The Benefits of Our Farm Cycle

As you see here - Gene is ready to hay - the land we own is beautiful - we are stewards of this land.  The horses provide the manure - recycled in 180 days - the hay we harvest goes to the horses for winter feed - the string from the bales of hay are used to tie the tomatoes to stakes - which he makes from downed trees - the goats clear some of the brush in their travels...

I hope to plant a vineyard in their fields some day.

The dogs act as deterrents for wildlife - to reduce loss from plantings  - but in the event they are brave enough to break the hound dog barrier - we plant enough for them too!

we do not farm every swath of our land - provoking farmers to ask to rent it or Amish to tell us we are letting it go to waste.  Does native plant life and wild life that thrive present a waste land? I'm not of their same mindset.  We give back to the land more than we take 1000 fold.  And that is just how we do it.  By the way, have you ever seen how much fallow land produces when it is still viable - tons of edibles, wildflowers, and interesting life forms of many shapes and sizes.

Lots of land is left fallow to revert back to forest - to act as cover and home for deer, woodchuck, coyotes, rabbits, and other mammals, birds, & insects native to NYS.

these bridal paths are mowed for riding, running hounds, and for better hay making - the grass clippings are collected in a TRAC VAC, laid around plants to add nitrogen.

Hay that's imperfect for horses serves as mulch for gardens.

We try to recycle, repurpose, and rejuvenate "God's" Creation"...

Another Rain Soaked Summer

We have been riddled with increasing rainfall here near Cooperstown, NY.  The tomatoes are green and ready to ripen.  Now is the time they need summer sun to become sweet and juicy - like any fruit.

Signs of early and late blight continue to sneak up on the plants each year - without sun - the disease progresses and kills the plant.

We plant lots of tomato plants but Mother nature is not cooperating!  Next year we'll just grow crops that do well in wet conditions - the kale and swiss chard looks great...

Mulching - no till and soil additive

Hay mulch is common place for sometimes when we hay we lose it to rain or some other imperfection. I just lay it down, leaf by leaf until the surface of tht whole area is covered,  This suppresses weeds and serves to build up the soil one it composts and adds to the worm population below the hay layer.

Ambrosia Farms - Celebrating 25 years

I have been fortunate to have lived on this Farm.  The name of the farm was inspired by the Carole King song because much of the words echo what I've felt here.  As mentioned in the song there is a river, reminiscent of Native American life - there is a running stream which really makes sleeping a wonderful experience when the night comes, and beautiful green pastures along with old growth forests.  The area is still quite rural and affordable.  The Amish have recently relocated here bringing both good and bad affects.  But for the most part - nothing has changed since I came here in 1988.

Complimenting my life here is my fiance Gene.  His talents and skills have been important in keeping our animals happy and healthy by building perfect facilities, making green and great hay, keeping us warm in the winters with a wood stockpile, and troubleshooting every possible thing that goes wrong .

Life on a farm is a constant struggle - not only for ourselves but for the animals - making ends meet is hard - even with off farm income.  We have 30 goats, 5 horses, 1 pony, 4 hound dogs, 12 cats - and 215 acres of land with 3 buildings - a dairy barn, a horse barn, and a house.  All of these buildings need constant maintenance and much of the work we don't get to.  All of the animals live with lots of space and freedom to move - including full out running space - a predominant reason the animals live a long and healthy life.  All of this open space, peace and nature is a rare jewel - priceless by todays standards.

Both of us love being outdoors 24/7.  Sometimes we find the chores hard - especially as we are aging. But our caretaker shows no signs of slowing - much older than us - he has been a reliable relief for many many years.

Friends and family have visited often, showing support for all of our undertakings which have included caring for these animals, growing heirloom veggies, making hay, woodshop and sawmill work, pony and horse rides, and goat dairying, agritourism as well as hound dog rescue and adoption of wild horses.  None of our ventures have made money - but they support the farm upkeep and real estate taxes.

We see nearby cow dairy farmers struggle to make a living and large commercial ones that make a living but at the expense of the cow.  And we see more and more cattle farmers.  And some new veggie farms and lots of small local producers of artisan items.  Overall the future of small farming rests in a reliable distribution system that works for small farmers.

We have a great quality of life that offsets what we lose in financial stability.   I am so grateful for my time here.  One thing is certain - the next generation of farmers will be lucky - our conservation practices provide that these resources are preserved!

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Nurturing a Healthy Community

"Honestly...Natural Northeast Family Farmed"

"Honestly... Natural Northeast Family Farmed"
Keeping Northeast Family Farms in NY Metro area Consciousness!

"There is so much lying going on out there and so little integrity and stretching of the truth - an honest label seems appropriate for our times." 

What our label represents -


As Advisors for Northeast Family Farms we advocate on their behalf - propelling consumers in the Metropolitan areas to connect with farmers in a wholesome way.

Northeast States of NY, NJ, PA, WV, VA, DL, MD, ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT

Consumers that buy directly from family farmers help them stay in business.  Family farmers preserve open space in rural areas, and provide nutritious food.

We provide farmers and consumers information and educational assistance in the creation and packaging of food products.  We schedule Educational workshops on American homesteading, artisan, and farming traditions for generations.


We preserve cultural and horticultural traditions linked to a specific region, ethnicity or traditional production practice.  Heirloom seeds are saved and exchanged.  Our products are produced in small batch processing centers.

We are Caregivers of Animals promoting Heritage Breeds

We are Protectors of Natural Ecosystems and Wildlife

We invite Agritourism through "Family Farm Week", farm picnics and festivals, and Featherdown Farm Days!

We go beyond the "organic" label supporting small instead of commercial and industrial feedlots.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO PLANTS GROWN SUSTAINABLY

Our farm grows only heirloom tomatoes and this year we are offering heirloom tomato plants custom grown for us in Oneida, Madison, and Chenango Counties from heirloom seeds we provide them. This year our varieties include:

Marmande- Popular old French variety developed by the Vilmorin Seed Co. Scarlet, lightly ribbed fruit, have the full rich flavor
Pantano Romanesco -Roman heirloom The fruit are large and are deep red. The flesh is very rich, flavorful & juicy.
Rutgers -Determinate large red 8 oz. globes. Good yields and flavor, large vines. A fine New Jersey heirloom.
Tonadose Des Conores -heirloom cherry tomato from France, the very red fruit have an orange tinge inside,lingering flavor.
Striped Roman - Stunning and unique. These long, pointed red fruit have wavy orange stripes! It’s a specialty grower’s dream
Cherokee Purple - pre-1890 variety; beautiful deep dusky purple-pink color, superb sweet flavor, and very large sized fruit.
Black Krim Dark -red-purple fruit, rich sweet flavor. winner in tomato taste trials. It’s very juicy. An heirloom from Russia

We have limited supply and will sell on a first come reserved basis - you will pickup at points in NJ and NYS
please email us to reserve yours and schedule a pickup: ambrosiafarmsny@yahoo.com or phone 1.800.221.9755

About Ambrosia Farms

Ambrosia Farms is located in the Central Valley of NYS bordering the counties of Otsego, Oneida, Chenango, and Madison. This area of UpState New York is largely agricultural - dairy farms and Holstein cows dot the hillsides. Known as the Leatherstocking region, evoking memories of historic settlers to Native American lands of Oneida Indians. You'll live for a time in the Leatherstocking tales of James Fenimore Cooper. There is a richness of nature and vast blue sky panoramas where children and adults become one with the Earth.

The landscape is defined by ice age glaciers. The quiet and spaciousness of these rural hamlets are unaffected by modernization. There is a time passage back to the early 1900s. Farmers appear in tractors to plant cornfields and later in small parades of antique cars on Sunday drives through the winding roads. Elsewhere, riders on horseback enjoy miles of beautifully preserved bridal paths. Freshly grown food - great tasting to appetites stimulated by country air and activity. Children quickly participate in the chores of the farm for the opportunity to care for the vast array of animals. Yours too will ask "When can we go back to Ambrosia Farms?"

Ambrosia Farms is building a network of small farmers growing for Farmers Frozen Foods, a regionally processed frozen foods product of sustainable heirloom flash frozen vegetables. In 2005, we were awarded a SARE (sustainable agriculture research and education) grant.

Articles on this work have appeared in Cornell Small Farms Quarterly, Fruit Growers News, Vegetable Growers News. We are a unique agritourism destination, and have grown and raised heirloom vegetables and heritage breeds for over 20 years.
Our work has a very large philanthropic purpose - dedicated to saving small family farms in the Northeast, genetic diversity through seed saving and cultural traditions, natural nutrients, fine arts, and preservation of natural ecosystems including land, water, and wildlife.