Agriculture In the Town
Prior to World War II, agriculture was a major economic sector and the predominant land use in the Town of Ithaca. Despite the formidable barriers to farming presented by terrain, soils, and the climate, the Town produced and exported significant amounts of wheat and other agricultural products beginning around 1800. Throughout the 19th Century, potatoes, hay, tobacco, grain, fruit, and dairy and meat products were sent to market from numerous Town farms. Although agriculture in the Town has declined since the end of World War II, it is still the predominant land use in several portions of the Town.
Farmland, and the farmers who work the land, contribute to the well-being of all Town residents. In addition to the direct contribution to the local economy through production and employment, local farmers also make significant indirect contributions to the local economy through the purchase of equipment and supplies and through their relatively low demands on the costly public infrastructure. The rural character of the Town – enjoyed by Town residents and essential to the local tourist industry – is provided largely by local farmers and the State Parks. Perhaps most importantly, farmers in the Town of Ithaca have established a tradition of stewardship of the land and its resources.
Agriculture in the Town of Ithaca reflects agriculture in the region. Even though the number of farms is relatively small (approximately 24 farms), agriculture in the Town is surprisingly diverse. Enterprises include dairies, vineyards and wineries, direct-marketed produce (via area farmers markets, U-pick tree fruit and vegetable crops, farm markets, or roadside stands), field crops, forest crops, landscaping and nursery stock, Christmas trees, greenhouses, horses, beef, chickens, fiber products, orchards, and a CSA.
Town Farming Facts
Town Farming Numbers (from 2011):
- Approximately 3,412 acres of agricultural lands in the Town
- Total value of agricultural products is approximately $4,431,000
- Town farms employ at least 27 full-time, 39 part-time, and 25 seasonal workers
- Crops include: hay (717 – 787 acres), corn (363 acres), vegetables (203 acres), small grains (183 acres), landscaping (91 acres), orchard (25 acres), and vineyard (5 acres)
- Other lands part of the farms include: woods (668 acres), pasture (185 acres), and tillable fallow (51 acres)
- 40,000 square feet of greenhouses
- Cornell has approximately 870 acres in vegetable and field crops, orchards, pasture, dairy, and greenhouses in the Town
- Livestock includes: dairy bulls (300), dairy heifers (247), dairy cows (200), chickens – layers (148), goats, sheep, alpacas (47), beef (30), horses (12), and hogs (6)
A Diversity of Enterprises:
- Dairy
- Vineyard and Winery
- U-Pick Fruit and Berry Crops
- Field Crops
- Landscape and Nursery Stock
- Forest Crops
- Christmas Trees
- Orchards
- Farm Markets
- Greenhouses
- Roadside Stands
- Equine
- Education / Research
- Beef Livestock
- Chickens
- Fiber Goats, Alpacas, and Sheep
- Apiary
- Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Farming Links
Town of Ithaca Farms
A.J. Teeter Farm
Casper’s Farm
Cayuga Landscape
Cummins Nursery
Der Rosenmeister Nursery
Eddydale Farms Produce
Fort Baptist Farm
Honeyrock Farm
Indian Creek Farm
Ithaca Equestrian Center
Jackman Vineyards
Laughing Goat Fiber Farm
Mehrabyan Nursery
New York Cider Company
Six Mile Creek Vineyard
The Learning Farm
Three Story Farm
Tree Gate Farm
West Haven Farm
Local Food Information
Agricultural Organizations
American Farmland Trust
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
Cornell Small Farms Program
4-H of Tompkins County
Food and Health Network
Future Farmers of America
Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming
New York Farm Bureau
New York Farmland Finder
New York Farm Net
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education
The Town of Ithaca established its Agricultural Land Preservation Program in 1999 for the purpose of protecting its agricultural land resources for future generations by purchasing development rights (PDR) on key farm parcels in the Town. It is a voluntary program through which the Town Board, on behalf of all Town residents, would purchase from willing sellers the development rights, or conservation easements, limiting the uses and development potential of key agricultural parcels. Participation in the program enables farmers to continue farming their land. It will help farmers stay in business by providing needed capital, and it relieves development pressures by ensuring that development will not encroach onto participating farm parcels. The primary benefit of this type of easement program is that the properties remain under the ownership and stewardship of the private landowners.
The Town adopted the voluntary PDR program as a long-term commitment. Approximately 3,500 acres of farmland in the Town of Ithaca are recommended for PDR. Since the start of the program, the Town has been setting aside funds in an Open Space Reserve account for the PDR program.
Additional Information
In 2003, the Town obtained its first agricultural conservation easement through PDR on a 40-acre parcel of active farmland on Sheffield Road, which is currently operated as part of the Laughing Goat Fiber Farm. The property contains approximately 30 acres of active farmland and 10 acres of mixed woods and shrub growth. They have a herd of approximately 90 animals, including Angora goats, Cashmere goats, Alpacas, and sheep. They specialize in home-grown exotic fibers and create original hand-made fiber goods (blankets, rugs, shawls, scarves, and other items). Scenic views over the property are visible from Sheffield Road looking east toward East Hill areas of the Town of Ithaca and beyond.
The Town completed its second agricultural conservation easement on the 42-acre Indian Creek Farm property. This permanent easement was purchased through the assistance of the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, with funding under its Farmland Protection Implementation Grants program. The farm consists of U-pick fruits and vegetables, a roadside stand, and original nursery sales. The farm is located only 2 miles from downtown Ithaca on Trumansburg Road and is open from spring to late fall. This property enjoys terrific views to the east and contains a portion of Indian Creek in the wooded area along the northern edge of the farm. In addition to the fruits and vegetables grown, Indian Creek Farm also grafts and grows over 500 varieties of fruit trees (Cummins Nursery).
The third agricultural conservation easement is on a 52-acre property on Bostwick Road. This easement will protect approximately 38 acres of productive farmland, with a portion of the open fields being leased to Forever Green Farms Inc. to grow spruce trees, supplying landscapers, wholesalers and tree brokers with large balled and burlaped trees. The easement will also help protect the streams, wildlife habitat and steep slopes on approximately 12 acres along the southern boundary of the property.
The Town of Ithaca’s Agricultural Zone currently contains approximately 4,235 acres (24% of the total zoning). The purpose of the Agricultural Zone is to assure a proper economic and physical environment for continued agricultural use of land and other nonextractive natural resource land uses; to maintain an open rural character to viable agricultural areas; to assure compatible types and densities of development on lands that are usable for agricultural pursuits; and to minimize other land uses incompatible with farming.
The Agricultural Zone does include a specific “right-to-farm” provision (Section 270-39 of Town Code). The provision is to help warn landowners in the Agricultural Zone that the primary intention of the zone is to permit sound agricultural practices.
“The Town of Ithaca recognizes that agriculture is an integral part of the Town’s economy and environment, provides locally grown food and other agricultural products, and enhances the quality of life for Town residents. The Town proactively promotes a diversity of farm types, seeks the long-term preservation of the Town’s agricultural-land resources, supports the economic viability of the farming community and the profitability of each farm, values the local public agricultural research and educational resources, and encourages the general public to understand and support local agriculture.”
Above is the Vision Statement that was developed for the Town of Ithaca’s Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan. This Plan outlines specific goals, recommendations and implementation steps that will help achieve this vision. The Plan also includes background information on agriculture in the Town along with existing agricultural resources, maps, and other pertinent information. The Plan was adopted by the Town of Ithaca Town Board and the Tompkins County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board in November 2011.
On this page, you will be able to locate providers of Town of Ithaca agricultural products. An alphabetical list of farms is provided below. Please take time to review each farm and connect to their websites for additional information. Please note that not every farm in the Town of Ithaca has chosen to participate on our website at this time. To add or update your farm listing, please contact Michael Smith, Senior Planner, at 607-273-1747.
Local Farms & Products
A.J. Teeter Farm
Owners / Managers Name:
Alan & Debbie Teeter
Address / Location:
71 Gray Road, Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone:
607-277-4547
Email:
AJTeeterFarm@msn.com
Farm Website:
www.AJTeeterFarm.com
Season:
year-round for Gardener’s Skin Balm, beef primarily in the fall, September and October for hayrides, February for vegetable seedling orders with an April-May delivery
Days / Hours Open:
varies, and by appointment
Products Available:
- Fall foliage hayrides
- grass-fed beef by the half of split-half
- Gardener’s Skin Balm
Additional Information:
A.J. Teeter Farm is the oldest family farm in the Town of Ithaca. We were one of the first CSA (Community Support Agriculture) farms in the county, and only gave that up, regretfully, when we assumed responsibility for the entire farm and those responsibilities no longer allowed for the time needed to run a CSA. We continued to grow our own vegetable seedlings for transplant and have been a regular vendor at the Annual Ithaca Plant Sale for many years. Starting in 2013, we will offer Custom Transplants, adapting a CSA model, to provide a wider range of varieties as well as the exact quantities of the varieties our customers want. If this intrigues you, please contact us and we will be in touch after the first of the year.
The Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming: New Farmer Training Programs
Owners / Managers Name:
Liz Coakley, Incubator Farm & Business Manager
Address / Location:
- Office: 225 S Fulton Street, Ithaca
- Incubator Farm: 100 Rachel Carson Way, Ithaca
Phone:
607-319-5095
Email:
info@groundswellcenter.org
Farm Website:
www.groundswellcenter.org
Season:
year-round
Days / Hours Open:
Groundswell’s office is temporarily closed due to COVID. Feel free to contact us at info @ groundswellcenter.org. The farm is normally open for public tours and a volunteer event the first Thursday evening of each month during the growing season, from 5:30-7:30 pm. This event is on hold for the time being.
Products Available:
Groundswell offers beginning farmer training and food system education. Our programs include the Incubator Farm Business Program, Farm Tours, Food Justice Training, Farm Business Planning Course, Farmer Technical Courses, and one-on-one consultations for farmers and food entrepreneurs. Please contact us about your farming interests. Groundswell also hosts an online Event Calendar or regional farming & food events and Classified listings at www.groundswellcenter.org.
HoneyRock Farm, LLC
Owners / Managers Name:
Bill & Sharon Hilker
Address / Location:
271 Burns Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone:
607-592-2277
Email:
honeyrockfarm@gmail.com
Farm Website / Social Media:
www.honeyrockfarm.com
Season (Year Round or List Months Open):
Year Round
Days / Hours Open:
By appointment
List Products Available:
Many varieties of local honey (Full list of varieties available can be found on our website).
Additional Comments or Information:
HoneyRock Farm is a local family-owned apiary producing 100% pure unpasteurized honey. Our product is available in several varieties reflecting our land and the seasonal changes in our local plant life. Our honey can be purchased at many locations in and around Ithaca: P&C Fresh (East Hill Plaza), Agway True Value (Fulton St), Agway Northeast (Triphammer Rd), Lively Run Goat Dairy (Interlaken NY) , Cafe Jennie (Cornell Bookstore), J.R. Dill Winery (Burdett NY), and directly from our Online Store. Please check out our website for more information.
Laughing Goat Fiber Farm
Owners / Managers Name:
Lisa Ferguson
Address / Location:
1485 Mecklenburg Rd., Ithaca
Phone:
607-351-7361
Email:
lisa@laughinggoatfiber.com
Farm Website:
www.laughinggoatfiber.com
Season:
Year round. Shop on premises. Tours by appointment.
Days / Hours Open:
2-7 Sept 1 to Dec 23. Otherwise by appointment.
Products Available:
- Mohair and Cashmere blends
- Socks!
- Hats
- Scarves
- Mittens
- Gloves
- Blankets
- Rugs
- Yarn
- Roving
- much more!
Additional Information:
Home grown, Hand made and Hand dyed finished goods.
Indian Creek Farm
Owners / Managers Name:
Stephen Cummins
Address / Location:
1408 Trumansburg Road (“1/2 mile past the hospital on Route 96”)
Phone:
607-227-8248
Email:
indiancreekit@gmail.com
Farm Website:
indiancreekithaca.com
Season:
June through November — Starting with strawberry season and running through the apple-squash-sprout harvest
Days / Hours Open:
8am til one hour before dark. Open in June with Strawberries
Products Available:
U Pick or We Pick!
- Strawberries
- raspberries
- peaches
- pears
- apples
- pumpkins
- tomatoes
- peppers
- eggplant
- cucumber
- zucchini
- cantaloupe
- winter squash
- brussels sprouts
- flowers
- cider and more!
Want to know what’s fresh? Sign up to get weekly Fresh Crop Alerts at indiancreekithaca.com/subscribe.
Mehrabyan Nursery
Owners / Managers Name:
Surik Mehrabyan
Address / Location:
259 Seven Mile Drive, Ithaca NY 14850
Phone:
607-229-4943
Email:
contact@mehrabyannursery.com
Farm Website:
www.mehrabyannursery.com
Days / Hours Open:
By appointment only
Products Available:
Variety of fruit trees, shade trees and flowering trees.
Tree Gate Farm
Owners / Managers Name:
Sharon Tregaskis and Dean Koyanagi
Address / Location:
West Hill
Email:
treegatefarm@gmail.com
Farm Website:
http://treegatefarm.blogspot.com
Season:
May 15–October 30
Days / Hours Open:
wholesale, only
Products Available:
cider apples, vegetables
West Haven Organic Farm
Owners / Managers Name:
Carlos Aguilera and Lorena Mendoza
Address / Location:
EcoVillage, 27 Rachel Carson Way, Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone:
607-280-6626
Email:
csa@westhavenfarm.net
Farm Website:
www.westhavenfarm.net
Season:
May through November
Days / Hours Open:
Saturday at Ithaca Farmer’s Market
Products Available:
Offering CSA shares. A variety of seasonal greens and vegetables, see website for detailed list. Seedlings are available at the beginning of the season. Fruit including apples, stone fruit, strawberries and melons.