After the cataclysm, a new chapter

Apple Pond owners look to the future

By Manor Ink Staff

Callicoon Center, NY – It was a beautiful day when Manor Ink caught up with Sonja Hedlund of Apple Pond Farm and Renewable Energy Education Center in this hamlet to hear how things have been going since a catastrophic tornado hit the property on April 22.

“On Earth Day, almost four months ago, the tornado came in a matter of five minutes, and we have been coping with that since,” said Hedlund. “The garage is completely restored. The barn, originally built in 1890, had a metal roof put on. We had to replace a lot of the solar panels on the roof and there was a lot of damage to the foundation that we have been able to fix. So that’s finished. We have more work to do on the house because the tornado lifted the building up a little and dropped it down, but not exactly in the right place. All of the other garages were destroyed and we cleaned that up. Now at least we can sit here and enjoy a pleasant view, although it wasn’t like before.” The wind turbine is missing from their beautiful view, as it was completely destroyed in the storm.

The community pitched in

Hedlund stressed all of this was made possible by the tremendous outpouring of response from the community who came to help right away. People picked up debris, worked in the garden and formed a meal train to bring them meals for over 30 days.

Hedlund and husband Dick Riseling have remained optimistic in the midst of their challenging reality. They have had to learn some of the hard realities of the home insurance business. “There were things that we never considered,” Hedlund said. “For instance, you can insure for replacement value or depreciation, which is a big difference in what you get. There was also too little in our policy to pay for cleanup.” She also explained what was happening with the 200 trees that were ripped from the ground and thrown around the property. They had to be collected and their stumps dug out. “We’re burying all the wood from the trees in a hole that is being dug the size of 3 swimming pools. They’re not for firewood. They will get covered up, in at least 2000 square feet of space.”

Inviting the public to visit

Apple Pond Farm has started holding open house events on Sunday afternoons from 1 to 3 p.m. “We want people to just come and have a look. It gives Dick and myself a chance to talk about climate change, because we hope there’s nobody left who has any doubts about its reality. The Hawaii fire, the smoke from Canada, the floods everywhere and all the crazy weather we’ve had – there just is no doubt about it,” said Hedlund.

The farm has had to reduce the number of its animals. “We’re looking for homes for some of these three or four sheep and some goats as well,” Hedlund said. “Conrad and Oliver are stately, gorgeous goats. They are docile and they should be driving a little cart. We’d love to sell them to somebody.”

As for the future, Hedlund and Riseling want to reinvent themselves. “We have to figure out what the next chapter is. We’ve been here 50 years and I don’t think there’s another place like this.” They are hoping to find a buyer, or a group of buyers, who will take over the property and expand what they’ve built.

“We want the farm to continue what we do in terms of education and training. We don’t this area just to become a high-end summer home mecca. We would really like to encourage the growing of food and teaching about the environment and social justice and fairness, and we hope that will happen here. But we’re both old now and we cannot take on this mammoth task.”

Reporter Mio Moser conducted the interview for this story.