Virtual Tour

Our Crops

We continue to experiment each year with different varieties of plants to determine which grow well in our mountain region and which can be grown effectively by our small farm operation. We strive to deliver a consistent supply of produce at competitive prices.

During the summer, we grow a variety of scallions, potatoes, carrots, asparagus, peas, cucumbers, summer squash, green beans, cherry tomatoes, tomatoes, radishes, beets, swiss chard, kale and peppers. Many of these are heirloom varieties that are rarely found anywhere else.

From March through December we grow several varieties of sprouts in the greenhouse. These are grown in soil and then cleaned and packaged for ease-of-use. These are the freshest sprouts you'll find on the Mountain Top!

We grow wonderful heirloom vegetables on our farm. Many heirloom vegetables have delicious flavor but don't ship well. Often you can only buy these from a local farm. Vegetables that need to be shipped cross-country are often harvested before they reach their perfect ripeness. They continue to ripen as they are shipped, but are never as good as vegetables harvested for immediate sale to the local community. Produce eaten soon after harvesting maintains greater nutritional value and flavor.

Our Staff

A Message from the Farmer

At the Natural Agriculture farms, we strive to produce seasonal, local produce relying solely on the strength and purity of the natural soil and fresh water. As a result, our vegetables have a vibrant, full flavor and contain lots of energy. Many people who have tasted our produce have told us that it is one of the best tasting produce they have ever eaten. It makes us very happy to hear such positive words of gratitude. Gratitude is a very important ingredient of Natural Agriculture, which is ultimately practiced with gratitude to Nature. We will continue to work hard nurturing the freshest, healthiest vegetables and hope you have many opportunities to enjoy their exquisite taste and power.

I think of our vegetables as works of art that are 100% hand-cultivated from birth to maturity on a small, family-owned farm instead of being grown on vast tracts of machine-operated land. Of course, productivity and efficiency are important. However, we believe significant labor and effort are necessary in order to produce truly high quality produce. Instead of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, practitioners of Natural Agriculture devote time and labor along with heartfelt love to nurture their vegetables. We would like to share our real, genuine vegetables with as many people as possible, especially the youth and children, who will shape the future of this world.

Everyone is welcome to visit our farms in Hunter and Sugar Maples to enjoy the wonderful atmosphere. We hope the vegetables in the Farm Market at Hunter and the CSA Program help people reconnect with Nature and enrich their lives through the power of Natural Agriculture produce.
~Kenji Ban, Farm Manager

Farm Manager Kenji Ban runs both Natural Agriculture farms in Hunter and Sugar Maples. A Kochi University graduate with a BA in Agriculture, Kenji is trained in Natural Agriculture and previously spent three years running the farm at the John Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies in Pomona, California. Prior to that he spent just over four years working at a Shinji Shumekai Natural Agriculture farm in Japan. Kenji moved to the Catskills region in 2000 and currently lives near the Sugar Maples Natural Agriculture farm with his wife and farm helper Megumi and his two children.

Our Goals

Our farm and our farm market are both owned by the Catskill Mountain Foundation, a 501c(3) not for profit organization. Our goals are simple:

• - We want to grow the most healthful food we can for our community using the Natural Agriculture method.
• - We operate in the New York City Watershed and we want our farm to be pollution free. We strive to use farming methods that harmonize with our environment.
• - We want to serve as an educational facility for school children and other members of the community who want to know more about how safe, healthful food is grown.
• - We want to demonstrate the viability of farming on the Mountain Top using sustainable technologies such as renewable energy sources and experimenting with season-extending techniques to enable year-round production.
• - We want our Farm Market to showcase local products from the many farms in the Catskill region.
• - We will provide the fresh, healthy food from our farm at affordable prices.

Our Plans for the Future

Each year we experiment with new techniques to improve the quantity, quality, and consistency of what we grow. We will continue to develop the demonstration aspects of our farming activities and are always glad to share our experiences with those who join our farm tours.