March 20, 2020

Dear Friends of Stony Kill,

Spring blooms with eternal hope. While this spring is clouded with the global spread of Covid-19, hope is stirring at Stony Kill Farm. This virus has left us feeling vulnerable and scared for ourselves and our loved ones, casting a shadow over the beautiful things that are unfolding all around us, but spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. The bluebirds are singing and building nests in the bluebird houses along the farm lane and the woodcocks are conducting courtships flights along the woodlands edges as each day draws to a close. The cattle at the farm will soon be eating the fresh green grass of the pastures and the sheep are giving birth to lambs.

In a time when we are practicing social distancing and group activities are being cancelled, we can still go outside and breathe the fresh air, feel the warm rays of sunlight on our face and enjoy the outdoors. Over the years, much research has proven that fresh air and sunlight are natural disinfectants. During the Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918, outdoor hospitals were set up and people who breathed fresh air recovered quicker than those who didn’t. TB patients often recovered in the Adirondacks, where even on the coldest winter days they were bundled up to soak in the winter sun and breathe the balsam-filtered air outdoors. Even without any research to validate this truth, instinctively we feel better after some time outdoors.

Though we can’t offer our usual public activities on the farm, we want to remind you Stony Kill remains open sun up to sun down.  We invite you, our friends, to come and enjoy the outdoors.  Here are some ideas of how you can still enjoy Stony Kill Farm:

The Stony Kill Foundation is charged with overseeing the daily operations of Stony Kill and fulfilling the mission to educate the public about the historical, agricultural and environmental heritage of Stony Kill Farm. Please consider supporting the work of the Foundation by becoming a member. If you join today, we will send you a special Stony Kill tote bag and keep you updated for certain members-only events such as our members-only lecture series, and a behind-the-scenes tour of Stony Kill that will be scheduled after the Covid-19 crisis passes. In addition, plans are underway to revive the Stony Kill Almanac that will be printed bi-annually for members only.

Thank you for supporting the Foundation and Stony Kill Farm.

Sincerely,


Tim Stanley, Board President