The 2026 Tom Twomey Series continues at 3 PM on Saturday, September 19 with “Returning to Our Roots: East Hampton’s New Farms,” a panel discussion featuring local farmers Ian Calder-Piedmonte from Balsam Farms, and Katie Baldwin and Amanda Merrow from Amber Waves Farm. Focused on East Hampton’s agricultural reawakening, this discussion will look at East Hampton’s new farms and what’s inspired a new generation of farmers to work East Hampton’s soil. The panelists will also discuss the history of their farms and the challenges they face.
Ian Calder-Piedmonte was born and raised on a farm in Michigan. He studied philosophy at Cornell where he met his future business partner, Alex Balsam. Shortly after college, he moved to East Hampton where he helped Alex build Balsam Farms into a successful vegetable farm and market with deep community connections. Ian was appointed to the Planning Board in 2012, where he served for 12 years. In January of 2024, Ian was appointed to the East Hampton Town Board and won reelection in 2025.
Amanda Merrow co-founded Amber Waves Farm and helped grow its nonprofit organization into a model for modern sustainable agriculture, centered on new farmer training, soil health, and exceptional food. As a leading regenerative farmer and influential voice in the next generation of agriculturalists, she has been widely recognized in major media and serves on multiple regional boards, championing farmland preservation, and community-rooted food systems.
Beginning with her 2008 apprenticeship, Katie Baldwin has devoted nearly twenty years to farming, training new farmers, educating children, and feeding her community. As co-founder of Amber Waves, she has played a key role in shaping a vibrant, sustainable food network in Amagansett — growing nutritious produce, preserving farmland, and fostering deep community connections. Central to her work is a commitment to food security and ensuring that nutritious, locally grown food is accessible to all.
Admission is free. Programs are presented in East Hampton Library’s Baldwin Family Lecture Room. Advanced reservations are requested but not required. For additional event information and to reserve a seat, visit TomTwomeySeries.org.