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We've Come So Far
About 20 years ago, our first dedicated farm manager hauled buckets of water from his house to nourish the first tender green shoots in our farm’s fields until they grew into ripe vegetables. He then took these back to his own kitchen sink to wash for shareholder distribution. Within a year of Canticle Farm’s humble beginning, a generous patron funded our well and well house. What a difference that made! Thanks to grants and your continued support, many dedicated volunteers built our barn in 2005. Recently, we’ve overhauled the wash station at the barn and made essential infrastructure improvements. The work never ends on a farm! |
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The Seeds of Inspiration
In 1998, six members of the Allegany Franciscan’s Justice and Peace Committee/Commission attended an Earth Conference, where the concept of creating a Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA) farm in Allegany was born.
An important goal of the Franciscan Sisters is to “reverence the sacred in ourselves … and all of creation” and “develop global interconnectedness” through our care and concern for Mother Earth. The idea of starting a nonprofit community farm quickly took root.
In June 1999, that spark of interest that had been ignited began to take on a new, vital life of its own and information gathering began. Srs. Frances Cardillo and Anne Rothmeier made visits to other community-supported farms operated by religious communities in New York and neighboring states, adding to their knowledge base.
A farm visit report submitted to the Justice and Peace members in September 1999 generated great enthusiasm for the pursuit of this project. Soon, the affirmation of the entire congregation of sisters in the U.S. was needed to move forward. Astonishingly, 99% of the sisters were in favor of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany (FSA) establishing a CSA farm.
Canticle Farm is Born
This Allegany Agriculture Organizing Committee became the primary group to oversee the core group, write policies and proposals, reports, etc., for the farm, recruit a farmer, purchase land and then continue as the Operating Committee, once the land and farmer were in place. This group carried on until the second year of Canticle Farm’s functioning, when it became incorporated in 2002.
It is imperative that we give recognition to those who contributed so much to the development and establishment of our farm. Their interest, willingness to share their time, effort and expertise in guiding us along the early pathways was vital to the stability of Canticle Farm. All those involved with the beginnings of the farm, especially our first farm manager, will forever be grateful for the wisdom imparted and mentoring shared by these pioneers of organic CSAs. Special thanks go out to Elisabeth Henderson, Sr. Mary Ann Garristo, SC, and Sr. Miriam Therese MacGillis.
And here we are, many years later still tilling the land and planting our nutritious crops at the South Farm. 2020 marked the 20th year of growing our Certified Naturally Grown produce for valued community and we are honored and blessed to continue serving you.
Part of our mission is to donate about 20% of the harvest of the summer season's shares to support the underserved in our area who struggle with food insecurity.
The farm consists of 26 acres of land of which 18 acres are usable. We actively farm 7 acres on the South Farm (South Nine Mile Road), which allows for crop rotation and land resting. Some of our land is also forested.
A few years ago, we purchased additional property that we call the North Farm and opened our own Canticle Farm Market (in the former Bockmier location across from Owl Homes). Everyone in the community is always welcome to purchase fresh, nutritious, responsibly grown produce at our Market.
The newest land on the North Farm takes a few years to become suitable for planting. Because we adhere to Certified Naturally Grown farming standards, some of our land is intentionally not planted so it can act as a protective boarder to adjacent conventionally farmed land, especially on the west side of the North Farm.
Over the last two decades, many improvements have been made, including raising a barn on the South Farm, building an addition to house the wash station and recently upgrading the water infrastructure in this area. We have configured the Canticle Farm Market to welcome customers all year long.
Five high tunnels allow us to grow 12 months a year. There's always something that needs to be repaired, replaced or upgraded and as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization we are extremely grateful for our generous donors who are instrumental in our success.
In 1998, six members of the Allegany Franciscan’s Justice and Peace Committee/Commission attended an Earth Conference, where the concept of creating a Community Sponsored Agriculture (CSA) farm in Allegany was born.
An important goal of the Franciscan Sisters is to “reverence the sacred in ourselves … and all of creation” and “develop global interconnectedness” through our care and concern for Mother Earth. The idea of starting a nonprofit community farm quickly took root.
In June 1999, that spark of interest that had been ignited began to take on a new, vital life of its own and information gathering began. Srs. Frances Cardillo and Anne Rothmeier made visits to other community-supported farms operated by religious communities in New York and neighboring states, adding to their knowledge base.
A farm visit report submitted to the Justice and Peace members in September 1999 generated great enthusiasm for the pursuit of this project. Soon, the affirmation of the entire congregation of sisters in the U.S. was needed to move forward. Astonishingly, 99% of the sisters were in favor of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany (FSA) establishing a CSA farm.
Canticle Farm is Born
This Allegany Agriculture Organizing Committee became the primary group to oversee the core group, write policies and proposals, reports, etc., for the farm, recruit a farmer, purchase land and then continue as the Operating Committee, once the land and farmer were in place. This group carried on until the second year of Canticle Farm’s functioning, when it became incorporated in 2002.
It is imperative that we give recognition to those who contributed so much to the development and establishment of our farm. Their interest, willingness to share their time, effort and expertise in guiding us along the early pathways was vital to the stability of Canticle Farm. All those involved with the beginnings of the farm, especially our first farm manager, will forever be grateful for the wisdom imparted and mentoring shared by these pioneers of organic CSAs. Special thanks go out to Elisabeth Henderson, Sr. Mary Ann Garristo, SC, and Sr. Miriam Therese MacGillis.
And here we are, many years later still tilling the land and planting our nutritious crops at the South Farm. 2020 marked the 20th year of growing our Certified Naturally Grown produce for valued community and we are honored and blessed to continue serving you.
Part of our mission is to donate about 20% of the harvest of the summer season's shares to support the underserved in our area who struggle with food insecurity.
The farm consists of 26 acres of land of which 18 acres are usable. We actively farm 7 acres on the South Farm (South Nine Mile Road), which allows for crop rotation and land resting. Some of our land is also forested.
A few years ago, we purchased additional property that we call the North Farm and opened our own Canticle Farm Market (in the former Bockmier location across from Owl Homes). Everyone in the community is always welcome to purchase fresh, nutritious, responsibly grown produce at our Market.
The newest land on the North Farm takes a few years to become suitable for planting. Because we adhere to Certified Naturally Grown farming standards, some of our land is intentionally not planted so it can act as a protective boarder to adjacent conventionally farmed land, especially on the west side of the North Farm.
Over the last two decades, many improvements have been made, including raising a barn on the South Farm, building an addition to house the wash station and recently upgrading the water infrastructure in this area. We have configured the Canticle Farm Market to welcome customers all year long.
Five high tunnels allow us to grow 12 months a year. There's always something that needs to be repaired, replaced or upgraded and as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization we are extremely grateful for our generous donors who are instrumental in our success.