Natural Choice Vacation

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Veggies in season

Dead End Farm, LLC - a diversified organic farm
113 Powers Road, Candor, NY
607-659-3716   This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

From a single cow 4-H project in 1994, to a first generation 50 cow dairy farm in 2008, the scale of farming has changed drastically for our young family. Going back to our original roots we have organic grass-fed beef available for sale in 2010. We are members/owners of CROPP Cooperative, which buys our milk to produce regional Organic Valley dairy products available throughout the Northesast.  Check out their website for information on products, store locations and coupons:  www.organicvalley.com

EcoVillage at Ithaca, located in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, is part of a growing global movement for a saner, more sustainable human culture. Comprising an intentional community and a non-profit educational organization, the project is developing an alternative model for suburban living which provides a satisfying, healthy, socially rich lifestyle, while minimizing ecological impacts.

Our village currently includes two 30-home cohousing neighborhoods, FROG and SONG, and a third neighborhood (TREE) in the planning stages, an organic CSA vegetable farm, an organic CSA/U-Pick berry farm, office spaces for cottage industry, a neighborhood root cellar, community gardens and varied natural areas. Over 80% of the 175 acre site is planned to remain green space, including 55 acres in a conservation easement held by the Finger Lakes Land Trust.

Visiting EcoVillage

There are a number of ways in which you can learn about EcoVillage.

Free Public Tour: Our free public tour occurs on the last Saturday of each month at 3:00 pm. It meets at the FROG Common House. You do not need to make reservations in advance for the tour. Just show up!

Private Tour: Scheduled tours can be arranged with two week's advance notice, Thursday-Monday 1:00-5:00pm.  A knowledgeable resident will meet with you, answer questions and show you around with a focus on the areas of particular interest to you. Allow about an hour and a half to two hours for these tours. In exchange for our time, we ask that you become a member of our educational non-profit, EVI/CTA ($35 for individuals, $50 for families). Please contact our Visit Coordinator by e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it at least two weeks prior to the date you wish to come for a private tour as we have to find volunteers available to guide you on the date you are considering.

Group Tours: Group tours are available for students, community groups, professionals, etc. Group tours provide a broad overview of our project and a chance to tour the facilities. They can be tailored to the particular interests of a group (e.g., energy systems, the organic farm, life in cohousing, etc.) Group tours can be scheduled with two weeks advance notice. Payment is $15/person for 1.5 hours and $30/person for three hours with a minimum charge of $50, and a 50% deposit in advance. Group tours should be scheduled through the EcoVillage Office: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Overnight Visits: Spending several days or weeks at EcoVillage is highly recommended for people who wish to get a more intimate understanding of environmentally oriented cohousing. It is required for prospective members of the community who live out of town. Local residents who are considering joining EcoVillage should spend a substantial amount of time participating in community activities and work teams, although staying overnight is optional.Visits can be tailored to your needs and interests. When you are ready to plan an overnight or extended visit, review our list of accommodation and visitor package options.

You can participate in the following activities during your stay at Ecovillage:

Work teams
Since all EcoVillage residents participate in the hands-on upkeep of the village, participating in one or more of EcoVillage's regular work teams, such as the cook team, the outdoor team, Common House cleaning crew, etc., is a great way to learn about life at EcoVillage.

Business Meetings
Regular business meetings for FROG, SONG, and the Village Association will familiarize you with the consensus decision-making process and the spirit of communal living.

Common House Meals
Four weekly meals (Mon-Thurs) in the common houses provide delicious, organic sustenance to our community, and are open to visitors.

Other Events:
Social events take place throughout the month. Your visit can be scheduled to coincide with such events.

If you are interested in any of these activities, please notify the Visit Coordinator ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) PRIOR to your arrival at EcoVillage. Please respect the privacy of our residents.

Thanks!

Heritage Pastures
2343 Stanton Hill Road, Nichols, NY
607-687-3459  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

We aim to produce the best tasting, most nutritious, pastured pork, chicken, turkey, and eggs by using traditional and organic farming practices and maintaining bio-diversity by raising heritage breed animals.  Cuts like pork chops, bacon, sausage, ham and roasts are available year round and pork can be pre-ordered by the half or whole for a cost savings.  Call or email for a farm visit, to order poultry and pastured pork or arrange a meat delivery.

Humble Hill Farm
390 Tallow Hill Road
Spencer, NY  607-589-6149
www.humblehill.com

Humble Hill Farm was founded in 1999 in the Finger Lakes region of upstate NY. The farm began with 21 acres and only about 2 acres of good tillable farmland. With careful land management, our master gardener Rick Tarantelli produced an abundance of crops year after year from only a 1/2 acre of intensely farmed land. Humble Hill has been selling at the Ithaca Farmers Market for seven years. 

In 2008 Humble Hill farm annexed 150 acres of land from the farm that shares our northern border, thus beginning a new chapter in the growth and development of the farm. In 2009 we began selling shares to our CSA. (Community Supported Agriculture.)

Pasture raised beef, chicken, eggs, pork, turkey.