PROJECT PROFILE

Copake Agricultural Center
Copake, New York

Farmland Renewal LLC and its 192 acre Copake Agricultural Center were conceived by Northeast Farm Access LLC (NEFA), a team of consultants and social entrepreneurs who have completed many successful projects across New England, the Northeast, and beyond.  NEFA will serve as the LLC’s managing partner and focus especially on the Center’s collaborative or social aspect, an innovation whose purpose is to manage risk by supporting mutual farmer engagement in an approach that is important for farming’s future even as it grows out of farming’s past.

Our Town Center Farm's three leaseholds are leased long term to operators selected on the strength of their business plans, references and connection with the Center’s approach and values.  Fifty acres of vegetables and three acres of flowers are being grown at the Center this year.  Next year or so, Allie’s Farm Stay will be developed by a farmer committed to bringing visitors onto the land. The farmer training program, Scaling Up, will sublease shared access to the Center’s land, houses and farm buildings for educational use.  Scaling Up was developed by an experienced Steering Committee and staffed by NEFA and others. The committee has developed a unique and stimulating curriculum. Together with local and distant partners, fundraising and outreach  are now underway.