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meet the farmer

Motherly love heals and feeds Earth and her peoples

July 6, 2021 By marketeditor

By Himanee Gupta-Carlson

Corinne Hansch of Lovin’ Mama Farm, photo by Pattie Garrett

“All life begins with mother. Mother Earth gave birth to us all, and it is our responsibility to take care of her.”

These words from Lovin’ Mama Farm owners Corinne Hansch and Matthew Leon, explain why they farm. Using organic and regenerative methods to grow food helps heal the earth and represents farming as stewardship.

Lovin’ Mama joined the Saratoga Farmers’ Market this year and offers Certified Organic vegetables, microgreens, herbs, and cut flowers each Saturday.

Produce at Lovin’ Mama Farm, photo provided

Hansch and Leon use no-till methods that have given their soil resilience amid climate change. “We lay down a thick layer of our compost/peat moss mix right on top of the bed, then plant right into that,” they explain. “The worm activity is just amazing, the thick layer of compost suppresses weeds, and the plants go crazy with growth.”

Without tillage, they explain, soil aggregates form, enabling the holding and acceptance of water. Soil neither dries out in times of drought nor floods during heavy rains.

Hansch grew up with parents who were market gardeners. She worked on farms along the West Coast and studied biology. Leon grew up in New York City and studied agricultural ecology. He was more a lover of the outdoors than of farming – until he met Hansch.

Their love story began in a permaculture course. There, they saw how sustainable farming could create solutions in “a world troubled with environmental disasters and social inequalities.” For Hansch, farming linked gardening with positive change. For Leon, farming enabled an intersection between nature, the outdoors, and a basic need for food.

Lovin’ Mama Farm, photo provided

They started Lovin’ Mama in northern California, regenerating an abandoned field with plantings of such perennials as fruit trees, berries, and asparagus. Then, a blow came: The landowner terminated their lease, leaving them homeless and their hearts broken.

For farmers like Hansch and Leon, losing land is like losing a loved one. However, when Leon’s father offered them space to farm land he owned in Amsterdam, they knew they could begin anew.

In New York, they have built a network of CSA subscribers, market goers, employees, and family. Leon’s parents offer child care and other support; a niece manages one of their farmers’ markets, and their children – Sam, 15; Oak, 13; and Rosemary, 9 – are skilled, trustworthy workers who grew up with the farm, love it, and know it intuitively.

This week’s recipe: Carrot Top Pesto

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: Amsterdam, certified organic, farming, Flowers, know your farmer, Lovin' Mama Farm, meet the farmer, produce

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We are here today! Amazing music … fantastic ve We are here today!  Amazing music … fantastic vendors … added crafters … and we’re here until 1:30!
#saratogafarmersmarket
We are excited about tomorrow's Holiday Craft Fair We are excited about tomorrow's Holiday Craft Fair  at Wilton Mall in the food court.
Here are some of the vendor highlights. We look forward to seeing you from 9:30 to 1:30 to celebrate the holidays.
* Hepatica Farm: Holiday Egg Sale: get 2 dozen of our Pastured Certified Organic Eggs for $12 or 1 dozen for $8. We also have ground chicken.
* Muddy Trail: We have 8 varieties including Alphabet Soup, Fiesta Chicken Tortilla, Ginger Scallion Ramen, Spinach Tortellini & more.  Serves 6-8! 
* Mugzy's Barkery: Mugzy's Barkery offers a variety of gift items. Pre-orders for Custom Bones begin now!  Text 518-573-0400, message us on fb or insta, or email  mugzysbarkery@gmail.com 
* Jireh Organic Farms & Livestock: Purchase $40 of meat - get Non-GMO Eggs half price!  GMO Free Pork: Bacon, Hams, Tenderloins, Hot Italian Sausage links, Breakfast Sausage, Ground Pork, Hocks, Organs and more!! GMO Free Chickens (whole & cut-ups), soup parts, feet for bone broth / collagen, livers, etc....
* Owl Wood Farm: Come out this Saturday to get delicious greens for the week. We still have a full selection. We plan to be attending a couple more markets so stock up on bulk root bags.
* Saratoga Peanut Butter:pick up our Classic and Holiday gift sets.
* Squash Villa Farm: Find us INSIDE starting this Saturday with our delicious meats and more.
* Scotch Ridge Berry & Tree Farm: Scotch Ridge will have our farm made all natural Christmas decorations available just outside the main market entrance each Saturday until Christmas. 
* Vashti's Kitchen Delights: Come and enjoy the fusion of Caribbean and American flavors at Vashti's Kitchen Delights. Our authentic cuisine is prepared with fresh herbs and spices! 
* Nally Coffee: Get a FREE cup of coffee with your purchase of any 1lb bag of coffee!
* Lovin’ Mama Farms: Happy December!  We have 5 greenhouses loaded with greens and potted herbs, and coolers full of storage roots.  It's amazingly fun and creative to eat local this time of year with seasonal greens and root veggies. 
* Hebron Valley Meats: We will be missing the farmers market this week but look forward to seeing everyone at the 12/9 market. 
#saratogafarmersmarket
This weekend discover fabulously fresh products fo This weekend discover fabulously fresh products for all of your holiday baking…
* Buttermilk and Greek yogurt from Argyle Cheese Farmer.
* Honey, which makes a fantastic sweetener in many recipes, can be found at Ballston Lake Apiaries and Slate Valley Farms, as can maple syrup, which you can also find at Slate Valley Farms.
* Applesauce, cider, and fresh apples are always available at Saratoga Apple; equally good alternative sweeteners to consider, and applesauce can be an excellent replacement for oils in many recipes.
* Looking for deliciously locally made jams that are perfect for thumbprint cookies, Linzer cookies, and anything jam-filled? Visit Kokinda Farm.
* Consider making your peanut butter cookies pop this holiday season with unique flavors from Saratoga Peanut Butter.
* Are you making Tiramisu? Grab locally fresh-roasted coffee from Nally Coffee.
* And, of course, there are fresh farm eggs at Hepatica Farm, Grazin’ Acres Farm, and Jireh Organic Farm & Livestock.
* Is bread pudding on your holiday menu? Grab that main bread base from Katie Bakes Gluten-Free, NightWork Bread, or The Bread Butler.
* And check out Muddy Trail and their Perpetual Vanilla; it’s fantastic. They also have nine convenient baking mixes to browse and explore!
If you don’t want to bake, that’s A-OK, too! The Saratoga Farmers’ Market has the non- baker, ‘need a break,’ or ‘need something quick’ covered too. Just visit one of the pre-
made sweet treat vendors;
Goodway Gourmet
Katie Bakes Gluten-Free
NightWork Bread
Parchment Baking Company
Sweet Treats by Jennifer
Perogi, Pierogi, Pyroogi
#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket🔆 #bakingseasonhasbegun #holidaybakingbegins #locallymadegoods
This weekend we have special guests at the Saratog This weekend we have special guests at the Saratoga Farmers' Market for our first pop up holiday crafters market.  They will be joining our regular (and fabulous) weekly vendors for the beginning of our holiday season.  They are here for one week only!!!
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, December 2nd at the Wilton Mall in the Food Court.  The market is open from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. 
#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket🔆 #holidaycraftfair #popupholidaymarket #supportlocallymade

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