68: Laura Ten Eyck on Hop Farming
Laura operates Indian Ladder Farmstead Brewery and Cidery in Altamont, New York with her husband, Dietrich. The two have been growing hops and brewing beer at home while working to restore local hop production in the northeast. Their orchard has been in Ten Eyck’s family for four generations, and she and Dietrich have lived there for more than twenty-five years, growing fruits and vegetables for sale to restaurants, gardening extensively, and raising animals, including sheep for meat and wool, dairy goats for milk, and chickens for eggs and meat. Laura is also the author of The Hop Growers Handbook: The Essential Guide for Sustainable Small-Scale Production for Home and Market (published by Chelsea Green).
Did you know beer used to be made in monasteries? And that hops haven’t always been used in beer production? Listen in for all this and more about hops, including what they are, how they grow, how they’re used in beer, and their medicinal uses (yep, they can be used for medicinal purposes too!).
Interested in growing hops? Check out her book, The Hop Grower’s Handbook: The Essential Guide for Sustainable, Small-Scale Production for Home and Market
A book that was influential to Laura? Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard.
Where can you find Laura?
Indian Ladder Farmstead Brewery and Cidery Facebook Page
Indian Ladder Farmstead and Brewery website
Or email her at lateneyck@gmail.com
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This episode was so interesting, thank you! I LOVE the book that Laura recommended. I appreciate you asking that question of all of your guests; it’s added so much material to my reading list!