Heuvelton, NY, St. Lawrence County
Acres Available
Open Tillable Acres
Wooded (or other) Acres
Condition & Current Use
This land has been cared for as an organic farm, utilising restorative agroecological practices, for the past 25 years. Cows, pigs, sheep and chickens are rotationally grazed and incorporated into garden preparations and clean-up. Animals are raised for meat, young stock, eggs, environmental services and labor. There is one well-established food forest and a plethora of stonefruits, berries, herbs, perennials and native food and medicine plants scattered around the farm. The land consists of gardens, hayfields, meadows, successional forests, shrubland, wetland and an ephemeral pond. Every year, vegetable gardens are planted, including 2,000 row feet of rare potato varieties. The majority of the soil is clay, but our practices have raised the soil organic matter in many locations from 3 percent to 12 percent. Endangered species call this farm home and we strive to include them in our daily practices.
Soil Types
Farm History & Past Use
Prior to the establishment of our diversified operation, this land was an organic, if rather barren, small dairy with corn and hay. The first farmhouse was built in 1820, the second in 1840. The land consists of glacial outcroppings and soil slowly being rebuilt from the damage caused by clear-cutting and colonialism.
Tenure Options
I am specifically looking for farmers who have farm management or extensive farm work experience who are interested in having shared management of this farm as a partner/partners. The farm here is well-established but needs some TLC, and I would like to join forces with one or more folk eager to give it a go. Right now not all parts of the farm are financially viable, though that is in large part due to the fact that I am mostly working alone and cannot focus on all the various income streams. We also are a farm that prioritizes gift-giving and food sovereignty, offering all produce on a sliding scale or for no charge. Over the course of a year, a partner and I would learn to work together, eventually coming to a point where labor, decision making, food, income, and costs can be evenly divided. My hope is this would become a long-term, committed farming relationship.
Are you willing to mentor a new or beginning farmer?
Do you require a farmer who qualifies for agricultural assessment?
Production Preferences
Livestock / Crops Description
There is a currently a herd of ~ 20 Scotch Highland Cattle, a herd of 3 Irish Dexter Cattle, a flock of 19 St Croix-Barbados Sheep, a sounder of 8 Tamworth-Large Black hogs, and a flock of ~ 45 mixed-breed chickens. Goats and horses are welcome, but numbers must not rise above the ecosystem's carrying capacity.
The crops are highly diversified and include:
Two in-ground greenhouses, one for perennials and one for annuals.
One mixed-use greenhouse.
One transplant starting Solarium (glass greenhouse).
Three annually rotated vegetable gardens.
One established food forest with fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers and perennials.
One new food forest with fruits, herbs and perennials.
A wide array of wild-harvested crops, including but not limited to: greens, fruits, herbs, flowers, nuts and root crops.
A farmer looking to expand or improve on one of the above aspects of the farm would be ideal. Happy to discuss options of bringing in something new.
Crops Permitted
-
Vegetables
-
Fruits
-
Flowers or Ornamentals
-
Grains
-
Hay
-
Maple
-
Other Crops
Livestock Permitted
-
Cattle - Beef
-
Cattle - Dairy
-
Equine
-
Goats/Sheep
-
Pigs
-
Poultry
-
Other Livestock
Preferred Farming Method
Farm Infrastructure
-
Barns - Livestock
-
Electrical access
-
Equipment
-
Farmer housing
-
Fencing
-
Water access
Equipment
We have a hundred-year-old ground-driven potato planter, a Mahindra e Max 22 tractor, a pull-behind disc, and a wide array of hand and small power tools. We have assorted haying equipment in need of repair.
Fencing
Approximately 20 acres have a double-strand, high tensile electric fence that is seasonally used for rotational grazing of the Highland cattle. The acreage is divided as needed into smaller paddock by double-strand, electrified polywire. Approximately 12 acres are fenced in with woven page wire for rotational grazing of pigs, sheep, the Dexter cattle, and the chickens. We are slowly dividing that acreage into smaller paddocks with wildlife corridors in between.
Water Access
The two farmhouses have hand-dug wells with potable water; there is a 300-foot drilled well for the Highland cattle that is also potable. We have waterlines and hoses running about a third as far as we need them, including four frost-free hydrants. Both farmhouses have hot and cold running water.
Farmer Housing
There is an off-grid cabin available for use; it can comfortably hold four adults. It has a wood-cookstove and is lightly furnished. Right now, it's set up for three-season living. There is no wi-fi.
There are also two rooms available as part of a shared household with Kia-Beth, the farm manager. This house is on-grid, with running water, electricity and a washing machine. There is no wi-fi.
Long-term, there is an unfinished artist's loft above Kia-Beth's attachted garage. This and the cabin could both be upgraded to create private, comfortable, year-round living for fellow farmers.
Additional Property Information
All agricultural practices must be organic, regenerative or biodynamic and must work within the boundaries and abilities of the landscape.
Dogs and cats are not welcome, as they will cause conflict with my two dogs and three cats.
Tobacco use is prohibited for agricultural reasons.
While alcohol and medical marijuana use is welcome here, we also work to ensure that communications, labor, and personal boundaries are respected during the workday.
This is a queer farm. Our work is intersectional. Deliberate discrimination is unwelcome.
