Gentle Time Farm

Old Chatham, NY

Gentle Time Farm, a trans and queer cooperatively owned vegetable farm, stands as a vibrant hub rooted in the Hudson Valley on Haudenosaunee and Mohican lands in Chatham, New York. With a deep commitment to cultural relevance and East Asian crops, the farm cultivates a diverse array of vegetables, from Gai Lan to Chrysanthemum. Beyond farming, the farm is a safe haven for BIPOC trans individuals, offering a unique space for daily engagement and sustainable livelihoods. Their emphasis on self-determination, abolishing hierarchy, and building interdependence shapes not only the farm but also influences the local food system they contribute to.

At Gentle Time Farm, apprentices engage in the daily rhythms of the farm, participating in harvests, wash-pack activities, seeding, planting, cultivating, and pruning. This hands-on experience involves no-till farming, caring for plants from seed to harvest, and mastering the tools involved, such as seeders, hoes, and rakes. Apprentices will grow their knowledge around East Asian cultivars such as Bok Choy, Water Spinach, Kkaennip, Shiso, Garlic Chives, Snow Peas, and how they can be grown in the valleys of New York. Working within a small team, apprentices learn the importance of self-determination and collaboration, discovering how teams can efficiently move together.

Gentle Time Farm actively contributes to its community by supplying hundreds of pounds of food three times a week to food pantries, mutual aid organizations, local co-ops, and select mission-aligned restaurants. Their engagement in Choy Commons, a farmer-led organization working on building food sovereignty in the northeast through AAPI community engagement, reflects a commitment to broader community initiatives. The farm hosts local cultural events, community days, and seasonal celebrations in collaboration with other QTBIPOC-led farm projects, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity.

Gentle Time's commitment to providing a safe space for BIPOC trans individuals to get involved in the farming community sets it apart from others. They seek to build a global majority-led farm that creates sustainable livelihoods for trans farmers like themselves.