Dirt under his nails and a warm smile behind a scraggly beard, John Whitmore of Shagbark Gardens in Danby, NY sat down with me on Tuesday to reflect on his experience in the “Grow Your Farm Business Course”, held every winter here at Groundswell. Situated atop the Autumn Leaves Book Store in a cozy little…

Connecting children and families to the land is a primary goal of the Learning Farm. Based in Ithaca, the farm focuses on exposure to the outdoors and education about the natural world. It is also a juicery, and the Learning Farm Juicery grew out of a desire to see healthier juices on the market for…

In 2014, Steve Selin and his family achieved their dream of owning their own estate cider orchard. Now, the 5-acre South Hill Cider Orchard boasts 20 varieties of apples and 1,500 trees. Just this fall, South Hill Cider opened a new cider house and tasting room, located next to the orchard, and participated in Finger…

The Green New Deal is increasingly becoming a hot topic in discussions about climate change. Introduced by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Edward J. Markey earlier this year, the Green New Deal is a plan to fight climate change through moving away from fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of the economy,…

At Northstar Farm, food goes straight from the field to people’s plates. The farm grows produce based around Northstar House’s menu. The pub, located in Fall Creek, is supplied with a steady flow of fresh, organic food from the farm. The pub has several co-owners, and Northstar Farm is located on one of the co-owner’s…

On Wednesday, October 2nd, as part of the work Groundswell Center is involved in with the Finger Lakes Land Access Reconciliation and Reparations Working Group, a group of community members from the larger Ithaca Area drove the hour up the lakeside to join people from the Gayogo̱hó:no nation to create and cultivate community. The day…

This article was authored by Petra Page-Mann, one of the owners of Fruition Seeds. This article and photos are being republished with their permission from their website. Garlic is one of the easiest and most rewarding crops to grow, though it’s not a cakewalk. I’ve grown garlic here in the Finger Lakes for over nearly…

Check out the final episode of Chasing the Dream, a look into equitable food systems and the work of Soul Fire Farm Natasha Thompson, host of the series and CEO of the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, speaks with Elizabeth Gabriel and Alexas Esposito from Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming. The episode concludes with a…

Groundswell is: “one of those visionary organizations that recognize that the legacy of 10,000 years of agrarian practice must be questioned and changed if we’re to sustain our climate, soil, air, water, and our aspirational democracy.” -Jay Smith, Equity and Accountability Committee 10 years of building an equitable and just food system in the Finger…

A Big Thank You to All Our Supporters Thank you to everyone who came to the Sunset Soirée last month for a beautiful evening filled with food, drinks, music, a chance auction and — most importantly — incredible company! Groundswell’s 10-year anniversary is an important milestone towards building a sustainable and just food system, and…

Connecting Community Through Food: An Interview With Up-and-Coming Local Farmer, John Whitmore

The Learning Farm: Connecting Kids to the Land

South Hill Cider: An A-peel-ing Addition

What does the Green New Deal Mean for Justice & Farming?

Northstar Farm: Starting Out Strong

Community Teach-in at the Gayogo̱hó:no (Cayuga) School House

Fruition Seeds: 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Planting Garlic and Shallots

Equitable Food Systems

Looking Back to Look Ahead

Thank You for Celebrating Our 10th Year!