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Elderberry Pond Farm

The Farm at Elderberry Pond has been managed using organic and sustainable practices since 1983. In 1999 about half of the farm was certified organic by NOFA ( Northeast Organic Farming Association) and in 2006 another 10 acres will be USDA Certified Organic. Organic farming practices at Elderberry Pond focus on maintenance of bio-diversity on the entire farm both above and below the ground. Insects and plant diseases are controlled with natural ammendments, with traps and by encouraging predatory insect populations. The following describe some of the specific practices we use on our farm. If you visit the farm store or restaurant we would be glad to discuss these practices in more detail.

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A Field of Buckwheat planted on the farm encourages beneficial insects and improves the soil structure. The buckwheat growes quickly shading out weeds and providing a canopy of flowers which attrract beas and predatory insects such as lacewings. When planted between rown of crops it eleminates the need for cultivation for weed control during the early summer.

Plowing Down Cover Crops When the cover crop is plowed down, here using a shallow set moldboard plow, the green vegetation and roots provide food for micro-organisms living in the soil. These same microorganisms break down the minerals in the soil making them available for plant nutrition. After a few seasons the soil becomes a rich brown color and holds moisture and feeds our crops through the dry summer months.

Insect Control using Predatory Insects As an example of insect control, a container with the eggs of microscopic wasps are being released into this sweet corn field. When the eggs hatch the wasps will move throughout the field destroying european corn borer eggs and preventing the worms from hatching and entering the sweet corn ears. No Sprays Required!

Insect Control Using Pheromone Traps Here in our apple trees pheromone traps are used to capture male codling moths. In addition to reducing the number of male moths and thus the mating process, the traps give us an idea of how severe the codilng moth and resulting worm problem will be, and what additional measures to control this pest we will need during the season.

Rye Grain planted as a living mulch is one way to keep the soil covered between rows of growing crops. Here the grain is cut between the rows of tomatoes. The cut straw will maintain soil moisture, reduce weed pressure, and make harvesting the tomatoes a cleaner and easier process.

Pastured Farm Animals

Our farm animals live in the pasture in portable houses. These pigs are on a 2 acre pasture where they have continuous acess to green alfalfa and clover, fresh water, and certified organic corn and soy grain.

Elderberry Pond - 3728 Center Street Road, Auburn, NY 13021. Located 2 miles from Rt. 5 and Rt 20 between Skaneateles and Auburn. See "driving directions" link at the top of the page

COUNTRY FOOD STORE OPENS FRIDAY

AND SATURDAY BEGINNING JUNE 20TH

April through December Restaurant Hours

Wednesday Through Sunday Lunch and Dinner

Lunch 11:30 until 2PM, Dinner Starting at 5PM

Closed January and February

Call for reservations.

Restaurant 315-252-6025
If no answer call the farm at 315-252-3977

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