Gaia's Breath Farm

Mark Santoro was working on his Ph.D. in philosophy before he decided to start an organic farm. His search for a nourishing, life affirming activity ended on 240-acres of land, nestled between the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains, in a rural town called Jordanville. Mixing new technology with old foundational methodologies, he and his partner set out to show the world what a small farm can be at its optimum; the duo grows 35 different varieties of organic vegetables and raise Icelandic lamb, heritage pork and poultry.

For Santoro it seemed only natural to name his farm after the earth itself. "Gaia-- the concept of the earth as a living entity, really appeals to me in regard to farming," he says. "I thought of Gaia as being present as this living energy flowing all throughout the farm."

For Santoro the most challenging thing about farming is the workload combined with time restraints. But he says he loves the challenge and the sense of accomplishment he gets from farming. "We work extremely hard at farming. The end result, say a double cut large black pork chop, is an awesome sight because we know how much we had to do to create that chop," he says. "Farming is an amazing life. It fully envelopes and puts one in contact with primal nature in a way most people can only imagine. A farmer is responsible for death; slaughtering animals, as well as life; the farm's new offspring. Not much can match such grand responsibility."