Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Place: Lovejoy Building
Address: Washington Street, Cambridge, NY
Looking for farmland?
Washington and Rensselaer counties in the upper Hudson region of New York State have a vibrant farming presence and are rich in agricultural resources which support a diverse array of farm enterprises from dairy and beef farms to vegetables, fruit, fiber, hemp and more! Join the Agricultural Stewardship Association (ASA) for a day long program which will provide an opportunity to get acquainted with our region and visit two farms which are available for lease and/or management moving towards transition.
We will meet in Cambridge NY at the Lovejoy building and start the day with a discussion of what should be included in a good farm lease. We will then head to Healy Lake Farm in nearby White Creek. The farm is 115 acres and is protected by a conservation easement held by ASA. Currently the farm is used as dairy support land. The owner would like to transition management to organic practices. The farm has soils suitable for vegetable production, as well as grazing land, hay or crop production. The Little White Creek runs through the property.
Our lunch stop will be at Windflower Farm in Valley Falls. Farmers Ted and Jan Blomgren grow vegetables to supply 1,200 CSA members in NYC on their 38 acres. We will have a chance to talk to Ted about their business including finding land, labor and markets.
The final stop of the day will be at the Denison Farm, a 164 acre certified organic vegetable farm located in northern Rensselaer County. Brian and Justine Denison and their employees produce a variety of vegetables on 25 acres marketed through a CSA with 350 members, at farmers markets and wholesale accounts. The Denisons would like to find a farmer to work with them over the next year or two with the goal of transitioning ownership of the farm and business. The tour will be an opportunity to view the farm and meet the Denisons.
Schedule
10 a.m. Meet at Lovejoy Building for hour long discussion on farm leases. Parking is available on Washington Street.
11:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Visit Healy Lake Farm, Farm Leasing Opportunity
1:00- 2:30 Lunch and farm talk Windflower Farm, Valley Falls
2:30-4:30 Visit Denison Farm, Farm Transition Opportunity
This program is free, but registration is required. Lunch will be provided.
Overnight accommodations are available for those who may be travelling a long distance and wish to arrive on Saturday, please contact Janet Britt if you are interested, or have questions about the program; Janet@agstewardship.org or 518-692-7285
Support for this workshop is provided by a Hudson Valley Farmlink Network Partner Grant with funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.