Louise Johnson

Good food means health means protected farmland. Upstate is prolific with struggling, deserted and foreclosing farms.

So I decided, after decades of firsthand observation of exponentially increasing health problems among my urban students and own children and friends, along with the observation that dietary changes could restore health to the asthmatic, the allergic, etc,--- that I would buy and protect a farm.

A scenic 170 acre bicentennial farm was for sale in rural Sharon Springs and local residents had even contributed to a fund to lower its price and perhaps prevent its going to developers.  After my purchase was completed, I asked the Schoharie Land Trust to attach a conservation agreement to the deed, thereby committing to supervise this “easement” for me by annual inspections into the future, engaging with future owners.

This beautiful farm, which I resold to knowledgeable fulltime farmers, is now a cutting-edge all-grassfed organic dairy, selling milk for local yogurt production, Struggling, yes. But dharma lea farm is not 15 private homes with lawns, garages, paved streets. It is nourishing food for thousands.

And I have become a very small scale organic egg “farmer” nearby. It is fun to contribute to the common good through healthy food.

 --Louise Maher-Johnson