Fledging Crow Vegetables

How two northerners 3,000 miles from home wound up doing community agriculture in Keeseville

Ian Ater and Lucas Christenson met as college kids from the U.S. volunteering on a community-farm project in Ecuador. When Ater, a Plattsburgh State alum, said he was heading home to try to find some land to farm in Northern New York, Christenson pledged to help if it panned out. That was in 2008; they’ve since turned their first four acres into 12. The farm runs under Certified Naturally Grown principles, meaning they use no artificial treatments or pesticides and their crop management doesn’t hurt the environment. A mix-and-match subscription CSA (community-supported agriculture) plan gives members fresh produce from June-October.

At a glance
  • CSA offers pickups in Keene Valley, Lake Placid, Plattsburgh, Saranac Lake, and the farm.
  • Annual Crowfest brings bands, food, local beer and more together 
  • WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) volunteers welcome