Ghent

Located in the beautiful, warm and welcoming city of Hudson, NY in Columbia County, Ghent is home to Van Valkenburgh-Isbister Farm, which is a historic farm and part of 2006's National Register of Historic Places list. The private property contains a beautiful farmhouse, which was partially established in 1790, and later re-established through Greek Revival-style in 18745. There's an 18th century barn and stable as well as two wagon sheds, carriage barn, smoke house, garage, gas pump, and even an outhouse that was put in sometime between the years of 1900 and 1925.

Today there are more than 5,402 people living in Ghent over 45.4 square miles of land. Residents can enjoy the Crandell theater, Columbia County's oldest theater, which can be found in the neighboring town of Chatham. Fun places to visit in Ghent are the Omi International Arts Center, which has educational programs, arts residency programs and the Fields sculpture park; also offered are musical concerts and dance showcase events on the premises.

There's farms that offer produce to the public like LoveApple Farm and its famous “tree-ripe fruit” stand, where you can pick your own, as well as buy retail and wholesale fruit packages on the farm. There's Georgia Ray's old-fashioned catering, the Turose toy star, and the Hawthorn Valley Farm and Fam School (it's 400 acres of Biodynamic education and fresh produce). Aside from your local neighborhood Dairy Queen for old-fashioned fun, there's a couple of restaurants that sound promising like the White Stone Cafe and the Red Barn, both American eats---but they're really not that great as far as service, food quality and prices go; you're better off going to the heart of Hudson city for the best food in the area and further shopping.

Don't forget to visit the Harvest Moon Festival (also known as Ghent's "Community Day") which begins October 1st and is not to be missed!! For library goers, Rudolph Steiner Library which, while small, includes 25,000 books on its shelves---including many German volumes as well!

Ghent has that wonderful small-town feel right near the heart of a beautiful, wonderful city. It's a fine community that you'll be glad you've found as part of your own!