Shelterbelt Farm

Signs of Sustainability

Shelterbelt Farm, in Caroline (9 miles SE of Ithaca) is home to the Frenay/Modisher family and — cattle, sheep, chickens, geese, dogs, bees, fruit trees, and vegetables. Why are they a Sign of Sustainability? They farm with the goal of regenerating the health of the community and the land! They focus on building soil and plant diversity, by incorporating elements of silvopasture and agroforestry. Farm owner, Craig, applies his net-zero building design and construction skills at STREAM Collaborative architecture. Farm owner, Erica, supports beginning farmers via the Cornell Small Farms Program.

City Roots Community Land Trust

Signs of Sustainability

City Roots is a collaborative of homeowners, renters, youth, allies and partners that helps to establish and promote permanently affordable, equitable housing in Rochester. They want to help cultivate the perspective that socially-owned land can help affirm housing as a human right, build community wealth, and allow for investment in our communities without displacing those who live there. In addition to the work that they do, they recently kicked off Weekly Pull-Ups! At these meetings, attendees are invited to eat pizza, do yoga, participate in small group projects that benefit the community, and connect with other members. They also host volunteer clean ups, potlucks, and bike repair events!

Syracuse Grows

Signs of Sustainability

Syracuse Grows is a grassroots network that cultivates food justice through advocacy, education, and resources in support of urban food production. They strive to create community where everyone has the equal opportunity to produce healthy and culturally appropriate food. They do this by facilitating the creation of community and volunteer run gardens, as well as hosting educational events and workshops.

Nu Spice Catering

Signs of Sustainability

Nu Spice is an Ithaca-based, black-owned, woman-owned catering company, specializing in soul, southern and comfort food. NuSpice Catering was born in 2007, when Candace Foster followed her passion to share timeless family recipes with the community. Since then, Nu Spice Catering has fed hundreds of people at dozens of events — including Ithaca’s Taste of Soul event in 2019.

FoodLink Community Cafe

Signs of Sustainability

The Foodlink Community Cafe is an extension of Foodlink, a Rochester-based nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger and building healthier communities by addressing both the symptoms and root causes of food insecurity. The brand-new cafe is a “pay-what-you-can” nonprofit restaurant concept and offering healthy, delicious meals.

Elderberry Pond

Signs of Sustainability

Elderberry Pond is a USDA Certified Organic Farm, fine dining restaurant, & country foods store. Stop by and enjoy dinner at the restaurant made of repurposed materials. It overlooks the orchards, vineyards and 36 acres of seasonal vegetable plantings. Their menu features fresh produce picked daily, pasture raised meats from the farm, organic & biodynamic…

State Bakery and Smokehouse

Signs of Sustainability

Kal Awad and Sam Walker opened State Bakery and Smokehouse last July on Route 89 in the small Seneca County hamlet of Canoga. Even during a pandemic, it’s proven to be quite the hit! Some of their offerings include sourdough bread, breakfast sandwiches on biscuits, pastries (including Walker’s famous Cruffins – muffins made from croissant dough), crab pies and barbecue of all kinds — pulled pork, brisket, chicken and sausage.

Floof Collage pARTy!

Signs of Sustainability

Headquartered in Stern’s 500 square foot studio on Burleigh Road in Ithaca, the studio offers a mixed-media experience to unlock the inner artist. Decorate with a variety of materials, further embellish with a few more, and add a bit of something else for good measure. Many of her materials are recycled and repurposed!

Buy Nothing Groups

Signs of Sustainability

Buy Nothing groups create hyper-local gift economies. Simply join your local Facebook group, ask for what you need, gift what you don’t, and comment to claim! In the process you will get useful things for free, prevent waste, declutter your life, help out your neighbors, and form community connections that foster a spirit of generosity.

Jerry Dell Farm Store

Signs of Sustainability

Vaughn and Sue Sherman of Jerry Dell Farm have a mission to produce quality, fresh and local foods. They have been certified organic since 2000! Jerry Dell Farm Store, located at the Freeville location, offers certified organic produce (provided by Ithaca Organics), local free-range eggs, and their own Raw Milk Cheddar Cheese – as well as other Artisan raw milk cheeses from around the Finger Lakes.