Blog

Welcome to the Opdyke Family Farm website!

In 2024, we embarked upon a dream to start a farm utilizing sustainable practices in growing and raising a diversity of produce and livestock.

Our passion for farming stems from many summers spent at our Grandparents’ farm, wanting to produce healthy food, and embracing a lifestyle that promotes enrichment opportunities for our family.

Prior to farming, my wife and I pursued rewarding careers in higher education as an environmental science professor and science writer. While we lived in the suburbs we found ways to garden and raise bees, sheep, and chicken. We encouraged our kids to participate in 4H, and to learn the value in giving back to the community.

Fast forward to today, we purchased a farm in the foothills of the Catskills in New York. Our livestock this year consists of chickens, pigs, and sheep, as well as keeping bees for honey. In between caring for livestock, we are investing in the future by planting blueberries and Christmas trees. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. Having devoted our careers to education in the sciences, we plan to restore eroded fields and hillslopes on our property and provide habitat for wildlife to ensure our land will be rich in resources long after we are gone.

I welcome you to join my family in our stories of success and challenges as we post weekly stories. Our stories will range from lessons learned, construction projects, conservation, and so much more.

Next week: Tapping trees for maple syrup

Fun fact: Weather is a critical factor in the final maple syrup product.