WALKER VALLEY � Linda Borghi's application to have the land she's cultivating in Walker Valley become part of an Agricultural District was denied at the Ulster County Legislative meeting on Tuesday, July 20.

The action followed a letter sent by the Town of Shawangunk, specifically asking that Borghi not be allowed into an Agricultural District.

Borghi's operation, "Abundant Life Farm" was set up on property owned by her partner, Barry Adelman, on Saxton Lane.

Her relations with the other residents on Saxton Lane have not been good. Some of this may be the result of misinformation, and some the result of reactions to Borghi's initial proposal to the Town of Shawangunk.

"I wrote to them asking what I could do here," Borghi said.

However, Borghi's original letter to the town mentioned plans to have 100-300 chickens, goats and highland cattle. That set off alarm bells for George Sawyer, the Building Inspector; and John Valk, the Supervisor of the Town of Shawangunk.

The town made it clear that keeping domestic animals, like goats, was out of the question. Borghi then countered by seeking to be made part of an Agricultural District, which would take her operation outside of town zoning restrictions.

At the Ulster County meeting, Carolyn Keyes, a neighbor on Saxton Lane, said, "Saxton Lane is a private road and extremely narrow. It is paved, but only 9 feet wide. This is no place for commercial traffic."

Keyes also mentioned that Saxton Lane is on the east slope of the Shawangunk Ridge.

"Our commitment to ridge stewardship is demonstrated by the fact that our neighbors have submitted 101 letters to this legislature, asking that our zoning laws be upheld and enforced. The commercial activities of Ms. Borghi and Mr. Adelman are universally seen in this community as an assault on the Shawangunk Ridge," Keyes said.

Keyes added other concerns, such as noise.

"The full-moon drumming can be heard all the way to the top of the road, as can the noise from excavators, tractors and so forth," he said.

Linda Borghi, also addressed the meeting. She said, "Biodynamic farming means that I spray no poison. I use 50-percent less water than other farmers. Currently we are totally within the zoning of this property. Just because as a small-plot intensive farmer, I'm able to generate $50,000 a year in revenue, that doesn't mean anyone is coming to the farm to buy food. Abundant Life Farm wants to be included in the AG District just to protect us from nuisance lawsuits."

Borghi also said the DEC had visited her twice. "I invited my neighbors, who knew I was organic to listen to my plan, and was subsequently visited by DEC police, with an official complaint that I was spraying pesticides in the street. What I am spraying [Biodynamic mixture 501: 1 tablespoon of quartz powder to 250 liters of water] removes DDT from the environment."

Meanwhile, Borghi has crops coming in on her site.

"A lot of my tomatoes will be going to Zen Dog Cafe in Rhinebeck. A good percentage of my crop is pre-bought. But, I'm also planning on setting up a table on Saturdays at the Cobblestone Quik-Mart. We'll have cucumbers, which are coming in now, and everything else we have here. Plus, Jack Hoeffner's potatoes and Art Soon's apples, with some things from Harmony Farm to fill in, like their wonderful garlic."

Borghi is now planning on raising chickens at another location, on Stone Schoolhouse Road in the Town of Crawford. "It is totally approved," she said. She also plans to sell "midseason" shares of produce for $375, offering 13 weeks of produce, including tomatoes.