Preferred counties/regions
- Capital Region
- Albany County
- Columbia County
- Greene County
- Rensselaer County
- Hudson Valley
- Dutchess County
- Ulster County
- Sullivan County
- Orange County
- Putnam County
- Westchester County
- Rockland County
- Southern Tier
- Broome County
- Tioga County
- Long Island
- Nassau County
- Suffolk County
- New York City
- Bronx County
- Brooklyn County
- New York County
- Queens County
- Richmond County
Desired acreage
- 5 or fewer
- 6-10
- 11-20
Farming Status
Beginning farmer: 10 years or less of experience managing a farm business
Not currently farming
Primary reason for farming
Farm will generate the majority of my income
Farming status, plans, and practices
I would like to create or support a community based on growing great food with the use of nature, not pesticides. I'm open to how this is accomplished.
In my previous space, I ran a soil block nursery in the spring, market garden in the summer & fall, and bakery in the fall & winter. I supported my Bronx neighbors with fresh food regularly as well as educated them on how to grow better food themselves and attract and use beneficial insects.
As an urban market gardener I had a lot of chances to be creative and adapt my relatively small space into a much larger output using square foot gardening, vertical space, and nutrient dense compost and vermicompost. I built my own structures to grow in and extend my season as well as grew indoors. I also have experience adapting and teaching others how to adapt to a variety of disabilities while still maintaining a garden.
I was just getting started expanding into microgreens and vermicompost/worm tea for sale to my neighbors so I would love to continue that as well.
I also am an amateur entomologist and have been raising native beneficial insects for release to help boost their numbers. My current successes include praying mantids, several types of ladybugs, lacewings, black soldier flies, and of course worms. I'd like to try my hand at dragonflies, fireflies, and butterflies.
I am quite adept at dealing with the scourge of the Spotted Lantern Fly as well. In all of it's forms from egg to adult.
I don't use pesticides (other than anti mosquito stuff on myself), use no till techniques, work to build the soil food web, and support the local environment. And I love to educate others on the importance of these topics and practical use of methods to do so themselves.
Farm Experience & Education
- Farm owner
- Farmer training or workshop
- Farm manager
- On farm work experience
I've been running my own farm for three years now, and had been experimenting with hydroponics in my small apartment before that. I don't have formal education, but I have studied a lot from YouTube and published books and continue to learn more every day. I love to experiment with new methods and see the results. Even a failure teaches us something, and successes are just that much more sweet when you can eat and share the results.
Farming Plans and Practices
Farming method or practice
- Biodynamic
- Organic (not certified)
- Regenerative/Sustainable
Primary crops
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Vegetables
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Fruits
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Flowers or Ornamentals
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Other Crops
Primary livestock
-
Other Livestock
I primarily grow vegetables, with a little bit of fruit. My absolute favorite vegetables to grow are tomatoes and summer squash. I would love to grow more fruit with more space, I just didn't have it in the small space I was working with in the city past a fig tree and some strawberries.
The livestock I cultivate is of the insect variety, praying mantis, ladybugs, compost worms, black solider flies, etc.
Marketing Method
Marketing myself is honestly my weakest point. In the city, I relied mostly on word of mouth with some Facebook interaction.
I collect bugs, so I was frequently seen around the neighborhood collecting beneficials or killing the SLF and would talk to future customers during that process. I also would talk to them as I was out working. I grew some corn the first year and that surprisingly got a lot of attention.
Every space and community is different. Once established, I would love to join a farmers market and have a pay as you wish stand as well.
Farm business plan or farm resume
Farmland Needs
Infrastructure required
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Electrical access
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Farmer housing
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Water access
I do require housing of some sort, which could be a romm, a permanent structure, or something like an RV or trailer with hook ups. I come with one ESA cat that is quite good at scaring squirrels out of the garden and catching mice.
I'm not super picky about the housing other than I do need my own space with a door that locks from the inside, electrical, and running water. Internet access is a plus, but there are alternatives so that's not a dealbreaker. And I would love to have access to an oven to continue my love of baking, even if it's just as a hobby rather than an addition to the business.
A greenhouse is a plus, but I have material to make a small one. Indoor or covered outdoor areas for working in bad weather and nursery support are also necessary. I'm flexible and can work with almost any space. At my previous location I was half on concrete and half in ground as an example.
Desired Tenure
I'd prefer to go into a business partnership, bartering, or support structure of some kind. I am open to possibilities. I have a lot of supplies and knowledge that I can bring to the equation as well as my own work ethic and love of growing.
