Seed to Supper Interview with Erin Grygiel by Alexandra Tamburro.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Erin Grygiel, owner of Pine Hills Farmstead, about Cornell Cooperative Extension Herkimer County’s new Seed to Supper program. Seed to Supper is a comprehensive beginner vegetable gardening curriculum designed for adults gardening on a budget. Classes are free and are taught by trained Seed to Supper garden educators. This year’s program will be taught by Erin with the support of CCE Herkimer County. Participants will attend six classes in order to receive a certificate of completion.
We are currently rolling this program out for the first time in Herkimer County and recently finished our garden educator training in partnership with CCE Schoharie Otsego County.
In a county where food insecurity is high, programs like Seed to Supper help people become more resilient. Other areas in New York State that have utilized Seed to Supper experienced an increase in connection, gardening education, food security, self-efficacy, and resource management.
Our pilot host site is the Frankfort Community Garden, a project Erin and I brought to life in 2021. The Frankfort Community Garden’s mission is to encourage, educate, and promote organic agriculture to improve the well-being of the community, environment, and individuals facing food insecurity. The garden supports all gardeners in their efforts to grow and prepare food for themselves and their families.
Erin’s willingness to feed, educate, and beautify our area is admirable and inspiring. Not even a severe leg injury stopped her from getting through two growing seasons. It has truly been a privilege watching her farmstead expand year after year, through various ups and downs. I could not wait to learn more about how Erin started Pine Hills Farmstead and why she decided to volunteer to teach Seed to Supper.
What do you love about Seed to Supper?
I love the Seed to Supper program because it provides community members with a free opportunity to learn how to grow a portion of their own food and it teaches them what to do with the food after it has been harvested. Food insecurity across the United States has become a huge problem, but it really hits home here in Herkimer County. Most people don’t realize that outside of New York City, our county has the highest rate of food insecurity at a staggering 28.8%. This program has been very successful in Oregon, where it first started and in other counties in New York State that have already implemented it. I genuinely hope that by teaching Seed to Supper, I can make a positive impact on our community and slowly start to increase access to healthy and fresh food.
Why did you decide to volunteer to be a garden educator for Seed to Supper?
The main reason that I decided to volunteer for this program is because I have a strong desire to teach other people about gardening. In a sense, gardening has become a lost art and isn’t as popular as it once was. Having flower and vegetable gardens at home was very common for thousands of years, but since our grandparents’ generation, they have become less prevalent. When you live in a county like ours, where a lot of people don’t have affordable or direct access to grocery stores, a productive home garden can be a valuable asset. In addition to providing food, gardening also allows people to connect with nature and their bodies both physically and mentally. My goal is to make gardening seem less intimidating and to help people fall in love with it again.
Why and when did you start Pine Hills Farmstead?
I grew up in a family that always had a small vegetable garden and my grandmother always had beautiful flower gardens. I have been interested in growing things since I was a little girl and started my first home gardens in 2015 when I moved to Frankfort. I quickly became obsessed and every year after that my garden beds would get bigger and bigger. After the craziness of the COVID-19 pandemic, I felt compelled to turn my passion into part of my career and in 2021, I officially started Pine Hills Farmstead LLC where I grow produce and cut-flowers. I have a Bouquet CSA Membership where customers pay for a subscription of fresh flowers throughout the growing season and a small roadside stand where I sell my produce.
What do you find most rewarding about farming and what keeps you motivated?
Farming is a lot of work and sometimes it feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day, but when you are finally able to enjoy the fruits of your labor it makes all of the hard work worth it. There are two things that are my main source of motivation. The first is my desire to provide food for the community. I already have a full-time job at Pine Hills Golf Course so I have to limit the size of my farm in order to be successful, but I aspire to grow enough food to make it accessible at my farmstand and at a second location in the Village of Frankfort. The second is flowers and the positive effect they have on people’s moods. I am totally obsessed with their beauty and I am amazed by the amount of happiness and comfort they bring to people’s lives. I feel privileged to be able to share what I grow with others and there’s nothing I love more than seeing someone’s face light up after they receive my flowers. My goal for the future is to grow enough flowers to sell at my farmstand and wholesale to local florists. I also envision one day being part of a program that will beautify Frankfort residents’ properties with flowers.
Alexandra Tamburro is a NY Public Health Fellow assigned to Cornell Cooperative Extension Herkimer County. She is committed to contributing to civic programs that strengthen local communities, address social problems, and provide disaster preparedness. With fifteen years of experience in disaster relief across the United States and the Virgin Islands, she has worked on the ground in communities affected by natural crises, helping to rebuild and support recovery efforts. Additionally, Alexandra co-created a community garden in Frankfort to address food insecurity, foster local connections, and promote environmental stewardship. On the weekends, you may find her with her camera in hand at her shop, Main Street Mercantile, in Little Falls. Her photography and writing have been used by various non-profits and featured in art galleries throughout New York State.
Article published March 27, 2025.
