About Birdsfoot
We are here at Birdsfoot Farm to create a sustainable, peaceful, nourishing life together with the land. We create this by working together in a collaborative group process – each person influences our vision with her/his energy and interests. We practice sustainability by sharing and conserving resources. We open our community to share our knowledge and experiences
of sustainable life skills. We are learners as well as teachers and encourage the exchange of ideas. We balance work, play, and time for ourselves. We are not dogmatic. We each decide our own “convenience needs”, but there is a general understanding that we are trying to live simply.
We are committed to peaceful nonviolent conflict resolution. Through understanding and acceptance of each other we create a safe environment for personal and communal growth. By growing, preparing, and eating quality organic foods we nourish ourselves and others. Our relationship with the land feeds our souls.
Living together offers us greater perspective, friendship, a support system, and group wisdom. We are deeply committed to caring for each other. We work and play together providing for many of our needs and thereby overcoming society‟s pressure of competition and the need for more.
The land we live upon is an integral part of our lives. Its health and well-being are important to us. The land keeps us in tune with the seasons‟ rhythms of life and reminds us of our partnership with nature.
History
Birdsfoot as a farm and community began in 1972 and has gone through many changes. By the late 70's we had grown to a large and thriving family of 8 adults and 7 kids. But we were without clear agreements, communication was often poor, and values and life styles were quite divergent. 1980-86 marked a period of general decline in membership and community spirit. Our "renaissance" began in 1986 -- essentially, we are a whole new community, stronger and more organized. The structure that we have developed, with much effort over the past twenty-five years, consists of a series of consensus agreements covering membership, ownership, finances, land use, house building,
and responsibilities of members. All of our decisions are made by consensus. Of course this process of envisioning Birdsfoot is always evolving.
Location
Our land is located where the St. Lawrence River Valley meets the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. Canada lies 25 miles to the North. Our 73 acres, 70% wooded, include a 4-acre garden, a young orchard, meadows, woods, beaver ponds, and other wild places.
Though we enjoy our rural life very much, the presence of four colleges nearby brings a cultural diversity we appreciate (and a more receptive market for organic produce). For example, there are foreign films, and frequent musical and theatrical performances. Ottawa in Ontario, Canada is 75 miles north of us. The high peaks of the Adirondacks are 75 miles to the west.
Birdsfoot is generally well accepted and respected by the larger community, with a network of friends with whom we share aspects of our alternative lifestyle and worldview. The parties, feasts, sweats, drumming circles, poetry readings, and other gatherings that have happened at Birdsfoot over the years offer rich expressions of our different spiritual beliefs, values, and ideas of fun (!), and strengthen bonds of community within Birdsfoot and the larger community.
Food
Dinners are a time that we come together each day. We enjoy making and eating wonderful nutritious meals using the food we grow. The Main House kitchen is vegetarian, though most of us eat meat. Our orchards produce an abundance of apples and plums and a few pears, which we press and process for year-round eating. A favorite pastime, during the growing season, is to eat our way through the garden and berry patches.
Children
Over the years, much of our lives have centered on the children at Birdsfoot. Two of the four children have finished college, one attends college, one attends our own Little River Community School, one is just learning to talk. Our children often develop important relationships with most people that spend time here. These relationships, including play, childcare, and the school, make Birdsfoot a great place for kids.
Little River Community School
Little River Community School is located on Birdsfoot Farm and opened in 1999. The school has 35 students, ages 5-18. Steve is the founder of the school and one of the three teachers. We sometimes have an opening for an experienced teacher or an intern and often have volunteers from the local universities and larger community helping out in the class-room.
Little River provides a unique environment where students are trusted and seen as inherently self-motivated to learn about their world. The teachers are there to facilitate the students‟ quest for knowledge and understanding at their own pace.
Little River is a multi-age classroom where students learn together in cooperation and are grouped by their ability and interests. Some classes will have all students, and others only three or four. Special emphasis is put on problem solving skills and hands-on experiences. On a daily basis, the students and teachers come together in a group circle for discussion, to make plans, and to solve problems. Students are given ample opportunity for unstructured play and to choose their own activities. Each student has an individualized curriculum developed by the student, teachers, and parents.
Housing
Our "Main House", built in the 1860‟s, has been renovated as a community space, with conversion of former bedrooms into a guest room, a library, a kids' room, office space, a composting toilet, and a bath and laundry room. We've insulated, put on a new roof, redone the living room, laid hardwood floors, and put up new siding. We have renovated our kitchen to be beautiful, spacious, lively, and functional.
Three beautiful energy-efficient, off the grid houses were built here around 1990, and 2012. Recently we added solar panels on our main barn (about 150 years old). Any building skills and interests arriving here with new members would be a benefit to the community. We have some "transitional" housing available to new trial members, but it will eventually be necessary for new members to build their own houses. There are also rooms for several seasonal interns.
Farming
The land is southern sloped with sandy loam, well-drained, and terraced. Years of cover-cropping and mulching have given us great soil to work with. We do seeding and cultivation with hand tools, which allows for tight spacing and efficient use of the gardens. The tractor is used for tillage and mowing. The gardens are fenced in, we have a 100’x 21’hight-tunnel and a walk-in cooler in the barn.
The Veggie Business is organized as a partnership and has been certified organic for over 30 years. Our organic vegetables are well known in the area; among organic farmers we are known for our experimentation with intensive, low-input, soil-conserving growing methods. We share with other gardeners and farmers through farm tours and workshops, and educate the larger community about organic food and sustainable living.
We are here at Birdsfoot Farm to create a sustainable, peaceful, nourishing life together with the land. We create this by working together in a collaborative group process – each person influences our vision with her/his energy and interests. We practice sustainability by sharing and conserving resources. We open our community to share our knowledge and experiences
of sustainable life skills. We are learners as well as teachers and encourage the exchange of ideas. We balance work, play, and time for ourselves. We are not dogmatic. We each decide our own “convenience needs”, but there is a general understanding that we are trying to live simply.
We are committed to peaceful nonviolent conflict resolution. Through understanding and acceptance of each other we create a safe environment for personal and communal growth. By growing, preparing, and eating quality organic foods we nourish ourselves and others. Our relationship with the land feeds our souls.
Living together offers us greater perspective, friendship, a support system, and group wisdom. We are deeply committed to caring for each other. We work and play together providing for many of our needs and thereby overcoming society‟s pressure of competition and the need for more.
The land we live upon is an integral part of our lives. Its health and well-being are important to us. The land keeps us in tune with the seasons‟ rhythms of life and reminds us of our partnership with nature.
History
Birdsfoot as a farm and community began in 1972 and has gone through many changes. By the late 70's we had grown to a large and thriving family of 8 adults and 7 kids. But we were without clear agreements, communication was often poor, and values and life styles were quite divergent. 1980-86 marked a period of general decline in membership and community spirit. Our "renaissance" began in 1986 -- essentially, we are a whole new community, stronger and more organized. The structure that we have developed, with much effort over the past twenty-five years, consists of a series of consensus agreements covering membership, ownership, finances, land use, house building,
and responsibilities of members. All of our decisions are made by consensus. Of course this process of envisioning Birdsfoot is always evolving.
Location
Our land is located where the St. Lawrence River Valley meets the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. Canada lies 25 miles to the North. Our 73 acres, 70% wooded, include a 4-acre garden, a young orchard, meadows, woods, beaver ponds, and other wild places.
Though we enjoy our rural life very much, the presence of four colleges nearby brings a cultural diversity we appreciate (and a more receptive market for organic produce). For example, there are foreign films, and frequent musical and theatrical performances. Ottawa in Ontario, Canada is 75 miles north of us. The high peaks of the Adirondacks are 75 miles to the west.
Birdsfoot is generally well accepted and respected by the larger community, with a network of friends with whom we share aspects of our alternative lifestyle and worldview. The parties, feasts, sweats, drumming circles, poetry readings, and other gatherings that have happened at Birdsfoot over the years offer rich expressions of our different spiritual beliefs, values, and ideas of fun (!), and strengthen bonds of community within Birdsfoot and the larger community.
Food
Dinners are a time that we come together each day. We enjoy making and eating wonderful nutritious meals using the food we grow. The Main House kitchen is vegetarian, though most of us eat meat. Our orchards produce an abundance of apples and plums and a few pears, which we press and process for year-round eating. A favorite pastime, during the growing season, is to eat our way through the garden and berry patches.
Children
Over the years, much of our lives have centered on the children at Birdsfoot. Two of the four children have finished college, one attends college, one attends our own Little River Community School, one is just learning to talk. Our children often develop important relationships with most people that spend time here. These relationships, including play, childcare, and the school, make Birdsfoot a great place for kids.
Little River Community School
Little River Community School is located on Birdsfoot Farm and opened in 1999. The school has 35 students, ages 5-18. Steve is the founder of the school and one of the three teachers. We sometimes have an opening for an experienced teacher or an intern and often have volunteers from the local universities and larger community helping out in the class-room.
Little River provides a unique environment where students are trusted and seen as inherently self-motivated to learn about their world. The teachers are there to facilitate the students‟ quest for knowledge and understanding at their own pace.
Little River is a multi-age classroom where students learn together in cooperation and are grouped by their ability and interests. Some classes will have all students, and others only three or four. Special emphasis is put on problem solving skills and hands-on experiences. On a daily basis, the students and teachers come together in a group circle for discussion, to make plans, and to solve problems. Students are given ample opportunity for unstructured play and to choose their own activities. Each student has an individualized curriculum developed by the student, teachers, and parents.
Housing
Our "Main House", built in the 1860‟s, has been renovated as a community space, with conversion of former bedrooms into a guest room, a library, a kids' room, office space, a composting toilet, and a bath and laundry room. We've insulated, put on a new roof, redone the living room, laid hardwood floors, and put up new siding. We have renovated our kitchen to be beautiful, spacious, lively, and functional.
Three beautiful energy-efficient, off the grid houses were built here around 1990, and 2012. Recently we added solar panels on our main barn (about 150 years old). Any building skills and interests arriving here with new members would be a benefit to the community. We have some "transitional" housing available to new trial members, but it will eventually be necessary for new members to build their own houses. There are also rooms for several seasonal interns.
Farming
The land is southern sloped with sandy loam, well-drained, and terraced. Years of cover-cropping and mulching have given us great soil to work with. We do seeding and cultivation with hand tools, which allows for tight spacing and efficient use of the gardens. The tractor is used for tillage and mowing. The gardens are fenced in, we have a 100’x 21’hight-tunnel and a walk-in cooler in the barn.
The Veggie Business is organized as a partnership and has been certified organic for over 30 years. Our organic vegetables are well known in the area; among organic farmers we are known for our experimentation with intensive, low-input, soil-conserving growing methods. We share with other gardeners and farmers through farm tours and workshops, and educate the larger community about organic food and sustainable living.
History
Birdsfoot as a farm and community began in 1972 and has gone through many changes. By the late 70's we had grown to a large and thriving family of 8 adults and 7 kids. But we were without clear agreements, communication was often poor, and values and life styles were quite divergent. 1980-86 marked a period of general decline in membership and community spirit.Our "renaissance" began in 1986 -- essentially, we are a whole new community, stronger and more organized. The structure that we have developed, with much effort over the past twenty five years, consists of a series of consensus agreements covering membership, ownership, finances, land use, house building,
and responsibilities of members. All of our decisions are made by consensus. Of course, this process of envisioning Birdsfoot is always evolving.
and responsibilities of members. All of our decisions are made by consensus. Of course, this process of envisioning Birdsfoot is always evolving.
Location
Our land is located where the St. Lawrence River Valley meets the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. Canada lies 25 miles to the North. Our 73 acres, 70% wooded, include a 4-acre garden, a young orchard, meadows, woods, beaver ponds, and other wild places.
Though we enjoy our rural life very much, the presence of four colleges nearby brings a cultural diversity we appreciate (and a more receptive market for organic produce). For example, there are foreign films, and frequent musical and theatrical performances. Ottawa in Ontario, Canada is 75 miles north of us. The high peaks of the Adirondacks are 75 miles to the west.
Birdsfoot is generally well accepted and respected by the larger community, with a network of friends with whom we share aspects of our alternative lifestyle and worldview. The parties, feasts, sweats, drumming circles, poetry readings, and other gatherings that have happened at Birdsfoot over the years offer rich expressions of our different spiritual beliefs, values, and ideas of fun (!), and strengthen bonds of community within Birdsfoot and the larger community.
Food
Dinners are a time that we come together each day. We enjoy making and eating wonderful nutritious meals using the food we grow. The Main House kitchen is vegetarian, though most of us eat meat. Our orchards produce an abundance of apples and plums and a few pears, which we press and process for year-round eating. A favorite pastime, during the growing season, is to eat our way through the garden and berry patches.
Children
Over the years, much of our lives have centered on the children at Birdsfoot. Two of the four children have finished college, one attends college, one attends our own Little River Community School, one is just learning to talk. Our children often develop important relationships with most people that spend time here. These relationships, including play, childcare, and the school, make Birdsfoot a great place for kids.
Little River Community School
Little River Community School is located on Birdsfoot Farm and opened in 1999. The school has 35 students, ages 5-18. Steve is the founder of the school and one of the three teachers. We sometimes have an opening for an experienced teacher or an intern and often have volunteers from the local universities and larger community helping out in the classroom.
Little River provides a unique environment where students are trusted and seen as inherently self-motivated to learn about their world. The teachers are there to facilitate the students‟ quest for knowledge and understanding at their own pace.
Little River is a multi-age classroom where students learn together in cooperation and are grouped by their ability and interests. Some classes will have all students, and others only three or four. Special emphasis is put on problem solving skills and hands-on experiences. On a daily basis, the students and teachers come together in a group circle for discussion, to make plans, and to solve problems. Students are given ample opportunity for unstructured play and to choose their own activities. Each student has an individualized curriculum developed by the student, teachers, and parents.
Dinners are a time that we come together each day. We enjoy making and eating wonderful nutritious meals using the food we grow. The Main House kitchen is vegetarian, though most of us eat meat. Our orchards produce an abundance of apples and plums and a few pears, which we press and process for year-round eating. A favorite pastime, during the growing season, is to eat our way through the garden and berry patches.
Children
Over the years, much of our lives have centered on the children at Birdsfoot. Two of the four children have finished college, one attends college, one attends our own Little River Community School, one is just learning to talk. Our children often develop important relationships with most people that spend time here. These relationships, including play, childcare, and the school, make Birdsfoot a great place for kids.
Little River Community School
Little River Community School is located on Birdsfoot Farm and opened in 1999. The school has 35 students, ages 5-18. Steve is the founder of the school and one of the three teachers. We sometimes have an opening for an experienced teacher or an intern and often have volunteers from the local universities and larger community helping out in the classroom.
Little River provides a unique environment where students are trusted and seen as inherently self-motivated to learn about their world. The teachers are there to facilitate the students‟ quest for knowledge and understanding at their own pace.
Little River is a multi-age classroom where students learn together in cooperation and are grouped by their ability and interests. Some classes will have all students, and others only three or four. Special emphasis is put on problem solving skills and hands-on experiences. On a daily basis, the students and teachers come together in a group circle for discussion, to make plans, and to solve problems. Students are given ample opportunity for unstructured play and to choose their own activities. Each student has an individualized curriculum developed by the student, teachers, and parents.
Housing
Our "Main House", built in the 1860‟s, has been renovated as a community space, with conversion of former bedrooms into a guest room, a library, a kids' room, office space, a composting toilet, and a bath and laundry room. We've insulated, put on a new roof, redone the living room, laid hardwood floors, and put up new siding. We have renovated our kitchen to be beautiful, spacious, lively, and functional.
Three beautiful energy-efficient, off the grid houses were built here around 1990, and 2012. Recently we added solar panels on our main barn (about 150 years old). Any building skills and interests arriving here with new members would be a benefit to the community. We have some "transitional" housing available to new trial members, but it will eventually be necessary for new members to build their own houses. There are also rooms for several seasonal interns.
Farming
The land is southern sloped with sandy loam, well-drained, and terraced. Years of cover-cropping and mulching have given us great soil to work with. We do seeding and cultivation with hand tools, which allows for tight spacing and efficient use of the gardens. The tractor is used for tillage and mowing. The gardens are fenced in, we have a 100’x 21’hight-tunnel and a walk-in cooler in the barn.
The Veggie Business is organized as a partnership and has been certified organic for over 30 years. Our organic vegetables are well known in the area; among organic farmers we are known for our experimentation with intensive, low-input, soil-conserving growing methods. We share with other gardeners and farmers through farm tours and workshops, and educate the larger community about organic food and sustainable living.
Our "Main House", built in the 1860‟s, has been renovated as a community space, with conversion of former bedrooms into a guest room, a library, a kids' room, office space, a composting toilet, and a bath and laundry room. We've insulated, put on a new roof, redone the living room, laid hardwood floors, and put up new siding. We have renovated our kitchen to be beautiful, spacious, lively, and functional.
Three beautiful energy-efficient, off the grid houses were built here around 1990, and 2012. Recently we added solar panels on our main barn (about 150 years old). Any building skills and interests arriving here with new members would be a benefit to the community. We have some "transitional" housing available to new trial members, but it will eventually be necessary for new members to build their own houses. There are also rooms for several seasonal interns.
Farming
The land is southern sloped with sandy loam, well-drained, and terraced. Years of cover-cropping and mulching have given us great soil to work with. We do seeding and cultivation with hand tools, which allows for tight spacing and efficient use of the gardens. The tractor is used for tillage and mowing. The gardens are fenced in, we have a 100’x 21’hight-tunnel and a walk-in cooler in the barn.
The Veggie Business is organized as a partnership and has been certified organic for over 30 years. Our organic vegetables are well known in the area; among organic farmers we are known for our experimentation with intensive, low-input, soil-conserving growing methods. We share with other gardeners and farmers through farm tours and workshops, and educate the larger community about organic food and sustainable living.
