Reviews for: Kristy's Barn
Hundreds of deer, nearly 300 in 2011, are killed by growers locally in order to get their fruits and vegetables to the market. As recently as the summer of 2011, over sixty local farms and orchards obtained hundreds of free Deer Damage Permit tags. In the dark of the night, right in and alongside the rows of growing fruits and vegetables you purchase, the farmer or their designated agents are spotlighting and shooting, even baiting the deer. In some instances the deer effortlessly approach the crops trying to grab an easy meal. Some farms and orchards have no fence and the deer come from miles around as the fragrant fruits and vegetables begin to ripen. The shooting goes on all summer long, until the beginning of hunting season, with little or no evening-hours oversight from the gutted out state agencies issuing the permits. There is no third party watchdog visiting the farms and orchards to see what is being done at night, perhaps too often by uneducated farmhands only required to have a hunting license. Farmers getting the permits are fully responsible for the actions of the agents and cannot distance themselves from the process. You should feel comfortable asking them for a full explanation of their culling of deer and what is being done to minimize the number of deer killed. It is fair to ask to talk to the agent doing the shooting. Some farmers are leaving fallen fruits and vegetables lying on the ground, which only makes the situation worse. Some are offering only the deer meat to their agents as compensation for the killing, adding incentive to kill as many deer as possible, and of all sizes. Some are shooting the deer and leaving them to die. History shows that relying on the self regulation of sometimes struggling businessmen is rarely a good idea, trust but verify.
Also, school districts entering into contracts with local farms need to assure the district residents and students that all efforts are being taken to eliminate summertime killing of deer by the farmers unless absolutely necessary. The excuse that they cannot afford to buy fence is just not good enough. Ask if the deer killing is taken into consideration when deciding to award the rather lucrative local farm to school contracts. Before joining a CSA make sure that your produce areas are fenced to keep out niusance animals, minimizing killing, and ask the farmer to see their deer damage management plan in writing.
Comment
Kristy's Barn has been dealing with a neighbor in court over a property line. Coincidentally, when that dispute started an individual began making false claims about our farming practices. We have taken action with this individual, however what has been wrongly put on the internet continues to misguide our customers, and negatively impact and hurt our business. Our family has dedicated our lives to safely producing quality and healthy food and has been feeding the capital district community for over 100 years. We hold ourselves and our businesses to high standards and have evolved and will continue to evolve our practices in order to protect the natural environment that we rely on and love so much. While we do struggle at times with deer populations and have in the past been issued limited nuisance permits by the State of New York, (a credible and responsible hunter hunts under those permits for us using the meat himself and at times donating it to local shelters), that is always a last resort, (if hanging human hair, soap bars, and other natural remedies do not work). We understand and respect that a portion of all of our crops are going to be fed to the wildlife we share our land with, and plant many of our crops to account for those losses. To learn more about New York State's management of deer populations to minimize the spread of lyme disease, prevent overpopulation induced starvation, protect plant and animal species, minimize deer related motor vehicle accidents visit NYS Department of Environmental Conservation website - http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7211.html#DeerPlan
I love watching the family work together and Sue (their longest employee) is an absolute wonder-woman! She knows how to cook anything and everything, and is such a gem! Kristy grows the most beautiful hanging baskets I have ever seen and will tell you exactly how to keep them alive and gorgeous! Last year I gave my entire family hanging baskets and potted plants for their birthdays and special occasions and they couldn't believe how long into the Summer/Fall they survived! The greenhouse behind the store is magical when filled with blooming flowers!
***They have recently started carrying Oscars from Warrensburg, NY which is wonderful! I don't have to drive all the way up North to get my favorite treats, I can just drive a few miles from Albany to Kristy's Barn.
Stop by, you won't regret it!
-Kim L. Smith (Albany, NY)
Comment
Our family has dedicated our lives to safely producing quality and healthy food and has been feeding the capital district community for over 100 years. We hold ourselves and our businesses to very high standards and have evolved and will continue to evolve our practices in order to protect the natural environment that we rely on and love so much. While we do struggle at times with deer populations and have in the past been issued limited nuisance permits by the State of New York, (we ourselves do not hunt, a credible and responsible hunter hunts under those permits - using the meat himself and at times donating it to local shelters), that is always a last resort. Other tactics we use include hanging human hair clippings, soap bars, and just planting enough for our community and the deer and other critters who live around. While it would be nice to just keep the deer away with fences, that is simply unrealistic and would impact other wildlife populations we depend on. Deer can jump 8+ feet and fencing in our farm is not financially plausible. Additionally it would prevent the prey animals such as foxes and coyotes from helping to naturally manage other pest populations, (mice, rabbits, woodchucks, etc.) To learn more about New York State's management of deer populations to minimize the spread of lyme disease, prevent overpopulation induced starvation, protect plant/animal species, and minimize deer related motor vehicle accidents visit NYS Department of Environmental Conservation website - http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7211.html#DeerPlan