Episode #58: Megan Durney, Kim Vaughan - Threefold Community Farm, Chestnut Ridge, NY

MICROCOLLEGE: The Thoreau College Podcast

This week on the podcast I speak with Kim Vaughan and Megan Durney of the Threefold Community Farm in Chestnut Ridge, NY, just outside of New York City. Threefold Community Farm is one of the key centers for the practice of biodynamic agriculture, as well as the training of biodynamic farmers through the Pfeiffer Center. Biodynamic agriculture is a spiritually-informed model of farming flowing from the work of Rudolf Steiner and it has had a big impact as one of the original forms of organic agriculture. Join us to learn more about the rich cultural community in which the Threefold Community Farm is located as well as about how they work to train students and farm interns in the heightened forms of perception and awareness that are required by biodynamics.

Megan Durney is Co-Manager of Threefold Community Farm. She collaboratively oversees the vegetable, nursery plant, herb, seed and bee operations, heads up intern training, is an instructor in their One-Year Part-Time Training in Biodynamics, and serves as a board member of the Nature Institute. Megan joined the Pfeiffer Center as an intern in 2006 and became a staff member in 2010. In 2014-2015, she studied seed saving and CSA management under Harald Hoven at Raphael Garden in Fair Oaks, CA, later bringing that knowledge back to the Pfeiffer Center and launching a thriving CSA program, now in its ninth season.

Kim Vaughan is Herdsperson and Dairy Manager of Threefold Community Farm, heading up the only dairy herd in Rockland County, NY. She supports all aspects of farm operations, fundraising and administration. Kim first met biodynamics at a year-long course with Harald Hoven at Raphael Garden in Fair Oaks, CA. She soon joined their CSA and became a star volunteer, serving on the steering committee, organizing fundraisers, and milking the cows on weekends. In 2016, Kim stepped away from Waldorf kindergarten teaching to become a full-time apprentice at Raphael Garden, followed by a summer at Fulcrum Farm in Grass Valley, CA, where she helped tend a small herd of Scottish Highland cows. She is currently in her seventh season living her dream job of professional cow cuddler.

Threefold Community Farm & the Pfeiffer Center - https://threefoldcommunityfarm.org/

Thoreau College - https://thoreaucollege.org