A cactus grows in Nichols, NY

By Natalie | August 1, 2019

This week, Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming and Rainbow Healing Center of America, LLC teamed up for a herb harvest at Kay’s Rare Cacti & Succulents in Nichols, NY. With the help of several volunteers, we harvested golden rod, raspberry leaves, burdock and other herbs to be dried for Rainbow Healing Center teas.…

Groundswell Incubator Farm: Working to Support Equitable Farming Opportunities in Ithaca (WRFI Radio Piece)

By Natalie | July 10, 2019

March 2, 2019 Volunteers gather on a sunny May evening to cut down brush and clear new beds for planting at the Groundswell Incubator Farm. These monthly volunteer nights are a way for the public to support the 11 farm operations enrolled in this unique farmer support program in Ithaca, NY. One such farmer featured…

Women on the Land: Intro to Torch Welding Recap

By Alexas Esposito | June 3, 2019

On Saturday, May 18 the Incubator farm was bustling! It was the first dry and sunny Saturday of the season, and around 25 farmers were coming and going to till and plant their fields. Besides this normal farm activity, 10 women gathered to learn an Introduction to Torch Welding, taught by Monica Burke, local welder…

Visit to the Cayuga Nation Farm

By Alexas Esposito | April 30, 2019

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to visit the Cayuga Nation Farm, which is part of the Cayuga Nation Immersion School. In case you didn’t know – The Gayogohó:no, are the original people of the land that is now known as parts of the Eastern Finger Lakes Region, surrounding Cayuga Lake. Gayogohó:no, translates to “People…

“Farming While Black” and Land Access and Reparations with Leah Penniman of Soul Fire Farm Recap

By Alexas Esposito | March 28, 2019

March 7th and 8th, we were graced with another visit by Leah Penniman of Soul Fire Farm, as she shared her presentation “Farming While Black”, inspired by her recent book, “Farming While Black.” She also facilitated two Land Access and Reparations Workshops, one open to the whole community, and another specifically for the BIPOC (Black,…

Newest grower at Incubator Farm has flourishing first season

By Natalie | December 19, 2018 |

Interview and article by: Nico Hirscl, Cornell University William Htoo is the newest farmer at Groundswell Center’s Farm Business Incubator Program, and just completed his first growing season. William is a refugee from Burma (also known as Myanmar) and came to Ithaca, NY in 2011. William and I sat down to have a conversation about…

Groundswell Center & Hammerstone host Carpentry Workshop for Women

By Adriana Pickett-Becerra | August 13, 2018 |

Last Friday Groundswell Center and #Hammerstone School of Carpentry for Women teamed up to teach a free workshop to women who helped build a new produce wash-station at the Groundswell Incubator Farm. Thanks to funding from the Park Foundation, the Legacy Foundation and the Community Foundation of Tompkins County Women’s Fund, we were able to offer this…

Groundswell Story: Alison Smith

By Allison | June 9, 2017 |

Alison came to Ithaca to find her place in our farm community, specifically for flowers. After apprenticing at Littleflowers Farm for the tail end of last season, she joined Groundswell’s Incubator Farm to pursue her own cut flower business. How did you get started with Groundswell’s Incubator Farm program? I had been farming veggies but…