Guide to Yarn, Farms and Shopping Local Update NY

Apr 23

The Catskills is like Brooklyn’s earthy, aunt -quieter, slower, more grounded, but with those wild roots.

For my first visit I followed the Ulster County Fiber and Cider Tour starting in Saugerties, and stopping through Woodstock, Kingston and Stoneridge. I went back with my fiancé, taking him to a few of my favorite stops from the tour, and stopping at a new one stole my heart: Kaaterskill Falls. A reminder that there is so much more to New York than the city.

Here in Brooklyn there’s a delicious sandwich shop called Sea & Soil. This Co-op serves some of the best sandwiches and savory pastries i’ve ever had. Village Refillery reminded me so much of Sea & Soil, except they’re also a natural grocer which features fresh produce as well as panty items that they feature in their menu items. We got he Turkey sandwich served on a baquette and Aaron got the mushroom sandwich on a buttery brioche bun. This was the warmest welcome after a 2 hour drive from Brooklyn.

Before heading over to Kaaterskills falls we stopped at Freak Out Spot, one of the “best vinyl spots” that Aaron has been to in NY. I was able to replace my copy of Rolling Down Royal Canyon by Devendra Banhart and he picked up On the Corner by Miles Davis and Willian Onyeabar’s Anything You Sow.

I was able to sneak in a visit to Hedgehog Fiber to give a quick hello to Stephanie for the weekend of Local Yarn Store Day. She opened her shop only six months ago and is already creating beautiful community with a book club, a class schedule that includes one off felting courses and featuring local emerging artists. This has quickly become my favorite yarn shop in NY.

A few of the other spots I visited:

Anchorage Farm: A sheep farm in Saugerties
The Perfect Blend Yarn & Tea: A yarn shop in Saugerties that features one of the widest yarn assortments that I’ve ever seen.
Seed & Song Farm: A farm in Kingston that has a variety of animals, sells products, yarn and rovings.
Clove and Creek: thoughtfully created home and lifestyle shop blending vintage, handmade and natural elevated objects.
Department of Things: An analog shop with a playful, design forward shop filled with artful objects, books, and unexpected finds.
Sunflower Market: A cozy community rooted natural foods market.