Greenhouse Gathering in Bovina, NY
On January 31, we gathered with forty-five creatives in a greenhouse on Burnett Farms, a 150-acre farm in Bovina, NY, to celebrate upstate’s vibrant community. Between sips of piping hot mulled wine and frequent blasts of warm air from the portable generators, we were toasty and talkative though sub-zero temperatures lingered just beyond the greenhouse door. Our guests, some – farmers, makers, and craftsman; others – writers, artists, and designers – mingled over cocktails into the early evening.
By nightfall, beneath a canopy of twinkling lights, we sat on hay bales, shoulder-to-shoulder. Bovina’s Brushland Eating House presented a seven course feast with ingredients from the surrounding land: local venison was a standout for the bratwurst, and Burnett Farms’ own tomato sauce became the flavorful base for the pot pie quebecois, a steaming stew of pheasant confit, sauce and marrow.
“We’re bringing together people who share a common vision and passion for what is going on up here,” said Steve Burnett, who runs Burnett Farms with his wife Kristie, during an impromptu toast mid-dinner. “The problem with brilliant ideas is that they degenerate into hard work. Everyone is here because they are passionate about their work and what they are doing. Building community is really what its all about.”
With s’mores in hand and Bovina-roasted coffee courtesy of Foster Built, the night culminated around an impressive bonfire made of hay and mushroom logs.
It takes a village to make a night like this possible, but it takes a community to make it memorable. Thank you to all of our guests and everyone else who contributed to this gathering. We’re so grateful to create experiences like these that help us further cultivate the upstate community we love so dearly.
Photos by Heidi’s Bridge, Words by Alyssa Benjamin