Tbls lemon juice
● Sea salt to taste

Instructions
Stack the kale leaves, roll into rough bundles, and slice into thin (1/4 in.) ribbons. Place the kale in a large bowl and drizzle with lemon juice which helps to soften the kale. Sprinkle with sea salt and toss to combine.

Slow-Roasted Tomatoes

By

AdobeStock

Recipe provided by Echo Creek Farm

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 6-8 tomatoes*, halved
● Olive oil

Instructions
Spread the halved tomatoes out on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil, just enough to make the tomatoes glisten. Bake the tomatoes for 4 to 6 hours at 250° degrees. The longer you bake them, the more concentrated their flavor will be. Cool the tomatoes before transferring them to a platter. They can be served right away or will keep in the refrigerator for a few weeks. Serve these simple but flavorful tomatoes as a garnish for a brunch or as a side with roast chicken or grilled steak.

The revival of community-supported agriculture

By

By Julia Howard

Echo Creek Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

While the mainstream media reports on crops rotting in fields due to the food chain disruption caused by COVID-19, the local agriculture scene is experiencing a different reality. Local farmers are responding to the demand for fresh food and CSA’s, once considered to be a niche market, are gaining momentum.

Community-supported agriculture (CSA) by Echo Creek Farm’s definition is “a mutually beneficial commitment between farmers and their community.” Members of a CSA ensure a customer base and stable income for farmers throughout the growing season. In return, the farmer provides CSA members with a weekly share of seasonal produce.

Owl Wood Farm, photo provided

Local farms are experiencing a surge in CSA signups as consumers are looking for food that has been handled minimally on the journey from farm to table. Consumers are also looking to avoid the stresses of shopping and CSA shares offer a solution: a variety of ripe, freshly-harvested products on a consistent schedule.

Echo Creek Farm, Owl Wood Farm, and 518 Farms currently offer CSA shares. These shares vary in pricing, products, and frequency, and each farm offers pick-up and delivery options to meet customers’ specific needs.

Echo Creek Farm offers a ‘harvest share’ that runs for 15 weeks from June through September. “Our share relies heavily on familiar items. Each week you’ll receive a collection of vegetables that are in season and grown using organic methods. The amount varies a little as the growing season changes, but it’s generally appropriate for a family of 2-4 people,” says Mike Palulis, farm owner. Pickup is at their farm in Salem.

Owl Wood Farm offers two CSA options: a standard ‘box share’ that runs for 20 weeks from June through October and a ‘market share’ where credit is added onto a gift card in increments of $100 and customers use this credit while shopping at their farmers’ market stand. Owl Wood offers ‘box share’ pickup at the farmers’ market, drive-thru pickup at their farm in Salem, and home delivery.

518 Farms, photo by Pattie Garrett

518 Farms offers a variety of mushrooms in their weekly ‘small ½ lb. share’ or ‘ large 1 lb. share’. Subscribers may select from blue and yellow oysters, lions main, nameko, chestnuts, maitake, and shiitake with pickup on Tuesdays at the farm in Hoosick Falls.

In addition to these CSA farm shares, Elihu Farm offers an egg subscription, Slate River Farms offers ‘box selections’ on their pastured pork and grass-fed beef, and Goode Farm offers a weekly flower subscription.

This week’s recipe: Rhubarb Cake