Our Philosophy
At Two Fox we promote family-focused farming. We believe that our success is dependent on adopting practices that make sense for us and our children. Our livestock and crops are chosen based on our ability and desire to cultivate, choosing heritage animals that are known for their docile temperament and crops for their dietary benefits and diversity. We find that family-focused farming goes hand-in-hand with sustainable, low-impact agriculture. When we make informed decisions for ourselves and our children, we inevitably become better stewards of the land. Our breed selection is dictated by what can sustainably thrive on the natural resources of our land, numbers and variety are dictated by acreage. We only take as much as we can give back, recognizing that this is a partnership between us and our land. If we treat it right, it will help sustain our family for years to come. This family-focused, common sense approach is a throw-back to generations gone-by. When enough was enough.
The Land
Two Fox Farms is a diversified farm spanning 60-acres along the northern border of New York’s Catskills region. Our family operated farm consists of terraced hills cut by natural springs, open meadows, and 20 acres of woodlands, including towering pines, firs, maples, and hemlock. We practice sustainable farming techniques with the belief that what we take from the land, we must give back. With this in mind, we raise our animals and crops according to rotational grazing/planting to maintain our fields and meadows so they can produce life for years to come.
The Beginning
Towards the west of the property the land runs up hill 1/2 mile to a large section of native pines and maples, more than likely the source of lumber for the main barn’s timbers. The two story bank style dairy barn was constructed around 1850 and added onto approximately fifty years later. The main lower floor has a drive thru center isle and houses the animal stalls and feed room. The west side of the barn is against hill allowing a second story entrance for hay and equipment storage.
The neighborhood of South Hartwick was busy and vibrant in the late 1800’s. A storefront was built at the entrance of Two Fox Farms in 1810 and housed several merchants and the post office before Frank Bresee bought it and started the first Bresee’s Department Store. The Otsego Creek ran south out of Hartwick and straight between the two main county roads between Hartwick and Mount Vision, just a stones throw from the farm. Many shops used the creek’s dike located just north of the County Road 11D bridge to power there mills. The river valley also provided an abundant amount of sandy loam and river gravel that was excavated from the north east corner of the property between the store and cooper. The Southern New York Railway added two stops, the #16 at Jones Crossing and #15 at South Hartwick, as it built northbound from Oneonta to Herkimer in the early 1900’s. The Hamlet of Hartwick was the midpoint for the line and became the company headquarters.
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