Ramble On

Agroforestry R&D Farm and Events Venue

About The Farm

Ramble On’s mission is to make
agroforestry culturally accessible:
financial viability, aesthetic vitality, vibrant ecology

42.50, -76.59 — 15 minutes north of Ithaca

What’s on the farm

  • 15 acres of chestnuts: 30 different seedling varieties of Chinese and Chinese-American hybrids

  • 10 acres of timber: Black Locust and Hybrid Poplar

  • 3 acres deer-fenced with black locust fenceposts, and irrigated

  • 1 acre of mixed orchard, planted with 16 types of fruit, with vegetables grown in between the trees

  • 4 acres of riparian forest along the 600 feet of Willow Creek

Farm Practices that build Organic Matter & Biodiversity

  • Site Ripping

  • Cover Crops

  • Compost & Woodchip Application

  • Windbreaks

  • Soil Inoculants & Beneficial Foliar Sprays

  • Riparian Tree Planting

  • Biodiversity Tree Plantings

Fields & Buildings

Event space

The events barn is round pole timber-framed, and made with 95% local wood, much of which was harvested from the farm’s forest. It serves as an 860 sq. ft. venue, with a 10x12 ft stage. The 400 sq. ft. loft-office is furnished and heated.

High Intensity Multi-Species Orchard

3 acres is deer-fenced with black locust fenceposts, and irrigated. One acre of orchard is planted with 16 types of fruit, with vegetables grown in between the trees.

Camping & Riparian Corridor

4 acres of riparian forest along the 600 feet of creek frontage invites with a trail, campsite, and stage. 10 acres of flat hardwood forest is connected by hedgerows of black locust, aspen, ash, and linden.

Black Locust Trials

Black locust is a native, rot-resistant hardwood that thrives in the soils of The Finger Lakes. A substitute for tropical hardwoods such as teak, the lumber is used for high-end decking and fenceposts.

Upcoming events

  • BIRDING MAN

    Saturday May 3rd, 2025

    Music! Birdwatching! Farm tour! Local food!

    Come spend a Saturday afternoon and evening celebrating avian biodiversity amidst agroforestry, dancing and marveling at early May peak migration.

  • Intro to Food Forests

    A hands on course in The Finger Lakes!

    Friday June 20th: Dinner,
    Finger Lakes Cider House
    Saturday June 21st: Full-day course
    Sunday June 22nd: Farm tours!

    $100/person, includes Saturday Lunch. Camping available.

  • Farm Planning for Agroforestry

    Sept. 5-8, 2025

    With Darren Doherty of Regrarians and the Propagate Team, this is the opportunity to lightspeed skip your understanding of whole-farm planning for trees and more.

    Keyline planning from Climate to Forestry.

    Come network and learn.

Rent the Farm

The Campsite

A place to camp, a forest classroom, or your own woodland venue.

Fall asleep to the sound of the creek, make dinner and memories around a campfire, host a show…
or do all of those things.

This piece of forest was one of the main reasons I fell in love with this property. It’s cool in the summer, with minimal mosquitos.

The platform is 10x12 feet, with a roof over it, and doubles as a stage. The slope of the land creates a natural amphitheater.

The campfire has 4 benches around it, and a grate for cooking. There is ample firewood and buckets to douse.

The Barn

A place to dance, host a down-to-earth get together, or a backyard concert.

Whole trees, rich in character, frame this piece of architecture. An 800 sq ft ground floor invites with sliding barn doors, and an ash staircase leads up to a 320 sq ft furnished loft.

Coppiced willow trees and Jerusalem artichoke encircle the 4,000 sq ft back yard, where there are sit spots, picnic tables, a campfire, and a tetherball pole.

There is a 10x12 foot stage, sized for a 4-person band, or a DJ. The stage is made of black locust. There are picnic tables to seat 40 people.

The barn has electricity.

There is a dry toilet, and hand washing station.