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May 27, 2007

Cross Island Farms Revives the Farming Tradition on Wellesley Island

David Belding and Dani Baker pose in front of Cross Island Farms' roadside stand at 44301 Cross Island Road, Wellesley Island, where they will be selling island grown certified organic produce this season.

Clayton residents Dani Baker and David Belding are reviving the tradition of farming on Wellesley Island on their newly established “Cross Island Farms.”

In early 2005 Dani and Dave purchased the former Harden dairy farm on Cross Island Road where Claude Harden sold fresh vegetables after discontinuing his dairy business. In 2006 they began growing Certified Organic fruits and vegetables for retail sale. This season their produce is available at the Alexandria Bay Farmer’s Market beginning May 18; at Cross Island Farm’s roadside stand (44301 Cross Island Road, on the way to the Nature Center on Wellesley Island), starting Memorial Day Weekend; and in a limited enrollment CSA delivered in Clayton beginning in June. This Summer and Fall their gourmet produce will also be found on the menus of area restaurants including Wellesley Island’s Hart House Inn and Clayton’s Harbor Inn.

This season Dave and Dani are experimenting with well over 100 varieties of colorful heirloom and gourmet vegetables. Late Spring’s specialty salad greens, multicolored radishes, and sugar snap peas will be followed by several varieties of beets, broccoli, carrots, beans, collards, chard, summer squash, tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, and Wellesley Island grown organic sweet corn. Later in the season, cauliflower, melon, winter squash, onions. leeks, parsnips, Brussels sprouts and pie pumpkins will round out the fare. In the future, the farm plans to produce more of the most popular varieties as well as continue to experiment with new ones.

In addition to vegetables, pure Wellesley Island Maple Syrup produced in Cross Island Farm’s own sugar bush will be offered for sale while it lasts.

Cross Island Farms is also establishing a small vineyard with the latest varieties of cold hardy grapes bred for table, juice and wine. In three or four years when the vineyard matures, the grapes will be retailed for fresh eating as well as for juice for hobby wine-makers.

Cross Island Farms invites the public to visit its farm stand at 44301 Cross Island Road, its web-site, www.crossislandfarms.com, or to call Dani or Dave at 686-3751 for more information or to arrange a farm tour.

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