A New Paltz farm is proving resilient in the face of recent fall floods, though staff could not avoid shutting down some of its popular Halloween activities.
Wallkill View Farm is located on Route 299 in an area known as ‘The Flats,’ just west of the village of New Paltz along the Wallkill River.
The flats flooded this week for the second time this fall.
What You Need To Know
- Danica Ferrante, who runs the farm's market, said the farm did not lose many crops in low-lying areas this week because flooding from Hurricane Ida had already wiped them out seven weeks ago
- One notable loss for the community is the corn maze, which is closed for the rest of the season due to flooding
- Portions of Springtown Road were still closed to traffic Thursday afternoon
Danica Ferrante, who runs the farm market, said the farm did not lose many crops in low-lying areas this week because flooding from Hurricane Ida had already wiped them out seven weeks prior.
“There wasn’t as much in the fields to be lost from this storm,” she said.
The storm took out much of the farm’s pumpkins, tomatoes, cauliflower and string beans. Ferrante said even one fall-time flooding event can serve as a major setback for a farm and they have been happening more frequently than in decades past.
“We usually get a little bit of a spring flood, which doesn’t impact our crops too badly because it’s early in the growing season and we don’t have a lot planted yet,” she explained. “But when we do get a flood in the fall, during harvest time, it’s much, much more difficult.”
Ferrante wanted customers to know the farm market is still operating as usual and the farm has not shut down for the season, though it might seem closed at first glance from the road.
One notable loss for the community though is the corn maze has been closed for the rest of the season due to the flooding.
Ferrante mentioned a local teacher who wanted to bring their class one day after school this week, and unfortunately, they’re not going to be able to do that.
She said the farm staff has already regrouped. She said one of her favorite components of this business is that there is always a new upcoming season for which to plan.
“There’s always a new focus for every season … and our next season is winter,” she said. “We’re looking forward to setting up our Christmas trees, our wreathes and poinsettias."
The farm market was not flooded during either of this fall’s storms.
Getting there, though, was challenging at times. Portions of Springtown Road were still closed to traffic Thursday afternoon.