Why We Introduce Guests to the People Growing Their Food
At Arbus, we see each hotel as part of a larger ecosystem: the land, the community, the food chain, the local economy, and the people who shape a place. A good stay should bring guests closer to that system. It should leave them with more than a memory of where they slept or what they ate. It should give them a deeper understanding of the place itself, the people whose work helps sustain it, and the connections that make the experience feel alive.
On the North Fork, one of the clearest examples is the relationship between Sound View and KK Farm, a biodynamic farm that has been part of the region’s agricultural community for more than two decades.
Founded in 1999 by KK and Ira Haspel, KK Farm began with a personal mission: to grow the best possible food for their grandchildren. Over time, it became something larger. Today, the farm supplies restaurants, operates a community-supported agriculture program, and welcomes people who want to better understand how food is grown.
The farm’s approach is rooted in biodynamic agriculture, which treats the farm as an interconnected living system. The focus is not only on what is harvested, but on the health of the soil, the balance of the ecosystem, and the long-term resilience of the land.
A visit to the farm makes those ideas tangible. Walking through the fields, meeting the people who work the land, and seeing the care behind each crop changes the way you think about the meal that follows. A salad is no longer just a dish at dinner. It is connected to decisions made months earlier: what to plant, how to care for the soil, when to harvest, and how to work with the conditions of the season.
This is why relationships like this matter to Arbus. Hospitality is often understood through rooms, amenities, and service. But it can also serve as a bridge between guests and the people who give a place its character. Farmers, artists, makers, conservationists, guides, and craftspeople all help define the experience of a region, often in ways that are easy to miss from the outside.
Learn more about KK The Farm here