Upstate Heirlooms

I’m looking to lease tillable land with water access for a seed farm as well as a market and cut flower farm. I would be growing and saving garden vegetable seeds. Non GMO, open pollinated, heirloom varieties and all types of flowers. Looking to be near Syracuse, NY.

Preferred counties/regions

  • Central
  • Onondaga County

Desired acreage

  • 5 or fewer

Farming Status

Aspiring farmer: 1 year or less of farming experience

Not currently farming

Primary reason for farming

Farm will generate a portion of my income

Farming status, plans, and practices

I’m looking to lease tillable land with access to a water supply for a seed farm as well as a market and cut flower farm.

I would be growing and saving garden vegetable seeds. Non GMO, open pollinated, heirloom varieties.  All the typical things one would grow in a home garden. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, etc.

In addition, I would like to grow flowers for a market and a cut your own opportunity. If permitted, customers coming to the farm to cut their own flowers would be on a limited pre sale basis. That way I can control the day, time and amount of visitors. Something along the lines of 10 to 15 people at a time for a designated two hour period. Maybe once or twice, possibly three times a week. Of course I would hold all the necessary insurance required for such an operation.

I will tell you a little about myself here. I am the area manager for ICS Plant Specialists. We represent all the nurseries that grow and deliver live goods for a nationwide big box retailer here in CNY.

I have always been involved with plants from an early age. From growing up in the garden with my grandparents to working in the landscaping field for years. I have been growing and saving seed, starting and selling heirloom tomato plants at farmers markets and I currently manage over 3 million dollar’s worth of live goods annually, representing over 10 nurseries in area retail stores. 

I’m looking to start small, just one acre this season and grow from there. The company I work for has steadily become a buyer of live goods in addition to representing and servicing them in stores. The opportunity for me to be a grower for them is present. Specifically with specialty pumpkins and herb garden starts.

Farm Experience & Education

Farming Plans and Practices

Farming method or practice

  • Biodynamic
  • Conventional
  • Organic (not certified)
  • Regenerative/Sustainable

Primary crops

  • black outline of a carrot Vegetables
  • black outline of a flower Flowers or Ornamentals

Primary livestock

  • No Livestock

Farm business plan or farm resume

I do not have a business plan or farm resume

Farmland Needs

Infrastructure required

  • Black outline of a water drop Water access

Tillable land and access to water to start. Overtime as the business grows I would like to be able to put up hoop houses and add other storage spaces. Ideally seeking land that is within a half an hour commute from Sysracuse, NY. 

Desired Tenure

Tenure options desired

  • For Lease

Looking to lease to start. 

Estimated price range for a lease or a purchase of a farm property

Going rate

Will this operation qualify an eligible landowner for an Agricultural Assessment?

Unsure

Ag Updates

Service providers speak with farmer while overlooking a field.

Starting a New Year with New Growth in New York

The start of a new year aligned with the start for new staff members and transitioning roles for our American Farmland Trust New York team! Meet Heidi, José, Mikaela, and Ashlea and learn a bit about what brought them to their work in saving New York farmland that sustains us below!

Meet Our Growing Team