When it comes to fresh milk, food pantries keep it local

CORNWALLVILLE―It may not be long before little Edith Mary is running things at End of the Lane Farm, a proud member of the provident Farm to Food Pantry Milk Program in Greene County.

The three-year-old Em (for short) has her own front seat in the family’s John Deere, struts her stall-mucking rubber boots and isn’t a bit bashful about expressing herself, say mom and dad Amanda and Jay Sharkey.

“She can for sure tell you what needs to get done,” says Amanda Sharkey, smiling.

“We don’t have a TV. She’s not playing on her phone all day. She’s with us all day, every day, seeing life as it is,” she added.

While innocence still prevails for Em, the way life is for many breadwinners means having to make ends meet as prices rise faster than summer corn. Which is why food pantries are truly earning their keep.

“The Greene County Food Security Coalition has been purchasing fresh milk from the End of The Lane Farm for food pantries across Greene County,” says Charlotte Carter, director of the Coxsackie Area Food Pantry.

“Having fresh, locally produced milk is really appreciated by our members and the people we serve,” Carter says, noting milk purchased from the Regional Food Bank or donated locally is usually just about to expire.

“For the last six months funding for this program was provided by Scenic Hudson through Feeding Hudson Valley. The coalition is planning to raise $8,000 to continue this program for another six months,” Carter said.

“Greene County Community Action has kindly agreed to accept donations and pay the invoices. Distribution is handled by volunteers from the Athens Community Farm, the Coxsackie Area Food Pantry and Mountaintop Cares Coalition,” she added.

Many hands are making lighter work and, in turn, gratefully welcomed at End of the Lane Farm, located at 601 Sutton Road in the hills above the village of Cornwallville.

“They are a godsend,” says Jay Sharkey, a retired New York City Police Department detective who spent many youthful summers on the farm, originally settled by his great-grandfather, Osmer Sutton.

Osmer Sutton moved from the mountaintop town of Ashland to the relative low country around 1900, followed by his son Eric.After a short period of laying quiet, the farm was re-enlivened by great grand nephew Jay.

The story is similar for Amanda, growing up in nearby Middleburgh, near Windy Ridge Road which, right away, tells a person something about what life is like there.

“We weren’t at the very top but we were up there,” says Amanda whose great grandparents had the Mercer Farm in Preston Hollow.

So, being closely in touch with the weather and a tough-as-nails work ethic are nothing new for Jay or Amanda and now little Em with her you-know-what kickers and look-you-square-in-the-eye attitude.

End of the Lane Farm also has its own farm store across from its driveway.

On any given day and during whatever season, the store features Amish goods, area bakery breads, butter, cheese, meats, local eggs and its own milk, processed at a creamery in Johnstown.

On one shelf is End of the Lane Farm honey, Walnut Creek Mustard and ketchup, herbal teas and spices like cloves and nutmeg. On another shelf are jars of Better Than Bouillon (beef or garlic base), Himalayan salt, dried kiwi, raisins and papaya chunks, chocolate covered peanut clusters and caramel turtles.

But nothing has changed much in the past century-and-a-quarter about being dependent on the land for livelihood, particularly with the cost of daily necessities―and not just food―climbing like unpulled weeds.

“We aren’t complainers,” Jays says. “Amanda and I are both well aware of the financial strain of milking cows, paying for equipment and keeping a farm going. We know we aren’t alone in watching every dollar. “

“The milk program is a lifesaver for us,” he said. “Not only because of the price of things. We wholesale our milk locally to only ten places.”

“It takes enough work and gas just delivering to those ten places, as far away as Athens and Rensselaerville and a lot of places in-between,” Jay added.

“If we didn’t have the food pantry, we’d have to deliver further and more than that, they take 500 half gallons of milk a month plus they pick it up. This is an awesome partnership,” he said.

To support the Farm to Food Pantry Milk Program, checks may be sent to Community Action of Greene County, 7856 Route 9W, Catskill, NY 12414. Please note “GCFSC” in the memo line.