About Our Farm
The ELIJA Farm is a sustainable, non-profit farm in South Huntington, NY committed to using environmentally responsible practices to raise high quality produce. The ELIJA Farm CSA (community supported agriculture) is dedicated to enriching the health and wellness of our community through dynamic learning opportunities to its diverse membership.
With rich soil and responsible growing practices, we provide an abundance of fresh vegetables, herbs, and flowers to dozens of local families and organizations. Our vegetables are hand-picked, hand-tended, carefully cultivated, and harvested for peak nutrition and flavor.
ELIJA Farm is unique in being a non-profit farm. All revenue from our CSA and other farm related activities help support innovative, farm-based learning experiences for differently-abled persons, and our Long Island community.
Our Story
Special education expert Debora Thivierge founded ELIJA Farm as a non-profit project in 2016. The land had been owned and farmed by the Foglia family for more than 50 fruitful years. Farmers and educators Larry Foglia and Heather Forest were in search of new stewards of their fields. With a shared passion for sustainable agriculture and experiential learning, Deb and Randy collaborated with Larry and Heather to evolve the vision of the farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. ELIJA Farm’s unique CSA model offers programmatic opportunities for diverse populations and integrates members into the life and community of the farm. Larry and Heather serve as the farm’s primary agricultural consultants.
Our farm practices
ELIJA Farm is committed to using environmentally responsible practices to raise our high-quality produce. Our soil is our treasure; it is nurtured to produce bountiful, great tasting, and nutritious produce. ELIJA Farm uses (OMRI) certified fertilizers and pesticides, as well as exclusively using non-GMO seeds. We enrich our soil with compost, well matured matter, and cover crops. Our produce is hand-tended and hand-picked at its peak flavor and nutrition.
ELIJA Farm combines cutting edge technology with time tested farming techniques. We start with certified, non-GMO seeds from the most reputable local suppliers, as well as our own seed stock saved from past seasons. We refer to Cornell Cooperative Extensions network of agricultural data gathering weather stations to monitor environmental conditions across Long Island. This helps us anticipate and mitigate pathogen and insect threats before they occur. Pest deterrence is further bolstered through an integrated pest management system which includes companion plantings (which attract both predatory and pollinating insects), handpicking pests when we see them, physical barriers such as row covers.
Our farming efforts are supported by ELIJA Farm’s diverse, well established, and vibrant ecosystem, which includes songbirds, barn swallows, hawks and beneficial insectary.
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