Pennellville, NY, Oswego County
Acres Available
Open Tillable Acres
Wooded (or other) Acres
Condition & Current Use
Family legend says that this land was given to a Bell ancestor for services rendered during the Revolutionary War. Since the 1790s, the farm has primarily been used for dairy cattle, crops, and vegetables for local producers (such as cucumbers for the Pennellville Pickle Plant in the 1930s). Economic challenges ended active milking on the farm in 2000 when George Bell sold the farm to Marty and Rita Reed (nee Bell). Rechristening the farm Bell Meadows, the Reeds renovated the house and parts of the old barns, using the structures for 4-H farming, leasing for hay or crops, storage, and homeschooling. 135 acres of crop land was sold to CNY crops in 2020 with other acreage sold to non-farming family uses. The farm is now approximately 80 acres: 22 tillable, 15 of ridge woodland, 38 in wetland preserves, and 5 acres with house, yard, and barns. Much of this land could be certified organic.
Bell Meadows is located in Southern Oswego County on the edge of the Tug Hill Plateau in a designated New York State Agricultural District. The farm is 15 minutes from I-81, 20 from the Thruway, 30 from Oswego and Syracuse, and 4 hours from NYC. The farm is predominantly rhinebeck and sodus soils with detailed soil and water maps available.
Soil Types
Farm History & Past Use
Family legend says that this land was given to a Bell ancestor for services rendered during the Revolutionary War. Since the 1790s, the farm has primarily been used for dairy cattle, crops, and vegetables for local producers (such as cucumbers for the Pennellville Pickle Plant in the 1930s). Economic challenges ended active milking on the farm (then known as Kenothy Farms) in 2000 when George Bell sold the farm to Marty and Rita Reed (nee Bell). Rechristening the farm Bell Meadows, the Reeds renovated the house and parts of the old barns, using the structures for 4-H farming, leasing for hay or crops, storage, and homeschooling. 135 acres of crop land was sold to CNY crops in 2020 with other acreage sold to non-farming family uses. The farm is now approximately 80 acres: 22 tillable, 15 of ridge woodland, 38 in wetland preserves, and 5 acres with house, yard, and barns. Much of this land could be certified organic.
Tenure Options
The ideal business partner shares the values of the farm and will bring a new business to life on the land. We are open to both for-profit and non-profit models and visions. We are open to several lease and partnership arrangements. The ideal candidate will:
¨ Benefit from low-cost access to land, housing, and resources as they bring a business to life.
¨ Have a strong work ethic, commitment to farming as a community, and willingness to work in the CNY area.
¨ Bring a focus on farming as a business, regardless of non- or for-profit status.
¨ Have a value-added business plan, dedication to farm-based business, and clear marketing strategy with the potential to be self-sustaining/profit-earning in 5 years.
Please send a short bio, vision statement, and detailed business plan to both email addresses for the farm. Please come visit the farm, contact us with questions, meet the family, and articulate your vision.
Do you require a farmer who qualifies for agricultural assessment?
Production Preferences
Livestock / Crops Description
CNY Crops Inc. currently uses over 300 adjoining acres for rotating crops of corn and soybeans (grown non-organically). At least 15 acres of the farm could be certified organic immediately although we are also happy with non-organic farm plans. The ridge woodland also has fruit trees and the farm has an abundance of wild and native elderberries. We strongly discourage plans that focus on traditional dairy farming, but are open to creative, sustainable, or niche livestock operations.
Crops Permitted
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Vegetables
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Fruits
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Flowers or Ornamentals
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Grains
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Hay
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Other Crops
Livestock Permitted
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Cattle - Beef
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Cattle - Dairy
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Equine
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Goats/Sheep
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Pigs
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Poultry
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Other Livestock
Farm Infrastructure
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Water access
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Barns - Equipment Storage
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Farmer housing
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Electrical access
Water Access
The land has access to a creek and several natural springs as well as a farm well.
Farmer Housing
The farm has two houses, one of which has 1-bed, 1-bath apartment. Both houses are currently occupied while the apartment could be available with a few month's notice. The large farmhouse will likely be available in the next few years.
Additional Property Information
We are open to any plan or partnership that reflects the farm's values:
Bell Meadows is a 330 year old farm ready to find a new life in the Twenty-First century.
¨ We value community building in the Central New York area in all its forms, ranging from local farm stands to helping in food pantries.
¨ We value farming practices that respect nature and the environment and are sustainable.
¨ We value all types of education and knowledge: life experience, apprenticeship, formal sources, international, non-traditional.
¨ We seek value-added approaches to farming that respect and enhance the land, community, and family with an eye toward innovation and sustainability.
¨ We value anyone who loves farming and the land, regardless of race, class, gender, education, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other demographic factors; all farmers are welcome.
Current Land Zoning
Is the property located in a NY Agricultural District?
Can the public be on the property as a part of the farm business?
Additional Information About This Property
The family has more than 100 combined years of active work in agriculture and associated enterprises. Networking connections include 4-H and Cooperative Extension, many area church community service programs, CYN Food Bank, My Father’s Kitchen-Syracuse, ARISE independent living, New York State Homeschooling, and 50+ area farms working in crops, dairy, beef, goats, poultry, machinery, and consumer products.
Family members can also provide expertise in the following fields: communication, marketing, customer service, real-estate, IT support, web design, education for adults, children, and those with special needs, animal husbandry, farm statistics, crop and farm chemistry, history, insurance, and local knowledge.
