Photos by Rachel Philipson of Rachel Philipson Photography
Although winter still seems to have its frigid grasp on the Finger Lakes region, with the days growing longer, the lushness of spring and summer are growing closer! Our featured FLX Foodie Photo of the Week highlights the region’s beauty and bounty in the lovely late summer and early fall months, in addition to an Ithaca woman’s work to promote the wholesomeness of the region’s foodshed.
Finger Lakes professional photographer Rachel Philipson captured these photos of Ithaca-based nutritionist Nancy Corwin Malina. Nancy had requested a headshot and environmental photos for her nutrition practice’s new website to enhance her business’s online presence to adapt to COVID-19 guidelines.
Rachel said they decided to meet at West Haven Farm in Ithaca, “because of the lovely colors and view of Cayuga Lake.” West Haven Farm is a certified organic farm that spans more than 10 acres and was started by John and Jen Bokaer-Smith in 1992. Carlos Aguilera and Lorena Aguilera-Mendoza purchased the farm in 2019 and today run it along with their three sons. It is located at Ithaca’s EcoVillage, a community that is part of a global movement of residents who are committed to living more sustainable lives by growing more of their own food, consuming less, and utilizing hyper-local food sources.
The location was fitting for how Nancy is dedicated to steering her clients towards the local produce and foods the Finger Lakes region as to offer, Rachel said.
Rachel added that Nancy is a member of the CSA of both West Haven Farm and the Full Plate Farm Collective. She lists both on her website along with other local food resources, including Stick and Stone Farm in Ithaca. Additionally, Nancy is an ongoing supporter and contributor to Healthy Food for All, a program based in Tompkins County which provides subsidized CSA shares to support all SNAP and WIC eligible households in the Ithaca community. Nancy is also involved with Healthy Food For All’s program that provides subsidized CSA shares to economically, disadvantaged single mothers in Ithaca. Farmers are the driving force behind the program, which has helped more than 200 families struggling with hunger access farm-fresh produce since it started in 2006.
Nancy said of the West Haven Farm photoshoot, “Their hard work and devotion to the farm produced a variety of crops ripe and full of color and textures that served as the perfect backdrop for Rachel’s photographs, which fully captured the beauty of the farm.”
Eva Havle-Williams of Nova Creative Lab referred Rachel to do Nancy’s photoshoot and created Nancy’s new website.
If you are a professional photographer and you would like to have a video or photo featured for an upcoming FLX Foodie Photo of the Day article, please send it along with a short description to shannon@ediblefingerlakes.com. We look forward to featuring your work!
