Soil types:

Description of the property’s current condition and current use(s):

Our farm is beautifully sited in view of the Mohonk Ridge. The cleared acres have been dairy pasture in the past, but are now fallow, save for our 3 acre vegetable operation which we use to grow organically and sell a variety of produce to restaurants and CSA. There has ot been any chemical use on this land for more than 20 years, which clears the way for immediate application for organic certification.

Farm history / past uses of the property:

This land was part of a large dairy farm until the 1980s or so. Some pasture grases were grown on the fields. 

Infrastructure and equipment:

• water
• housing
• electrical

Water access description:

we have a gravity fed system from a cistern uphill from the farm which supplies our greenhouse, drip irrigation to the field and hand watering. There is also a lower cistern that we have not tapped and could be an alternate water supply.

Farmer housing description:

We are looking for a couple containing at least one woman, or a single woman. We have a completely independent apartment in our beautiful home up on a hill overlooking the Mohonk Ridge. The rest of the home is occupied by two women who have autism and their round-the-clock staff. The farmers who occupy the apartment will be required to act as back up staff, should an emergency occur. For this they will receive a stipend. There is also an opportunity for further income if you would like to take on some hours of direct support for the women during the day. This opportunity would apply to women only.

The house is large and accomodating. although the apartment is a one bedroom, a past couple spread out into an adjoining living room and there is a large, ready to be finished room overhead that we would consider finishing off for the right farm family.  

Types of crops permitted to be produced on the property:

Types of livestock permitted on the property:

Livestock/crops description :

We presently farm a diversified vegetable operation, but are looking to expand and would welcome other ideas for land usage, especially a u-pick berry operation. 

Tenure options:

Description of tenure options:

At present, a non-profit, SustainAbility Services, (www.sustainabilityfarm.org) operates our vegetable farm. 

Preferences and restrictions on agricultural activities:

We would not like to have any animals on the farm that are raised for meat.  We are also pursuing organic certification and would not want any chemical application that would run counter to that. 

Do you require a farmer who qualifies for agricultural assessment?:

Are you willing to have the public on the property as a part of the farm business?:

Any additional information about this property:

We thought it might be good to include a description of the live-in caregiving aspect of living at our farm.

SustainAbility Farm- www.sustainabilityfarm.org

You can see a map of our  farm attached below. Our acreage is the trapezoidal piece north of the road on the map.

Live-in Caregiver

This is an opportunity for those interested in farming to lease some farm property at   very, very low-cost, while living in community with two or three women who have autism, rent free.

Our farm project, now in its third year, is interested in hiring a reliable, compassionate, and intelligent Live-in caregiver to help two or three self-directed young women with autism who have chosen to live in community on a farm in the beautiful Hudson Valley, in New York State. We are looking for a committed woman, or couple, who has great communication skills and can problem solve on the spot. We are a collaborative team of: farmers with autism, staff supervisor, families, and direct support staff who work cooperatively and welcome everyone’s ideas and input. We sell to our food co-op and feed our CSA customers from our two acre vegetable operation. Our farmhouse has a completely independent one-bedroom apartment. The caregiver will live rent-free on site and receive a stipend that will cover the cost of her monthly food bill. In addition, she will have the opportunity to become a direct support staff member for additional pay.

Responsibilities and duties:

The live-in caregiver will serve as back-up support overnight from 9 pm until 9 am – five nights a week.  With some exceptions, this could be done while remaining in the apartment. (Each farmer with autism has direct one-to-one support from 9am until 9pm and shared night time supervision from 9pm until 9am.)

The live in caregiver will monitor the maintenance of the house, and ensure that regular house cleaners and occasional workers come when expected and perform agreed-upon work.

The live in caregiver will act as direct support staff substitute on occasions when staffers do not show up on time. They will be paid separately for this service and will stay on until such time as our staff supervisor can find a substitute staff member to support the farmer. Because this may involve personal care, this part of the job is only suitable for a female.

Requirements:

High school diploma (some college preferred)

Enjoy being outdoors and ready to start from scratch.

Flexibility and a good sense of humor. 

Related files:

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