Shoving Leopard Farm
Shoving Leopard Farm is a 2-acre, Certified Naturally Grown farm located in the Hudson Valley, overlooking the Hudson River and the Catskills beyond . I am committed to providing the highest quality flowers and garlic for my local community, while promoting environmentally and socially sustainable practices.
The Garden
The permanent beds are designed around the pick-your-own flower labyrinth in the center of the farm, and are planted out with over 300 varieties of annual, biennial, and perennial flowers.
Being Certified Naturally Grown means that I use no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. I rely on OMRI certified fertilizers, well-finished compost, cover crops, applications of compost tea and fish emulsion for fertility. I use crop rotation, vegetative barriers, soap, garlic, and pepper sprays, chicken detail, pheromone traps, and manual squishing for pest-control. By improving soil tilth, increasing organic matter, and promoting biodiversity in the soil and in the crops, I try to create an environment that allows for a sustainable production of healthy and abundant crops.
My small hoop house serves as a potting shed in early spring, a hot house in the summer, a curing station in the fall, and a refuge from weather for my hens in the winter.
My flowers are primarily grown for CSA members who come once a week throughout the summer season to pick their own bouquets from the labyrinth. I also offer bouquet subscriptions for spring flowers, summer blooms, and fall dahlias.
I also grow specialty flowers for local farm stands, florists, designers, as well as for DIY weddings and other events.
Marina; Owner, Grower
Even as a child, I always wanted to be outdoors. In school I counted down the seconds to recess, and routinely escaped from home to play in the nearby park. In high school, I spent a semester at the Mountain School in Vermont, and the world of homestead-style organic farming was opened up to me. I knew then that I would grow up to be a farmer - I'd be outdoors in all kinds of weather, and could get my clothes as dirty as I wanted!
In 2006, after years almost 10 years of volunteering, apprenticing, and working on all sorts of farms, I finally started my own farm on land that has been in my family since 1688, and have had dirt under my fingernails ever since.
Louis; Carpenter, Musician, Painter, and Site Archeologist
Louis joined the fold in 2006 and has contributed significantly to the farm by lending his expertise in framing (for various chicken coops, chicken tractors, and greenhouse end-walls), music (keeping the hens entertained and the crows at bay), fine arts (capturing the flower labyrinth in all its splendor), and metal detectoring (finding various tools – and rings – dropped in the weeds or compost).
The birds
The chickens earn their keep in the garden by trimming the grassy walkways, fertilizing beds, and controlling the Japanese beetle population. They spend some time in chicken tractors, some time in protected runs, and free-ranging in the winter.
Over the years, the flock has included Rhode Island Reds, Wyandottes, Auracana, Hamburgs, Buff Orpington, Black Australorps, Speckled Sussex, Cucoo Marans Copper Marans (whose eggs are almost purple), Faveroles, Welsummers, a pair of ducks and a pair of Toulouse geese. This motley flock lays a spectacular mix of eggs ranging from pearly white to dark chocolate brown to blue and green - with perfect omega 3 and 6 balance.
Mila; Resident Mutthound, Squirrel and Woodchuck Chaser
Mila is charged with vermin control, and has so far kept some deer out of the garden, and has eaten a few baby mice. She can hopefully continue in this vein, and help keep the gardens deer, squirrel, mouse, and chuck free.
She is an especially effective landscape fabric weight on windy days.
She also loves children and the chickens.
Photo by Erika Stephens
Vigilance is key. N.b. the deer tracks on the landscape fabric.