NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - Allison Turcan has truly bloomed where she was planted.
The visionary behind D.I.G. Farm in North Salem was recently recognized by the Westchester Land Trust for her tireless dedication as a community farmer.
(D.I.G. stands for Dealing in Good. The nonprofit teaching farm, founded in 2015, is dedicated to reconnecting communities to the natural benefits of farming through regenerative agriculture, educational programming, and community outreach.)
“Through her work, she has created deep connections to the land -- especially for young people -- fostering education, stewardship, and joy in farming,” D.I.G. said.
On Saturday, June 6, WLT – based at Sugar Hill Farm in Bedford Hills -- hosted Hope on the Hudson: Where Land, Legacy, and Care Endure, at The Center at Mariandale in Ossining.
The annual fundraiser brings together supporters, community leaders, and conservation advocates for, it said, “an evening grounded in the powerful idea that hope is not passive; it is something built through care, commitment, and action.”
This year’s event was “rooted in a partnership that brings that idea to life,” WLT said, because it took place on land forever protected by a conservation easement that it holds and that is owned and stewarded by the Dominican Sisters of Hope.
Turcan, another individual, and an organization, were recognized for work that embodies that spirit, WLT said.
The other two honorees were the Dominican Sisters of Hope and Doug Mancinelli, founder of the North Castle Vine Cutters.
GETTING YOUR HANDS DIRTY
Turcan received the Cultivating Community Award.
In addition to being the founder of D.I.G. in North Salem, she has been the community farmer at Sugar Hill Farm for the past seven years.
There she leads volunteers twice a week through the growing season. Their hands-on work produces more than 10,000 servings of nutrient-rich vegetables a year.
The harvest is donated to food pantries in Katonah and Mount Vernon and is turned into prepared meals that nourish both the people and “their connection to the land,” WLT said.
“Turcan is a cherished leader in Westchester’s agricultural community, teaching farming skills to countless volunteers, with a focus on young people who will become the growers and stewards of Westchester’s farmland in the future,” the award announcement said.
“There’s something powerful about growing food together and getting your hands in the soil,” Turcan said. “It gives people a sense of purpose, of connection, and of hope that even seemingly small actions can nourish a community. Every seed planted, every meal shared, is a reminder that we can take care of each other through our care of the land.”
A PROFOUND ACT OF FAITH
The Dominican Sisters of Hope, based in Ossining, were presented with WLT’s Preservation Award for their leadership in permanently protecting 34 acres of their 61-acre property in 2018.
This safeguarded meadows, wetlands, and woodlands along a nearly one-mile stretch of the Hudson River shoreline.
“Their decision and their continued care of the ecological values of this special place, reflects a profound act of faith in the future, ensuring that this landscape remains a place of reflection, ecological vitality, and connection forever,” WLT said.
“We have always believed that caring for the Earth is an expression of hope,” said Sister Lorelle Elcock, a member of the Dominican Sisters of Hope who was prioress of the parish when the land at Mariandale was protected. “We care out of a hope for future generations, and hope for a more just and compassionate world.”
The order was proud to have partnered with WLT “to ensure this special place remains protected forever,” she added.
‘YOU JUST NEED TO ACT’
Mancinelli is the founder of North Castle Vine Cutters, a community-based, all-volunteer program that cares for local forests and protects native habitats from invasive species.
He received WLT’s Community Volunteer Award.
“I started as a volunteer just wanting to help out, and what I learned is simple -- you don’t need to be an environmental expert to make a real difference. You just need to act,” Mancinelli said. “That experience gave me a sense of hope and the motivation to bring that same kind of commitment and energy back to my own community.”
A CONNECTOR OF PEOPLE
WLT President Kara Whelan said the awards ceremony is, at its core, “about the hope that people bring to our work.”
“WLT is a connector of people to places they care about, and people with each other. In addition to raising critical funds for our land preservation mission, our annual benefit brings together hundreds of people who care deeply about these connections. The Dominican Sisters of Hope made a decision to permanently protect their land. This selfless choice will outlive all of us,” said Whelan, adding: “Allison and Doug are inspiring hundreds of people by doing the daily, hands-on work of care. Together, our honorees remind us that hope is something we create together, over time, and that we are leaving a legacy to be proud of.”
GOOD TO KNOW
For more information about D.I.G. Farm, visit www.digfarm.org.
To join the North Castle Vine Cutters team, email Mancinelli at vinesdoug13@gmail.com.
For more about the Dominican Sisters of Hope, visit www.ophope.org.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here