Local Economies Project and the Hudson Valley Farm Hub are pleased to announce that Jean-Paul Courtens has joined the Hudson Valley Farm Hub as Associate Director for Farmer Training. Jean-Paul is the founder and owner of Roxbury Farm in Kinderhook, New York, a 375-acre organic and biodynamic farm and one of the largest community supported agriculture programs in the region. His farming success and distinctive leadership builds upon the recognition of his skills as a teacher and mentor on organic practices, land stewardship, whole farm planning, and farm business development.
This past year Jean-Paul assisted the Farm Hub in an advisory capacity, working closely with John Gill and others to facilitate the transition from a private farm business to a non-profit center for education and research. Now, as part of our senior management team, Jean-Paul will focus primarily on the development of the Farm Hub’s Professional Farmer Training and other continuing education programs.
Jean Paul is originally from Holland where he earned a degree biodynamic agriculture before moving to the U.S. over twenty-five years ago. Prior to starting Roxbury Farm in 1990, Jean-Paul developed the vegetable garden at Hawthorne Valley Farm, one of the many farming organizations in the region with which he maintains a strong relationship. In recent years he and his partner Jody Bolluyt have lectured at numerous farming conferences on topics such as soil health, organic methods, and new farmer training.