Mae's Table - Cultivate Herkimer County, NY

Mae’s Table

In the heart of Mohawk stands Mae’s Table, a small roadside farm stand selling honey, vegetables, and eggs. Mae’s Table caught my eye on my daily commute to the office when I noticed evidence of structural updates. What used to be a weathered wooden stand was shaping-up to become something much more.

I kept a close eye on the progress as I headed into work each day.

I spotted someone working on the structure on a weekend afternoon in the pouring rain. I couldn’t help myself. I pulled the car over, ran between the raindrops, and threw my business card at a man and blurted, “I’d love to know more about this project! Please reach out!” and ran back to my car, already soaked to the bone.

My pursuit paid off. Not too long after my rainy visit, I was honored with the interview that would finally dispel the mystery of Mae’s Table. I met with three community members that have been quietly creating something special in the community. And their leader? A middle school-aged young lady who cheerfully sat in my office, spinning in my office chair.

The creative force behind Mae’s Table is named Sabrina Mae. Sabrina’s mom and stepdad, Janine and David, have been exceptional advocates, supporting Sabrina’s project through all stages, to the current landmark status of Mae’s Table.

Sabrina has enjoyed trying new things and channeled this creativity into Mae’s Table. Visitors to the stand will find arts and crafts alongside the vegetables, honey, and eggs. This unique combination for a farm stand generated a fun and engaging space for Sabrina, her friends, and the community.

Sabrina found joy in painting bees and flowers on garden stepping-stones to pay homage to the bees who dutifully produce their honey, and the flowers, which feed the bees. Sabrina’s mom helps with painting projects, including still life of baskets of produce, highlighting the beauty of their backyard harvests.

David saw Sabrina’s wooden roadside stand succumbing to the damp New York weather and decided to drag home pallets from his work to build Sabrina a new home for Mae’s Table. It took some time to break the countless pallets down, and as I drove past, I saw the progress taking shape. Slowly, the beautiful stand began to take form, with a roadside sign promising, “Mae’s Table Coming Soon!”

“We are learning along the way,” Sabrina’s mom Janine shared. “We’re self-taught, and we’re passing this down to Sabrina to make sure she’s included in everything we do,” Janine smiled at Sabrina and David as she added, “Sabrina is right there when David is doing hive inspections and bottling the honey to ensure that she has a hand in this as much as we do.”

Sabrina was empowered to develop financial strategies to help maintain and grow Mae’s Table while also setting aside “fun money.” Sabrina could get whatever she wanted, knowing that she worked hard for that money. Mae’s table also provided a different kind of wealth: a sense of community and personal accomplishment. This stand gave Sabrina the opportunity to talk about what her family was doing in the backyard, and where things come from, like eggs, honey, and vegetables.

The encouragement of friends and neighbors over the past two years played a critical role in the success of Mae’s Table, where passing compliments and words of encouragement were fuel on days that otherwise may have been running on an empty tank. Some days were hot and miserable with not a lot of community engagement, but her support network reminded her of the valuable lessons that come from the tough days: patience, dedication, perseverance, and managing resources to keep moving forward.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Herkimer County proudly celebrates the farmers and producers who are the foundation of our local food system. Through initiatives like the local foods map, CultivateHerkimer.org, and various community outreach programs, we honor the dedication of those who work tirelessly to bring food to our tables. Our local producers and community members like Sabrina and her family consistently demonstrate the powerful role individuals play in enhancing food security by making fresh, healthy food accessible to all.

We hope you’ll make a stop by Mae’s Table!

Cameron Burke is part of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Herkimer County team. She’s an advocate for nutrition security and sustainable food systems, believing in the power of human connections, education, and grit to build resilient food systems. Cameron has committed herself to fostering bonds between communities and their food, promoting local farmers, artisans, and producers for their invaluable contributions. Her passion for food and community drives positive change and meaningful connections in the local food movement.

Article published September 23, 2024.

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