Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming that enriches soil and promotes biodiversity, while restoring and enhancing ecosystems and watersheds. Regenerative practices capture carbon in soil, helping to reverse accumulation of atmospheric carbon.
Complementing work in farmland conservation and building on efforts to make the Hudson Valley more resilient to the impacts of climate change, founding member Scenic Hudson ramped up its collaboration with farmers and land trust partners to encourage the use of no-till and other regenerative agricultural techniques.
Scenic Hudson partnered with Hudson Carbon, which was founded at the Rockefeller Farms in Columbia County by farmer Ben Banks-Dobson and Abby Rockefeller to implement regenerative agricultural practices, to monitor their impact on greenhouse gases in soil and ambient air, and to create a platform for selling carbon credits associated with its practices.
Scenic Hudson was the first outside investor in the project, through the purchase of development rights on a farm added to the Rockefeller assemblage, with proceeds from the purchase dedicated to support the Hudson Carbon project. The Scenic Hudson Soil Laboratory was established in recognition of this investment and to support the ongoing analytical work at the farm.
Hudson Carbon partnered with the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole to deploy and monitor greenhouse gas and related water data on the farm. Ben Banks-Dobson and Matt Sheffer of Hudson Carbon have developed a real farm carbon offset marketplace that connects people to farmers practicing regenerative farming techniques and ecological restoration.
Keeping Carbon is a short film that powerfully conveys the commitment of Hudson Carbon and local farmers to find natural solutions to climate change.
Duke Farms is a leader in environmental stewardship and inspires visitors to become informed stewards of the land. It is a place of education, enjoyment and research that enhances the environmental health of the region. Through the beauty of its natural setting, the diversity of its wildlife, and the scope and quality of its educational programs, demonstrations, and research, Duke Farms inspires people to adopt the attitude of stewardship, protect the earth, and start building a more sustainable future.
learn moreGlynwood is a non-profit organization serving food and farming changemakers from New York’s Hudson Valley and beyond. They advance local food production in their region, as well as educate a national audience about efforts to regionalize food and agriculture. They are inspired by, and contribute to, aligned work far beyond the borders of the Hudson Valley. Guided by the highest standards of ecosystem, soil, animal, and community well-being, they promote regenerative agriculture in service of the natural environment, local economies, and human health.
learn moreHudson Carbon is an open source, collaborative research institute that studies the carbon storage potential of soil managed with regenerative agricultural practices that are profitable while improving soil health and function. These practices promote the sequestration and storage of carbon in plants and soils. Their mission is to establish the economics, ecological viability and carbon sequestration capacity of regenerative agricultural practices.
learn moreThe Hudson Valley Farm Hub is a non-profit center for resilient agriculture located on 1,500 acres of prime farmland in Hurley, NY. They provide professional farmer training, host and support agricultural research, demonstrate new farm technologies, and serve as an educational resource for advances in food and farming.
learn moreStone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture is the product of a collaborative agricultural and gastronomic experiment. Its seeds were planted in the 1990s by the Rockefeller family, together with conservation planners, organic farmers, chefs and many others who came together to set a common vision and purpose for the land. Their goal was to make the beauty and agricultural heritage of the property accessible to the public in hopes of establishing a dynamic campus of farmers, chefs and educators working together to inspire and reconnect the local community to food and farming. They envisioned a place where people could experience the land, farming and an ecological food culture; a place that would bring inspiration and innovation to our regional food system, informed by creativity and experimentation.
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