According to its executive director, Seed Song Farm and Center is addressing concerns brought forth by area residents as well as Ulster County and the Town of Ulster to ensure total transparency and establishing themselves as a good neighbor.
For the past year, neighbors have reported concerns about the prevalence of tents and campers used to house farm workers. On Wednesday, August 20, the Ulster County Health Department inspected the property at 160 Esopus Avenue and claimed the living conditions were substandard.
The Town of Ulster also said the arrangements were not in compliance with municipal zoning regulations.
In an interview with Hudson Valley One last week, Christopher “Creek” Iversen said he’d been in talks with local and county officials and was on course to ensure Seed Song was operating within the law. He added that housing used by farm workers was not illegitimate.
“I understand neighbors having questions about it,” Iversen said. “Part of the action plan is for me to do things that I think will make them happy. I’m getting rid of (housing) units that aren’t being used…People want more and I’m ready to listen to that and be a good neighbor.”
Iversen added that recent coverage in the media was inaccurate, and that the county’s inspection was incomplete.
“I mean as far as the dirt kind of dramatic headlines of late about the farm being shut down, those were just complete misunderstandings,” he said, “I’ve met with county officials and I think everyone is getting on the same page about our labor pool and our housing situation. There’s no closure pending. People can come to our farm store 9-to-6 daily for healthy, chemical-free produce and farm goods.”
While following the permitting process to ensure migrant workers are housed adequately, Seed Song will be allowed to remain open, after a meeting last week between Iversen and the County Health Department. According to county officials, there is just one person at Seed Song classified as a migrant worker.
At the August 21 town board meeting, Supervisor James E. Quigley, III addressed some of the other issues brought forth by local residents.
“There were allegations of unsafe conditions for the kids in relation to exposure to the farm animals that were going on that were repeated by several of the neighbors that are down in that locale,” he said.
County officials found the children’s camp to be in compliance with health codes, and Iversen said they’d just completed their final camp of the summer last week.
Quigley added that until Seed Song was brought into compliance with municipal code, they would not receive any more special event permits. Iversen said they were working to ensure they were up to code, but that it might take a little longer with the town than the county.
“The county and I, we’re on the same page and we have some action items for me to follow up on to dot every ‘i; and cross every ’t’ but It’s pretty minor stuff,” he said. “With the town, it’s a little different because I don’t know the situation with the town because we haven’t had our meeting yet. We’re in the scheduling phase and I guess I expect a similar resolution since I’m willing to act as quickly as I can on whatever they need.”
Iversen said he hoped to be able to address some of Seed Song’s issues with the town before the public at a town board meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 4.
“I’m looking to do it very quickly because in the interim I’ve I’m not being allowed to host events here, and some of those are pretty existential to our budget,” he said. “That’s like a very big deal for me…The town put a fire under my under my breaches, or whatever the phrase is, and you know it’s worked…The town, I’m sure, wants their constituents who are asking questions about it to know that they’re is taking action, so I feel like that’s very understandable. And now I want those constituents to know that I’m also taking action.”
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