Amelia will likely be a familiar face if you’ve been to the Glens Falls Farmers Market the last few years! She’s in town frequently with her role at Comfort Food Community, and she shares some of the favorites she’s gathered through the years - like her top picks from the market, the best trails in the region, and lots more.
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Amelia Romaine Gelnett. I grew up exploring my Grandmother's gardens, forests of Central Pennsylvania, and regal magnolias in my mother's hometown in Georgia. Our house was decorated with stained glass, books, and knick knacks from Germany, where my parents met. My oldest sister, Zora, was born there, second was Jessica in Texas, and then Levi and I in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Our childhoods were a fortunate blend of creative, humanitarian, athletic, and environmental experiences.
A few poignant childhood memories would be witnessing a golden eagle fly away with a doe in its talons at Tall Timbers, handing out Smarties lollipops to state hospital patients while visiting my Dad at work, and creating terrariums with British soldier lichen in second grade. This breadth of exposure to nature, cultures, agriculture, and art all influenced my being and career.
Currently, I am the Community Health Director at Comfort Food Community, a nonprofit working towards solutions in food waste and equal access to nutrition throughout Washington, Warren, and Saratoga Counties. During my time with CFC, I have created garden camps, wellness and nutrition classes, connected over 450 individuals to food and health resources, all while developing and executing 4 medically tailored produce programs. We partner with healthcare providers, health insurance, social care agencies, libraries, housing facilities, as well as state and county agencies to expand fresh food access to individuals in need. If you've received a random bag of vegetables at your doctor's office or visited the Glens Falls Farmers Market in the last 5 years, we've likely met!
On Life in Glens Falls
My first exposure to the Glens Falls area was in 2009 when I took an environmental education and habitat restoration internship at the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. While there, I created education events such as animal carnivals to reveal niche talents of native Eastern Spadefoot toads, Blanding's turtles, and Eastern Hognose snakes. It was a lovely introduction to the area, but I longed to travel and moved to Costa Rica for the next 5 months.
Upon returning to the US, I visited friends in the Sacandaga Lake area where a stranger asked if I'd like to plant potatoes at a farm the following week. I obliged and subsequently worked for The Alleged Farm inconsecutively for the next 9 years. This organic, eccentric farm in Southern Washington County anchors my knowledge of produce varieties, how to elegantly prepare them, and gracefully tend to the earth. Within this span of time, I also lived in the heart of the Adirondacks, Saranac Lake. This town taught me the true meaning of winter and joviality. I am dedicated to their Winter Carnival and spend an absurd amount of time and resources designing costumes and crowd engagement activities for it.
For a few years, I rotated between living there and the farm until Devin Bulger, the Executive Director of Comfort Food Community, asked if I'd be interested in working for them. The opportunity to combine population and environmental health by equalizing access to local agriculture has been uniquely valuable. My time has been dedicated to expanding relationships with farms, social and healthcare agencies, and serving the public.
For several years, my time spent in Glens Falls was isolated to selling produce at the Farmers Market. Over the last two years, I have been able to explore the city’s neighborhoods, restaurants, and recreational spaces intimately.
I rent an apartment in Greenwich and my partner rents in Glens Falls. It's a geographically convenient arrangement since he works for BDP Industries in Greenwich and I collaborate with health centers nearby and the Glens Falls Farmers Market. We're close to downtown and admire details in the diversity of architecture, neighborhoods, gardens, and trails present here. It's a beautiful city full of unique details and fauna.
Some Glens Falls Favorites
My favorite thing about this area is the abundant forests, hikes, and wildlife available here. Even after venturing through the North Country for 10 years, I continue to find new trails and habitats. There's amazing biodiversity with a range of easy to challenging terrains. If you hadn't heard of Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, go visit! There's several parcels of land to explore, Moreau State Park is on the way. To the north, my favorites are Lake George Land Conservancy trails, and the predictably, the vast and beautiful peaks and lakes of the Adirondacks. If you don't mind, I'd like to shout out to Mike Jaworski and Nick Glasser who both thru hiked the 46ers this winter and set the fastest record for them this spring. They're powerhouses and my friends.
A Perfect Glens Falls Day
If money is no object and in post COVID-19 fantasy, I would begin my Saturday at the Glens Falls Farmers Market. First, I would pick up an everything or red pepper bagel from Alchemy Bagel Cafe and order a breakfast sandwich at Barb & Tom's Grill. Then load up on husk cherries, okra, and lemon drop peppers from The Alleged Farm, seafood from Pura Vida Fisheries, lion's mane mushrooms from Adirondack Mycology, and other seasonally available treats. Afterwards, I would take a walk and admire resident's gardens and architecture on my way to Cole's Woods. Then return to downtown for lunch at Mikado followed by a massage at the Adirondack Salt Cave or dance class at Studio Chrome. Afterwards, I would seek out either Aroy Dee Thai, Radici, or [farmacy] for dinner and end the evening with friends at Common Roots Brewery.
On the Past
I'll opt to highlight a character from the area who frequents the Glens Falls Farmers Market. Martha has dark, sparkling eyes, bright white hair, and a sweet demeanor. She's a wise kind of quiet and deserves admiration, but is the type of person who would never seek the spotlight. She and her deceased husband had 5 children who grew up visiting Alleged's Farm Stand and the owner, Thomas Christenfeld, served them along with his sons. She's dedicated years to Crandall Public Library and is an ideal creature to inhabit aisles of books and the mystical worlds they contain. In the years that I saw them most, she was caring for her husband while he was battling dementia. She was tender, patient, and poised while navigating a sometimes loud, distracting, and chaotic setting. I admire her style, personality, and strength and would like to use this opportunity to honor her.
On the Future
I would design a space full of plants, with prisms and glass works filling the windows, where live music and community art could take place. It would be a blended recreational space including foosball, ping pong, and racquetball. Complete with rhinestone studded capes, intricate crowns, and other optional bedazzlement of your choosing upon victory. A playground for adults, essentially. Currently accepting startup funds.
