About Odd Crop
Two friends who started farming several years ago, and just couldn’t jump ship! After years of working at various organic veggie productions in the Hudson Valley, Central New York, and Pennsylvania. Both of us wanted to start a small veggie farm that focused on high-quality food, climate-centric practices, and produced at a scale that wouldn’t exploit other workers. And so became Odd Crop.
Odd Crop is now situated on 6 acres in Lebanon, New York. Surrounded by rolling hills of other small farms and good local community. We grow over 180 varieties of diversified vegetables, herbs, and flowers on mostly raised beds. All of which are hand-tended and carefully farmed with organic techniques.
At Odd Crop, everything we do is for the long-term health of our ecosystem and community. No chemical pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or synthetic fertilizers are ever used on our farm. Besides our initial tractor tilling, everything we do is by hand. We hand dig and build every raised bed, transplant every seed/plant, and hand weed whenever possible. This is what we mean by slow grown.
2024 was our first production year, but we hope to be in it for the long haul. Shout out to all the mentors, colleagues, friends, and community who have helped us to get here. Farming does not exist without people, and we hope to honor that.
Want to learn more about our growing practices? Read more here.
The Farmers
-
Virginia Forester
ODD CROP CO-FARMER
Howdy! Virginia grew up in Baldwinsville, NY, and has been farming on and off since 2018. She’s farmed at Winds Of Change CSA and Common Thread Farm in Central New York as well as in Clarks Summit, PA. Virginia has always wanted to work outdoors and graduated from ESF (College of Environmental Science & Forestry) in 2022.
Since childhood, Virginia wanted to start a farm, but for many years did not think it would be possible. Now she’s extremely excited to do it on her terms and has decided to prioritize happiness and health over monetary gain. The goal for Virginia is to be outside, hanging with friends, and eating good food. At Odd Crop, Virginia is the jack of all trades, whether it be a mechanical fix or organizing spreadsheets, she has the details locked down. She also is the first to suggest an ice cream break! There is no one on earth who appreciates ice cream more than Virginia.
-
Leigha Morris
ODD CROP CO-FARMER
Leigha grew up in Eaton, NY, and comes from a long line of farmers. In truth, she never imagined that she would be farming or back to living in Central New York. But so goes the fun of life.
Originally, Leigha worked in the creative space for small businesses and startups. That is until six years ago, when she landed in the Hudson Valley and fell right back into the dirty jeans and fingernails lifestyle. She began farming at Little Seed Gardens organic veggie farm, which changed her life for the better. Served as the Gleaning Coordinator for Long Table Harvest for three years, and expanded their services to a Seedling Distribution program and Community Supported Shares program. Then eventually became the Marketing Manager for Hudson Harvest + Field Goods. For Leigha, farming is as much about the people as it is about the plants and place. Mutual aid and land access are also huge focuses for her. Plus, swim breaks, afternoon crafts, and inter-generational hangs.
