Cross Island Farms Plans Event for Community Foundation

Cross Island Farms,Wellesley Island, is holding a wine and cheese tasting to benefit the Northern New York Community Foundation from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 24.

It will take place outdoors rain or shine (with tents in case of inclement weather) in the Farm's recently planted “Edible Forest Garden.”

Bechaz Riverdale Cheese of Clayton and The Cape Winery of Cape Vincent will be offering samples and sales of their cheeses and wines accompanied by Jim and Melanie Rafferty of the band “Second Chance.” 

A representative from Northern New York Community Foundation will be on hand to meet and greet attendees.

Informal tours of the garden will be led by Dani Baker, its designer and co-owner of the farm. This event is open to the public for a minimum donation per person at the gate of $10. All proceeds will go to the community foundation.

Cross Island Farm's Edible Forest Garden is the newest addition to Wellesley Island's highly diversified certified organic farm. It is a perennial planting of fruits, nuts, berries, herbs and other edibles comprising a multi-purpose outdoor venue.

Bechaz Riverdale Cheese is a locally owned cheese creamery in Clayton owned and operated by Jeffrey and Melinda Bechaz. It is located on their fourth generation dairy farm. Their Holstein/Jersey dairy herd is pasture grazed/grass-fed. There are no artificial growth hormones used on the farm. Cheese is made fresh every Thursday.

The Cape Winery is a locally owned winery and vineyard located in Cape Vincent owned and operated by David and Sandra Fralick on the historic Deerlick Farm. The limestone soil imparts a unique taste to the cold hardy grapes known as the ‘taste of the Cape’. The Cape Winery has produced many award winning wines including red, white, and rose’ wines varying in taste from dry to sweet.

The band “Second Chance” plays the hits known and loved from the sixties up to the present day. Vocalist Melanie Rafferty is President of Cortel Improvement, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in executive training. Jim Rafferty, keyboard and vocals, is a retired Army major general.

Based in Carthage, “Second Chance” has played at a wide variety of local venues and events.

The Northern New York Community Foundation supports communities in Lewis, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties through college scholarships and grants to charitable nonprofit organizations. Last year it awarded 564 scholarships for a total of $850,000 to college-bound high school students and nontraditional students in the tri-county area.

Grants totaling more than $435,000 were given to 55 nonprofits including the Watertown Urban Mission, the Thousand Islands Arts Center, River Hospital, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, Volunteer Transportation Center, WPBS-TV, Thousand Islands Land Trust, local food pantries across all three counties and more.

The Community Foundation manages and administers more than 400 charitable funds.

What's New at Cross Island Farm

Here is news from Cross Island Farm on Wellesley Island, NY submitted by farmer Dani Baker

THE ROADSIDE STAND IS OPEN, stocked with recently dug wintered-over "rainbow" carrots and sweet parsnips, lettuce, chard, spinach, asparagus, rhubarb, our coveted certified organic free range pastel colored (by the chickens) eggs, as well as our delicious duck eggs.  As we add new items, we will try to post them on our facebook page which you are welcome to "like" and comment on.  When you stop at the stand, remember that our USDA inspected cuts of beef and pork including  a new item, lean and tasty hot or sweet pork rope sausage perfect for the grill, are available at the house.

ORGANIC EDUCATONAL FARM TOURS, available daily by appointment, include picking and eating a vegetable or fruit right from the plant, a walk through the edible forest, a visit outside or inside the paddock with the goats and cows, petting or holding a baby goat, tickling the tummies of a pig, and petting or holding a newly hatched chick or duckling.  Fun for the whole extended family!

THE EDIBLE FOREST IS BLOOMING, now in its second year,  with a few plum, honeyberry, juneberry, current, strawberry, pineberry, and two tiny pale pink almond blossoms beckoning for bees.  If the bees find them, we might have our first fruit and nuts this year!!  Stay tuned.

INTERNS IN ABUNDANCE will grace our farm this season.  Within the week we are welcoming three student interns: an  Environmental Conservation and an Environmental Biology major from SUNY ESF and an Environmental Science major from Clarkson U., who are residing with us for the season.  We are grateful to all our volunteers who help us complete many projects.  Top priorities this season are improvements in the Edible Forest Garden.

CLAYTON GOES ORGANIC!  In addition to some of our veggies and meats being available at the Clayton Food Co-op for you to prepare at home, our salad vegetables are now featured on the menus of both Bella's Bistro and the Clipper Inn in Clayton.  So when you patronize these establishments for a meal out, please let them know you appreciate their providing local organic produce from Cross Island Farms.

SPRING FEVER IS RAMPANT  in our animal herds as the weather is warming. 

The first knock on the door:  "Did you know your cows are in the road?"  Apparently the paddock assigned by Farmer Dave was insufficiently suitable, so the herd headed to Nut n' Fancy for a bite.  When they found it closed, they "high tailed" it back, past the farm, and were on their way to the State Park when Dave and our neighbor, Dick Huntley, were able to induce them to return. 

A few days later, another knock:" did you know your goats are in the road?"  Seems the grass WAS greener on the other side of the fence, a fact not unnoticed by the hungry moms and babes.  So over the portable fence they went.  So much for Farmer Dave's planned priorities for the day.  Two hours later they were secured in a new paddock with fresh grass, but for how long?

Then, as I was heading out on an errand, I saw two of our little kids (goat kids, that is) prancing atop their new goat house which has a roof fashioned of  discarded  pallet wrapping from Wellesley Island Building Supply..  Although the "patter of little hooves" is a joy to hear and observe, it can be quite destructive to a fabric roof..  I quick pulled out my cell phone and called Dave to tell him.  "I'm glad we didn't buy a tarp this time," was his response.

More Babies Being Born on the Farm

Cross Island Farm's organic yearling calf "Redbull" (right) greets his newborn sister (as yet unnamed) while mother "Hannah" continues to dry the organic heifer calf, who is just minutes old. Photo by David Belding

Another new baby at Cross Island Farm on Wellesley Island. The calf was born Wednesday. Thanks to farmers Dani Baker and David Belding for sharing this.

Spring Babies Making Appearances at New York State Farms

Spring on the farm means lots of babies being born.

Triplets have been born to this mother goat at Cross Island Farm on Wellesley Island.

Farmer David Belding says more kids are due this week and later this month. Thanks to Belding for share this photo.