I had the privilege of writing about a fascinating family who is growing several delicious varieties of short-grain rice not far from where I live for
the new issue of Edible Hudson Valley.
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| Photo by Meredith Heuer for Edible Hudson Valley. |
I first met Nfamara and his wife, Dawn at a West African dance class I go to every week in Kingston, NY. Nfamara is a master drummer from the Gambia whose smiling presence is always a pleasure and his wife, Dawn, is an American woman who is a beautiful dancer. That was about all I knew about them until after a class last fall when our teacher, Pam, announced that Nfamara and Dawn had brought rice from their farm to sell if anyone was interested in buying a bag.
I was definitely interested. Nfamara and Dawn were growing rice? Here? In upstate New York? I had not even known it was possible! I thought most rice came from Asia though I knew there was some grown in California and that some native American tribes still harvested wild rice from lakes. My curiosity was piqued...
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| Photo by Meredith Heuer for Edible Hudson Valley. |
Long story short, my editor was interested, too, so I donned my rubber boots and headed out to their farm which is located in Ulster Park, right near Kingston, NY. It's called the
Ever-Growing Family Farm and, indeed, there family is expanding it quickly. Rice farming is in Nfamara's and his friend and farming partner, Tapha's blood - they are both from the Jola tribe in the Casamance region of Africa - a people for whom rice is synonymous with life.
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| Photo by Meredith Heuer for Edible Hudson Valley. |
You can
read more here. Or, better yet, if you're here in the Hudson Valley, they're having a
community rice harvest party this coming Saturday, October 8th and you're welcome to come help them harvest the rice. Dawn says they'll start around 10 AM and go 'til sunset. Bring a small sharp knife and boots. They will have food and Nfamara and Tapha will be demonstrating the traditional drum rhythms and songs that accompany the rice harvest (here's
a little preview from last year's harvest.) Come for the day or just for an hour. Raindate Sunday. Feel free to spread the word! Address is 115 Union Center Rd, Ulster Park, New York 12487. Give a ring if you need directions or have a question: (845) 750-7168
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| Photo by Meredith Heuer for Edible Hudson Valley. |
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