Two New Stops!

We’re pleased to announce Ensign Brook Farm and Booth Farm as two new exciting stops along the 15-mile route.

A beautiful sheep farm, Ensign Brook has three different registered flocks - Romney, Merino-crosses, and Cheviot – which yield whole range of fibers.  This variety allows for interesting and unique yarns and roving, which are spun in small quantities to ensure quality.  Also available are watercolor and landscape paintings by Karin, the farmer herself!  You won’t want to miss what will surely be a fun stop!

Credit: http://www.ensignbrookfarm.com/fleece.html

Booth Farm has an interesting history and currently produces compost for sale.  From their website: “Six generations of Booths have run a dairy farm along the Hudson on what was originally part of the Schuyler Land Grant. The growth of the dairy business raised concerns for the surroundings, especially the beautiful Hudson River. Kevin Booth began experimenting with composting to better manage the animal waste. Today, after many years of experimentation, education, and determination, Booth’s Blend compost, an all natural product, is available to help you create beautiful plantings.”  Their farm overlooks the Saratoga Battlefield, a sight you won’t want to miss!

July 29th – Save the date!

We love our new promotional post card, designed by Heather Bellanca.  Keep an eye out for these beauties around town!

Tour de History

“Tour de Farm” is perhaps a slight misnomer, because the ride rolls through areas rich with significant historical influence.  ”Tour de Farm and History” better represents the tour, but is also a mouthful!  On the tour, not only will you see farms, but also many Revolutionary War historic sites.

In 1777, American soldiers fought two fierce battled against the British and forced surrender on the land which is now the Saratoga National Historical Park.  According to Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy’s The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World: from Marathon to Waterloo, the Saratoga Battles rank as the 13th most important battles in world history.

On the 35-mile route, you’ll pass through (and stop by) historic houses, farms and, significant sites of the Saratoga Battles, which include:

The Schuyler House

The Schuyler House is located 8 miles north of the Battlefield.

The Schuyler House is the restored country house of American General Philip J. Schuyler, a hero of the Saratoga Battles, both before and after the Revolutionary War.  The original house was actually burned by the British; the one that stands today was built in 1777.

Sword Surrender Site

“Surrender of General Burgoyne” by John Trumbull, 1822.

Faced with overwhelming numbers, Burgoyne surrendered his sword to General Gates on October 17, 1777.  Burgoyne’s depleted army, some 6,000 men, marched out of its camp “with the Honors of War” and  stacked its weapons along the west bank of the Hudson River at the Field of Grounded Arms.

Freeman Farm Overlook

The view from the former farm site. Although the view is mostly obscured from heavy tree growth, the view remains similar to what it was in 1777.

Major fighting took place on the land leased from farmer John Freeman, a loyalists who went north and joined British forces, on September 19, 1777.

The Neilson House 

From the Neilson House, one has an almost 360-degree view of the battlefield.

Built by John and Lydia Neilson in 1775 or 1776, the infamous General Benedict Arnold used this house as headquarters in 1777.  Today, it looks much the same and will be host to a “Progressive Encampment” during Tour de Farm.

Think you’ll be tired from all that biking? Imagine these soldiers and their families who marched many miles on foot!

The Saratoga National Historical Park was first authorized as a New York State historical preserve in 1927 and was made part of the National Park Service when authorized by Congress in 1938.

Ready for Rhubarb Season?

Despite this year’s erratic weather, in May one can safely say that spring is here.  One of the earliest indicators of spring are the tart red and pink stalks of the rhubarb plant.

http://straightfromthefarm.net/2010/07/05/baked-rhubarb-cream/

Often paired with strawberries, rhubarb crumble is a very easy, delicious dessert to make.  Here’s a great recipe, in case you pick some up at the farmer’s market or in your own backyard!

Fun fact:  Rhubarb is usually considered to be a vegetable; however, a New York court decided in 1947 that since it was used in the United States as a fruit, it was to be counted as a fruit for the purposes of regulations and duties.  This new order caused a reduction on imported rhubarb tariffs, as tariffs were higher for vegetables than fruits.

New stop this year!

Riders on the 35-mile route are in for a treat this year when we stop at the beautiful 40-year old, 400-acre McMahon Thoroughbred Farm!

http://mcmahonthoroughbreds.com/farm-facilities.shtml

Saratoga Springs is renowned for it’s rich history, but is perhaps most well known for the Saratoga Race Course.  Open since 1864, the Saratoga Race Course became wildly popular among the rich and famous, already flocking to Saratoga from New York City for its natural mineral springs.

The combination of the glamourous racetrack, casino, and an ever-growing number of resorts and spas made Saratoga Springs the perfect getaway for the wealthy of the Victorian Era.

Read more about the history of horse racing in Saratoga Springs!

The Historic Barns of Nipmoose

Agriculture has played a key role in the formation of the Hudson Valley’s landscape, as well as its identity.   Today, it remains an important and viable industry in the Hudson Valley.

Consider these statistics:  (which also can be found in this report by the Glynwood Center)

• NYS has the third highest dairy sales in the nation;
• As of 2007, the Hudson Valley was comprised of 848,456 acres of farmland (17% of the entire region);
• 38% of those acres lay in Washington County (home of Tour de Farm!); 20% in Rensselaer and 15% in Saratoga.

At the Troy Farmers’ Market

Words for Thought

 Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.

- Letter from Thomas Jefferson to George Washington (1787)

Quick: who was the leader of the patriots?

Tom Brady.  George Washington, of course!  Today, we celebrate his 280th birthday.

Washington didn’t get a Google Doodle for his birthday (Heinrich Rudolf Hertz – the German physicist who proved the existence of electromagnetic waves – did), but we think he deserves a shout-out on our blog.  He was, after all, the first president of our country.  Although he did not fight in the Battles of Saratoga in 1777, Washington restored the momentum for the patriots after defeating the British in two battles and retaking New Jersey. Certainly, his victories inspired the American troops in upstate New York to win the Battles of Saratoga and thus change American and world history.

Tour de Farm calls to mind Washington often, as half of our route takes place in Washington County, NY.  It’s only fitting a county rich with agriculture and beautiful landscapes is named after George Washington.  Our first president was a successful and passionate planter at his estate in Virginia.  Initially, Washington grew tobacco and exported the in-demand crop like many fellow  colonists; however, he switched over to wheat in the mid 1760s.  Wheat allowed him to package and sell to colonists, rather than exporting his crop overseas.  He further diversified Mt. Vernon to include flour milling, fishing, horse breeding, spinning, weaving and (in the 1790s) whiskey production.  Over the course of his time at Mt Vernon, Washington experimented with over 60 different types of crops and selectively bred sheep.  After his presidency, he spent his time tending to building repairs, entertaining, and (of course) gardening at Mt Vernon.

For years, Mt Vernon was filled with rose gardens and boxwoods, a romantic projection of an 18th century gentleman farmer. Today, the garden attempts historic accuracy. Above, a Mt. Vernon volunteer tends to the kitchen garden.

Washington on gardening:

“Bad seed is a robbery of the worst kind: for your pocket-book not only suffers by it, but your preparations are lost and a season passes away unimproved.”
-George Washington

 

All Things Schuyler

Chances are, if you’re interested in Tour de Farm, you’re at least somewhat familiar with the area, Schuylerville included.  And that means you probably know about the Schuyler House.  Maybe you’ve even been there once or twice on a third grade field trip.  Or you’ve driven by it.  Or you’ve just driven by a sign that says Schuyler House and an arrow pointing you there.  But, did you also know there’s a Schuyler Mansion in Albany?

That’s not all.  Turns out, if you’re a hotshot from the Revolutionary War, lots of things get named after you.  (Even if your name is hard to spell, like his.)  In addition to Schuylerville, NY, there’s also a county in this fine state of New York and also in Illinois named, aptly, Schuyler County.  Furthermore, Fort Schuyler, constructed in 1833, now houses the Maritime Industry Museum and SUNY Maritime College.  There’s also a Philip Schuyler Achievement Academy in Albany named in honor of the General and his son, Philip J. Schuyler, who served in the House Representatives.  And, if you’re curious as to what Schuyler looks like, a statue of our friend Phil stands in front of Albany’s city hall.

The dashing fella himself, General Philip Schuyler.