As a passionate livestock manager with a deep appreciation for the land, I'm committed to building farming systems that are both productive and in harmony with nature. My journey began at Sprout Creek Farm in Poughkeepsie, followed by an invaluable experience at Suny Morrisville, where I learned the ins and outs of Livestock management and agriculture business. I went on to start my own farm in the foothills of the Adirondacks, raising organic, grass-fed beef and dairy, as well as organic pigs and chickens.

My work is rooted in the principles of regenerative agriculture, focusing on practices like multi-species grazing to improve soil health and increase biodiversity. A stout believer in Holistic management and Holistic Planned Grazing, a key part of my philosophy is preserving native pollinator habitats within pasture systems, creating a thriving ecosystem for both my livestock and local wildlife. I also really enjoy working on systems that allow for farmers to have more efficient, safe and productive working environments.  There is no sound I love more than the gentle crunch of cows grazing. It's a reminder of the symbiotic relationship between animals and the land.

Beyond my hands-on experience, I've spent time learning about diverse farming styles on different farms throughout the Northeast and internationally, and I'm always eager to incorporate new perspectives. I believe in sharing knowledge and find immense joy in helping others get excited about their connection to food and the land that produces it.

On a personal note:

When I'm not on the farm, I'm often hiking or kayaking, or curled up with a good book—I have a serious book-buying habit. I also enjoy creating unique, cow-themed pottery, making plates, bowls, and mugs that celebrate my love for these amazing animals. Currently, I'm in law school, where I'm focused on understanding how the law can be used to protect our land and farms and farmer workers.

Nolan grew up just 40 minutes outside of the city and had only ever known the fast paced lifestyle that came along with it. After working many different customer service jobs, from landscaping, to teaching kids art, and even a museum security guard, Nolan and his family moved to Dutchess county for a change of pace. Taking the opportunity to explore what he really wanted to do, Nolan joined HVH in the spring of 2023 and hasn’t looked back since. By learning as much as he can each season, he has found himself as our new Crops Manager. Nolan looks forward to continuing to learn and do what he loves everyday. Which of course would be farming!

On a personal note:

When I’m not at the farm you’ll most likely find me with my nose in a book. I do love to get lost in a good fantasy story whether it be reading books or playing dungeons and dragons. I live in Poughquag with my partner and our dog Goose. If we’re not going out for ice cream dinner which is exactly what it sounds like, we’re probably watching a movie. Any and all kinds but if I could always have my pick it would be a shark movie despite my very irrational fear of them!

Aeo is a transplant to New York State, having spent their childhood and much of their early adulthood in Florida. Their career has spanned a variety of industries, but a common thread throughout has been operations, administration, and service. From working as a Clerk of the Court to serving as a business consultant and General Manager of an Ashram, Aeo has built a career helping organizations function effectively through thoughtful administration, financial management, and a steady focus on supporting the people around them.

Advocacy, conservation, and community engagement have also played an important role throughout Aeo's life. Whether volunteering with local organizations, supporting civic initiatives, or participating in efforts that promote fairness and inclusion, they have long been committed to strengthening communities and helping others find their voice.

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One a personal note:

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When not at work, I can usually be found watching a film, reading or writing science fiction and fantasy, or experimenting with international cuisines in the kitchen. While I have slowed down a bit with age, I still enjoy the occasional road trip and am always planning my next opportunity to explore a new horizon.

As the Product Development Manager, Diane’s focus is on how guests experience the Homestead through programs, experiences and objects. 

Diane comes to Harlem Valley Homestead with a varied background in the arts and design, ranging from organic cut flower farming at Four Season Farm to non-profit arts management. She holds an MFA in Applied Craft and Design and enjoys applying design thinking to problem solving the transformation of raw materials into value added products. Diane draws from the unfolding story of a person’s relationship with the Homestead, developing products as touchstones to capture the ephermal nature of a cooking workshop or a walk through the woods.

During HVH's development phase, she supports varied program development from planning the future cut flower program,  steering current community outreach programs, and trialing workshops.

One a personal note:

When not at the farm, you will most likely find me at home experimenting in the kitchen, hosting pizza parties with our wood-fired oven, or painting. The rest of my time is spent shuttling our kids around to various activities and slowly DIYing house projects on our mid-century New England cape. 

Eric oversees all farming operations for Harlem Valley Homestead. He has been farming for ten years in New York, Oregon, Virginia, Italy and Maine, where he managed Four Season Farm for Eliot Coleman and Barbara Damrosch. He specializes in small scale, intensive organic vegetable production, but has also raised many other annual and perennial crops, as well as cows, pigs, chickens, ducks and dairy goats. A graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont, he was born and raised in Portland, OR, where he had a reputation for enjoying yard work.

On a personal note:

When I'm not on the farm, I enjoy cooking, hiking, eating, skiing, and otherwise being outside. Family, friends, farming and food connect me to place and purpose, and my favorite experience with land is a long hike or ski. In my kitchen, you will find a mountain of vegetables, two Griswold #8 fryer pans, and a poodle asking for chicken.

Lynn Martin is the Managing Director at Harlem Valley Homestead. Born and raised in Wisconsin, farming is not unfamiliar to Lynn, and when she joined the team at Harlem Valley Homestead in 2018, it brought life full circle for her. Lynn brings a long and successful track record of expertise to human resources, finance, operations and business development. She has worked in a wide spectrum of industries with many years in hospitality where she managed popular resorts and hotels in the Rocky Mountains and on the California Coast.

It’s not uncommon to see Lynn walking the grounds with her dog Nelly Blue, and she can occasionally be found assisting with wrangling the cows, helping with a sick chicken or even aiding the farm team in delivering a calf.

Lynn has served on multiple boards, and as a longtime conservationist she currently serves on the board of directors for The Oblong Land Conservancy and holds licenses with the state of New York for wildlife rehabilitation and falconry.

On a Personal Note:

Lynn lives on the Ten Mile River in Dover Plains, and spending afternoons along the river while sharing time with good friends and her  two dogs is a favorite summer pastime. Because the farm is also on the Ten Mile River, she jokes that having been a commuter to New York City for so many years, she can now take an inner tube or kayak to work, though she jokes that it may take awhile! Lynn is also a wine making hobbyist, loves working in her own garden, and raises her own flock of chickens.

Josh has spent the last 22 years helping people find meaning and connection through food and farming. From 2008-2012 he served as president of Slow Food USA, the US branch of the global Slow Food movement.  Before his work at Slow Food, Josh was a founding director of the Yale Sustainable Food Project which built an organic farm on campus to bring local, sustainable food to the University.  Josh has been listed as one of the seven most powerful voices in the food movement by Forbes and Michael Pollan. Now he is working with friends and neighbors to develop Harlem Valley Homestead. Josh lives in the Harlem Valley, less than a mile from the farm, where he grows, forages, catches or hunts most of what he eats.

On a personal note:

I love to grow,  cook and share good food. To play old music with old friends. Fly tying and fishing.  Bowhunting for deer. And I love to share the things I love with others.