This October, we’re delighted to partner with Corwith Farmstand for our series of Teeney Weenie Halloweenies (at CMEE)! Thanks to their generosity, every child who attends will receive a pumpkin straight from the 200-acre Watermill farm. We recently chatted with the farmstand’s manager, Gina Geness about a typical day at work, new additions to the farmstand and, of course, GOAT YOGA.
How are you connected with the East End? How long have you worked at Corwith?
I grew up in Massapequa and always had family in Southampton so when I finished school I came to live with my relatives and met Ryan through my cousin. He is a fifth-generation farmer from Water Mill and he always had the idea of opening the farmstand so with his farming skills and my business and marketing skills we opened the farmstand together in 2018.
What’s your typical day at the farm like?
A typical day on the farm is waking up and checking on the animals first thing! We give feed and provide fresh water to sixteen goats, two pigs, and one donkey. In the springtime, we usually then get to work in the greenhouse to prep all the seeds we will be transplanting within the next few months. Ryan would probably then get on the tractor for a few hours plowing and discing the land so we can get ready to plant. If it were a summer month we would hop in the truck and go pick all the fruits and veggies out in the field to fill the farmstand for our customers to buy and enjoy! Now that it’s the fall time we get the play area ready each day after we pick our pumpkins and make a beautiful display outside of the farmstand. After a long day of giving kids hayrides, we make sure our animals are all tucked in for a good night’s sleep, and then we hit the hay ourselves!
You’ve made some great additions to the farm stand over the last few years. What are some of your favorites?
Of course, our goat pen has to be one of my favorite attractions on the farm. I could watch those kids run around all day! Creating a new theme for the corn maze each year is also super fun. Last year, we had so many Harry Potter fans join us. This year is the Stranger Things theme…which is one of my favorite Netflix shows. Ryan’s favorite addition is the bridge add-on to the castle since he built it from scratch, even cut all the wood from an old tree!
GOAT YOGA. TELL US MORE.
Goat yoga has to be one of the most enjoyable things about the farm. This 60-minute class will have your face hurting for the rest of the night from smiling and laughing so much. We have 11 female goats inside of our goat pen where the class takes place…from our big mama Fonda who is four years old to her daughters, Dixie and Zoey, to our little baby goats like Clove and Effie in the class. As you journey through the different yoga poses in class our goats are right alongside you the whole time joining you as they jump onto you as you move into your cat and cow positions. Goats tend to mimic energy so as you zen out towards the end of class, the little ones often end up taking a nap with you right on your mat. Goat yoga is a beginner class that is suited for all ages and it’s definitely something all should experience at least once in your life!
What’s something many people don’t know about farming and working a farm?
A lot of the time we get customers who don’t even know we grow our produce right on our farm! The facts I give about goats can also give a huge shock to our customers. Many people don’t know that male and female goats grow horns! Some goats are polled which means they were born without horns and will never grow them. Many goats are dehorned for the safety of themselves and others!
For more information about Corwith Farmstand or to register for an upcoming Goat Yoga class, visit www.corwithfarmstand.com.