Copake Agricultural Center
Copake, New York
Farmland Renewal LLC’s Copake Agricultural Center was formed in 2014 to bring together farmers and social investors to develop an important and innovative project that creates long-term access to farmland while also growing farmer and investor equity. In just twelve months, it has purchased and moved 122 acres out of “conventional” agriculture into organic farming practices, produced tons of edibles and flowers, and begun to revitalize an entire community.
Three distinct but complementary farm families relocated from Maine, Massachusetts and Westchester County to grow their operations on this prime acreage, attracted by our affordable 30-year land leases. They moved into farmhouses with barns that we also purchased to lease to them—again, helping re-energize Copake’s town center. These farmers were 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 were put into cultivation, with the balance in soil-building cover crops.
As of summer 2014, we are under contract to purchase the adjacent upland farm. We will partner with new investors to complete our acquisition plan with these additional 70 glorious acres looking over the Taconic Hills, plus anotherfarmhouse, equipment shop, and greenhouse. This purchase will bring the Center to a total of 192 acres with three homes—making it a showpiece of diversified, sustainable agriculture.
Copake Agricultural Center is a model that is already being noticed, and replicated—and bringing about change that is good for the farmers, the community, and the land.
