Cortland, NY, Cortland County
Acres Available
Open Tillable Acres
Wooded (or other) Acres
Condition & Current Use
Property is a flag lot, with a thriving cider mill, bakery, country store, and its associated parking lot on the front, narrow portion. The back ~3 acres is deer fenced and has an irrigation well. The fenced in area is roughly in thirds, with an upper and lower flat fields with a slope in between. The upper, eastern portion is a young apple orchard, mostly tall spindle on trellis (planted 2020), 2 dozen freestanding semi-dwarf (planted '18-'19), and a handful of standards ('18-'19). At the top of the slope is a windbreak primarily of hazelnuts ('18-'19), with some pines and spruces to be harvested as Christmas trees before being replanted with hazelnuts. The southern half of the slope has a handful of freestanding peach and cherry trees ('24) and a rootstock stool bed. There also exists an E-W running line of Pear trees on the northern edge of the slope. The lower field has been fallow since 2021, it was a not certified organic veggie CSA from 2018-2020. Outside the deer fence is a staged hedgerow project intended as the long-term replacement for the deer fence while also providing ecological services.
Soil Types
Farm History & Past Use
Prior to 2017 it was all field crops (corn, soy, hay rotation) for a conventional dairy. The open field in question was then my wife's Veggie CSA, which used organic practices but was not certified, until 2021. It was fallow and mowed a couple times a summer in '22-'23. I cover cropped and mowed starting in '24, and plan to continue until is gets a more productive use.
Tenure Options
We are open to everything but purchase as that isn't possible given the size, location, and zoning limitations. All will start as a short-term lease while we see how well we fit. Long term possibilities I foresee include hiring to manage orchard, employment at the Cider Mill if desired, and a movement to worker-owned cooperative model once a critical mass is achieved.
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
Poultry, and a small flock of sheep or goats would be acceptable/desirable. Unfortunately the size and infrastructure of larger livestock isn't really an option in this space. Grazers would be allowed/desired in the orchard in the early spring and post harvest.
We're pretty open to any crops but think that u-pick berries/fruit and/or pumpkins would do very well. I'm obviously pretty partial to woody perennials, but deeper rooted things would likely encounter the water table most years.
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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Goats/Sheep
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Poultry
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Bees
Preferred Farming Method
Farm Infrastructure
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Barns - Livestock
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Equipment
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Fencing
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Water access
Equipment
BCS with a rotary plow, power harrow, and flail mower.
Fencing
8 foot high woven wire deer fence around the entire field. Foxes, woodchucks, rabbits, and wild turkey all traverse it without trouble.
Water Access
Irrigation well. Can be powered with a generator, we power with a Ford Lightning when irrigating the orchard.
Additional Property Information
The orchard is not certified anything, but we place considerable restrictions upon ourselves as we are looking to be good stewards, good neighbors, and consistently improve our environment through our agricultural practices.
We expect you to share the values of being good stewards, good neighbors, and trying to improve our environment through your agricultural practices. There are a wide range of practices that can be expressions of those values.
