by Kelly Martinsen
“The universe is a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects.” —Thomas Berry
Homecoming Farm is a nonprofit organization, located in Amityville, committed to the understanding that the human and natural world is one community of life. A sponsored ministry of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville, the farm welcomes people of all faith communities. The Sisters of St. Dominic donate the use of their land for Homecoming Farm. Three-and-a-half acres are certified for organic vegetable, flower and herb production.
“We believe that when we care for the Earth, we care for ourselves, each other and future generations while creating sustainable communities,” the farm’s website states. “When you put your hands in soil, whether you garden or farm, you connect yourself at the deepest level to life, nourishment and, ultimately, love. That is the deepest and most profound work of Homecoming.”
One of the earliest certified organic farms on Long Island, it was founded as Sophia Garden—named after Sister Sophia, an Amityville Dominican—in 1996. It went through a change roughly five years ago involving the incorporation of a stronger focus on sustainability and service. In short, Sophia Garden shifted from being an organic garden project to being an organic farm, and was renamed Homecoming Farm. Its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) organization now has around 75 members.
Yet, Homecoming Farm is more than just your run-of-the-mill farm, and its CSA is much more than the typical one, where once a week you collect your produce in boxes. On the contrary, when you join the farm’s certified organic CSA, you contribute a small amount of tax-deductible money so that 25 percent of the weekly harvests can be donated to The Inn (Interfaith Nutrition Network)—an organization that provides nutritious food to the needy in the community. “Sometimes they cook with it, or they distribute it,” says Executive Director of Homecoming Farm Elizabeth M. Keihm, who herself is a farmer. “We know they will make the decision how it will best be used.”
Keihm also explained that it isn’t just the donation to The INN that makes the farm unique. CSA members commit to working 15 hours over the course of the season. “This fosters a sense of community and engages the membership in the actual farm,” she explains.
“They interact closely with the farmers and become truly involved in the planting, growing and harvesting of the organic produce.” A belief that most organic farmers share is that planting diverse crops is better for the Earth and our nutrition. CSA members witness this while fulfilling their work requirement. “The beautiful thing about this approach is that you become in touch with the seasons,” she adds with a smile.
Educational opportunities also exist for visitors to learn how food grows. The farm is available for groups, schools and scouts to come and learn. With Long Island children growing up these days thinking their food comes from pack- ages, this is a wonderful experience. Homecoming Farm also host events, for a small fee, including Soul Collage, Serenity Sundays, and yoga.
When I visited Homecoming Farm in October, it was coming close to the end of its 22-week season, which runs from May through October. On a rainy Tuesday, which is one of two member “pick up” days, I was welcomed to the farm, where I witnessed members at work. Jane Anne was bringing collard greens and kale in from the field and bunching them in groups of 24, in preparation for the arrival of the 24 CSA members scheduled to pick up later that afternoon; tomatoes were being sorted by a group of women; Katherine was washing greens; and Barbara was cut- ting herbs and flower bouquets, which are also picked up with the produce.
The pick up is set up a bit differently than that of most CSAs, which merely entails picking up a prefilled box. Members choose from piles, allowing them to better select for their families; one pile of each vegetable is allowed. Some weeks are heavy with a certain crop. There is also a help-yourself table, where the extra or less-desirable vegetables, like bruised tomatoes, are placed. “Some of our members love this table the best, as they take the tomatoes and make a homemade sauce,” says Keihm.
So, what about Sophia Garden? It’s now an intergenerational organic garden geared to the needs of seniors— both visitors as well as those fulfilling their CSA work requirement. It allows them to experience working at the farm with raised beds and ergonomically correct tools to meet their particular needs.
Catherine Tamburino, a 10-year member, shares that her favorite part of being a member, like most of the members I spoke with, is being part of the process—seeing the organic vegetables planted and watching them grow. “Otherwise, you never know what the heck you are getting from the supermarket,” she says with a laugh.
Mitch, Barbara and Tom, other members whom I was fortunate to speak with that day, agree that this type of involvement has been a very rich and rewarding experience.
For more information, visit HomeComingEarth.org.
