Birdsfoot Farm

Birdsfoot Farm is a consensus-based agricultural community founded in 1972. Our farm is located where the St. Lawrence River valley meets the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. Though the area is quite rural, the presence of four colleges nearby brings cultural diversity we appreciate. Our 73-acre farm has fertile loam soil, woods, a stream, a large community house, three comfortable homes, a schoolhouse, two barns, and a small cabin. In order to grow we need to build new dwellings. The land and buildings are owned by the community. Members share monthly living expenses, purchase equity in the property, and participate in community work projects. We care a lot about each other and find time for many kinds of sharing--such as communal meals, rituals, parties, etc. Each person follows his or her own spiritual path. Individuals are active in social and environmental issues. The new-member process includes a one-year trial period. We welcome new members, including children and elders. Our vegetable business grows two acres of certified organic vegetables for the community, wholesale, CSA, and farmers market using low-input techniques, intensive spacing and cover cropping. Little River Community School was started in 1998. The school now serves 39 students in grades K-12 with four full-time teachers. The school is founded on the belief that children are inherently motivated to learn about their world and should be allowed to proceed at their own rate. See the school on the web at http://www.littleriverschool.org.

The farm and school provide income to some of the community members and others work off the farm. Each year the veggie business and school seek interns. For more information about our community, or internship programs, please send a letter.