FEEDING BODY AND SOUL
Photograph by Jason Houston/www.jasonhouston.com
alumni spotlight B
Dominic Palumbo ‘74
Moon In The Pond Farm, Organic Farming
Sheffield, Massachusetts
www.mooninthepond.com
Dom is owner of Moon In The Pond, a small farm in the southern
Berkshire hills of Sheffield, Massachusetts. Raising food naturally and
sharing the experience has been a strong and growing commitment
throughout the farm’s history. Established in 1991, Moon In The Pond
maintains a strong focus on the elegant integration of history (raising
heritage breed livestock and heirloom vegetables, using select traditional
farming methods) and contemporary “technology.” Dom and his crew
raise heritage breed animals for meat (nearly ten thousand pounds annually), a variety of livestock and poultry, and heirloom vegetables,
eggs, honey, fruit, and more that they sell locally directly to families,
partly through their unique CSA (Community Supported Agriculture
program), at the farm, and at local farmers’ markets. As a not-for-profit
organization, 100% the proceeds from sales of farm products and services goes to support the farm’s educational mission.
Briefly describe your journey from Portsmouth to the present.
While pursuing a career in landscaping and creating gardens in
New York City, I was looking for an escape from the city. In
1991, I found an abandoned farm in the southwest corner of
Massachusetts. I already had an interest in growing things, and
now I had a place to do it.
When did you first consider farming as a career? Why heritage
breed livestock and heirloom vegetables?
I always say I stumbled into my calling. After buying the farm, I
acquired a few chickens…then there was a pasture I didn’t want
to mow, so I bought some sheep…after 10 years, I was a farmer,
not because I set out to be a farmer but because I spent all my
time working the farm and I had settled into life.
I saw a niche and decided to try to fill it. From my previous experience in horticulture I was familiar with the chemicals used
to grow things, so I steered clear. Since I was already interested
in organic food, it seemed like the only way to go with the farm.
A friend suggested to me that there was a growing population
in New York City that wanted organic. So, for eight years, I did
just that – sold my organic produce at the Union Square Farm-
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ers’ Market. I continued my landscaping work also, but finally
realized that I needed to devote 100% of my time to the farm.
So, I moved full-time into farming
I started raising animals in the early years at the farm to help
maintain the land and to provide meat for home, friends and
family. Gradually the animals became a very substantial part of
the picture. While at Terra Madre in 2006 (the international
conference of small, sustainable food producers held in Turin
by Slow Food), I was inspired to participate in the conservation of heirloom vegetables after hearing Vandana Shiva speak
about diversity in food crops as a sacred gift of creation and the
divine vocation of farmers as stewards of the land.
Did your Portsmouth Abbey education, and specifically its
Benedictine foundation, affect your career choices? Do you
see farming/sustainable agriculture as an extension of the
Benedictine way of life (ora et labora)?
Life at Portsmouth and the idea of constant prayer has always
moved me. The Benedictine life is exemplified by life on the
farm and being close to nature. Everything you do is an acknowledgement of your spirituality, a realization of the connection we have to our planet, to nature and to creation.
I am more spiritual than religious, but I see farming and agriculture, and participating in life close to the land, as profoundly
spiritual and an active investment in future generations. Growing food is nurturing people, and that act of nurturing, by its nature, is an act of sharing – so that, too, becomes the task. When
one considers these tasks, it is clear that we’re looking at creating
a respectful culture for future generations.
Do you see your efforts to preserve/protect natural resources as
a distinctly Benedictine value?
Education by definition is the hope that others will have the
benefit of our experience, widening their perspective, deepening their own experience. The greater our awareness of the
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There was something in me that was drawn to the earth, even
before I attended Portsmouth. When I was there, I was fascinated by the farm at the Abbey and fantasized about what it would
have been like to be at the Abbey when the farm was an integral
part of the school day. At the time I thought the Abbey had had
the farm because it had the money to do so; now I realize it was
not only a basic necessity, but a realization of the Benedictine
devotion to prayer, work, creation, God.
What is the best part of your day on the farm?
My days on the farm are so varied and full, it’s hard to choose a
favorite. But it’s great seeing the thrill of a new idea, a realization, a joy, that I know, come to the face of a student. We take
all meals together and pause before eating. Often we thank the
people whose work contributed to the meal. Sometimes people
mention something cool they discovered on the farm, some help
they received from another student, or something they’re excited about. I totally dig that!
What kind of impact have you seen as a result of your work?
I began to offer apprenticeships about six or seven years ago to
save money on labor. That effort has turned into a dedication to
education. All of the farm’s work is now centered on education
and advocacy for sustainable agriculture. We run 11 educational
programs, including offering field trips to grade schoolers, seasonal internships, tours of the farm, an international exchange
and others. But our ‘big’ programs are the year-long apprentice-
ships and the seasonal internships. With three full-year apprentices and as many as four summer interns, Moon In The Pond is
providing opportunities for people from all walks of life as well
as prospective farmers and future policy makers to experience
sustainable farming firsthand. I have received inquiries and applications from around the country and world, and we have had
apprentices from California, Florida, Rhode Island, Kentucky,
Vermont, Georgia, Washington, Massachusetts and New Jersey,
as well as Greece and France, to name a few. Many Moon In The
Pond ‘grads’ are now running their own farms and are active
in re-establishing agrarianism as a worthwhile and fulfilling life
choice and a valuable contribution to our culture.
What is the most important gift you have received as a result of
your labors?
Working with so many different people I have been graced with
many deep, caring and lasting relationships: very simply – love
If you could invite any three personalities (living or dead) to
the farm for a meal and conversation, who would they be, and
why?
Party planning scares me! I’m always afraid I’m forgetting the
most obvious and most important guests. I think I’d invite three
people who’d, themselves, really shake things up. Yeah, then
I’d watch. How about Jesus, General MacArthur and Bill Gates?
Speaking of visits—all are welcome on the farm, especially the
Portsmouth community. Alums, parents, students and friends
are invited to visit or even to participate as interns or volunteers. I guarantee you’ll eat well and fall straight to sleep!
Com’on down!
Photograph by Jason Houston/www.jasonhouston.com
Photograph by Jason Houston/www.jasonhouston.com
complexity and perfection of nature, the more we benefit from
it. The spiritual, theological and philosophical analogies are inescapable. Being close to the land dictates a certain morality and
requires a wide perspective and a constant eye on the future.
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