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We specialize
in Educational
School Tours |
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Hurds Farm School Tours |
Modena, NY 12548
(5 Miles South
of New Paltz)
Welcome to our farm!
The patchwork quilt history of Hurd's hundred year old farm is an example of good old Yankee ingenuity. In the early 1900s, Graham Hurd was a self sufficient Hudson Valley farmer. When son Melford Hurd joined him on the farm they grew small fruits: strawberries, raspberries, currents, and grapes, some of which were harvested and shipped along the Hudson River to New York City customers. In the mid 1900s, the family decided they enjoyed growing deciduous fruit trees such as cherries, peaches, pears, plums, and apples, thus replacing the small fruit. Apples and pears reigned king for the next seventy years!
Melford G. Hurd, known as "Pops," and his sons, Melvin and Jerome, and Jerome's son Phil and their families have continued to be land stewards, growing fruits and vegetables using IPM and ecological growing principles.
Two more bits and pieces in the farm's patchwork quilt: Around 1940 our farm worked with Cornell to create the first successful controlled atmosphere storage facility built in the US, which enabled growers to keep fruit fresh and top quality for market. Ten years later "Pops" Hurd had the foresight to dig several irrigation ponds just before severe droughts in 1955-1957 and the early 1960s.
Just as the roots of an apple tree grow deep, we are putting down some new roots in Agri-tainment! Seeing a golden opportunity in recreation and hospitality, our farm enjoys hosting an agri-tourism operation during the months of September and October. 1994 the Hurds openned a Dutch threshing barn among the scenic orchards on Route 32, to provide folks with a "Day in the Country" and a first hand farm experience. We are a family friendly farm and specialize in educational school group tours.
Chosen Pride of Ulster County's Small Business of the Year 2000.
Winner of the New York State Agritourism Award in 2003.
New York State Century Farm Award in 2005.
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Open Daily 10 AM - 5 PM September - October | |
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