Samuel Rosenthal

The position has been filled. Thanks for your interest.

Hi there!

My name is Sam Rosenthal and I am a Permaculture designer and the new farm manager for a private family in upstate New York. We are looking for someone to work on the farm in addition to myself to carry out the vegetable growing needs for ~10-15 small families annually while I focus on holistic rotational grazing management, water systems design and agroforestry. You would have my support, design and plans, a planting calendar and more. A heated greenhouse and raised beds are in place and plans for additional no till gardens are under development.

The main responsibility is growing beautiful heirloom vegetables using appropriate blending of permaculture, regenerative ag, syntropic, biodynamic, or other methodologies. A focus on old world varieties produced for flavor and genetics conservation is crucial. Additionally, approximately 2 days per week and for 1 week per two months a considerable amount of time would be spent caring for animals, as well as additional time spent working on tree systems, composting, infrastructure developments, machine operation, food forest and wildlife habitat creation etc, as is typical to diverse regenerative farming operations. Comfortable housing, benefits, food for the property & an hourly rate commensurate with experience are all included.

Instruction and mentoring available to applicants of all skill and experience levels with a strong work ethic and desire to learn. Self guided projects, etc are a possibility for those with the experience, passion and dedication to carry them through.

Send a resume, relevant experiences and interests, etc to Sam at oakroadpermaculture@gmail.com.

Late to the game and ill keep it short.

I wish I has kudzu, privet and braford pears growing wild.

Bradford pears can have apples and pears grafted onto them giving you cheap, healthy rootstock that are ideal for your climate and stronger since they grew from seed in place.

Kudzu, as mentioned, is an excellent forage for animals. Or chop and drop plant.

Privet is a decent forage or cho and drop plant, but also, is very easy to pleat together into a "privet fence". Search for some images.


And last thing, while clay can be difficult to start with gardening, its excellent when built up and hold much more nutrients and water than other soils, particularly sandy ones. Amend amend amend with organic matter and you'll have tremendous soil one day.

I'm designing a perennial forest garden on central eastern Conneticut (near Roxbury) and am looking for herbaceous species that grow quickly and can be cut for mulch and to support that system, and for woody species that are ideally suited for coppicing and pollarding. I have experience in the drylands and tropics, but the temperate climate is a new ballgame for me.

The main food producing species so far considered are apples, paw paw, persimmon, chestnut, aronia, service berry, sea buckthorn, hazelnut, walnuts, mapl, etc.. Lower growing species include jersualem arthichokes, rhubarb, asparagus, comfrey, etc.

What species are the best support species you know of for the area? Ideal candidates are hardy,  fast growing, tolerate heavy pruning, preferably fix nitrogen.

Both species for the initial planting (for intercropping with or between bareroot trees) with full sun, and species for a mature, closed canopy system in years to come with partial to full shade would be valuable. Any other valuable food producing species recommendations for real winners in this area would be wonderful too!

Thanks so much in advanced!