Agriculture

If small town charm had a flavor, it could certainly be found in these quaint countryside markets. Shelves brimming with fresh baked goods, perfectly ripe produce, glittering jars of jams and honey, and coolers stuffed full of locally raised meats and dairy. If you're looking to pack the perfect picnic basket, find all the fixings for your next cookout, or simply seeking an excuse for a lovely…

We are all familiar with the main events at the CNY Maple Festival; pancake eating contest, maple museum tours, the Maple Queen Parade, wagon rides, talent show, helicopter flights and Sugar Shack demos. As wonderful as that all is, the Maple Fest is full of oft-overlooked gems. Let this Marathon local dish out the insider scoop. Below is a list of 5 not to be missed Maple Fest favorites. Maple…

Join us on May 14, 10 am- 2 pm, at the Cortland County Visitors Center. Celebrate the sweetness of spring with us at the Cortland County Visitors Center's Bee's Knees Event. We are honoring the unsung hero of gardens across the county, the humble bee, with local children's art, garden art, spring plants, garden necessities, and of course, honey tasting. Several local beekeepers will be present to…

It's officially maple season, here in Cortland County and we have three ways you can celebrate all things syrup. Each weekend beginning March 19 through April 2, the sap will be running throughout the county. So, grab your family and your best pancake batter and get ready for some sweet adventures! COOPER HILL MAPLE OPEN HOUSE 291 Cooper Hill Rd.Marathon, NY(607) 849-7865 EVENT DATESMarch 19, 20…

The Cortland County Visitors Center welcomes back their monthly, indoor farmers market, designed to fill your dinner plate. Small but mighty, this winter market is sure to have everything you need for the perfect meal. Carefully curated with a selection of makers and farmers, local to Cortland County; the upcoming month you'll find fresh pork, roasting chickens, potatoes, squash, winter greens,…

Cortland County is home to more than charming farm communities, outdoor adventures, and a blossoming downtown. It's also home to a group of innovative, creative artisans who grow, brew, and make some of our very favorite things. For the sake of brevity, below you find a collection of nine of our favorites, though in reality there are far too many to count. Remember, each time you buy local, not…

The Cortland County Visitors Center will be hosting a monthly, indoor farmers market, designed to fill your dinner plate. Small but mighty, this winter market is sure to have everything you need for the perfect meal. Carefully curated with a selection of makers and farmers, local to Cortland County; the upcoming month you'll find whole roasting chickens, late autumn and early winter produce,…

Daisy Hollow Farm welcomes the whole family, for a day of holiday fun on the farm.  WELCOME TO DAISY HOLLOW Daisy Hollow Farm is a family owned and operated, sustainable farm, since 2015. Their motto is, "Breathe deeply, eat simply, live freely". At Daisy Hollow they: mix it, make it, build it, bake it, design it, grow it, dye it, sew it! WHAT'S HAPPENING Daisy Hollow Farm welcomes the whole…

Many of us have temporarily hit pause on travel plans due to the worldwide pandemic, but that certainly doesn't need to kill our wanderlust completely. To keep spirits lifted and minds wandering during the holiday season, fill the stockings of loved ones with gift cards, and memberships from Cortland County establishments to spend or experience later. Not only will you be supporting local…

During fall, it's all apple all the time, and there's no better place to get your apple fix than Hollenbeck's Cider Mill! The Cortland County staple has opened its doors for their 88th season, and although the experience may be a little different this year, you can still get your all your favorite fall treats delivered right to you car! Keep reading for how to navigate the season. THE BASICS The…

Both fresh and frozen blueberries bought from the store are great, but picking your own fresh blueberries from a u-pick farm just makes them taste that much better.  Lucky for us, there are several places in Cortland County where you can pick your own fresh fruit and stock up for the months to come.  Here is a list of u-pick blueberry farms throughout the county that make it easy to pick your…

There’s nothing quite like a bucket filled with freshly picked strawberries. Picking them yourself is even better. Cortland County has its very own u-pick farm at Cobblestone Valley Farm, a diversified organic farm located in the heart of New York State right off Interstate 81. For a few precious weeks out of the year, locals and visitors flock to the Preble, NY to pick their own plump,…

If you're looking for the "sweet stuff" in life, there is no sweeter creation than maple syrup between January and April.  Though the annual CNY Maple Festival has been postponed until April 2021, there are still ways you can enjoy the sweet season and support your local sugar houses.  Cortland County sugar makers have maple syrup and maple products available for pick-up, and are…

The cooler fall temperatures inspired me to start checking off a few seasonal bucket list activities and adventures, and I made headway on my list this past weekend at Trinity Valley Dairy Farm, a fourth-generation family farm in the East Homer.There's no denying the main attraction at the moment is the 7-acre corn maze, but it certainly was not the only reason to swing by. From delectable…

It's that time of year - when thoughts turn to spring and maple syrup! Enjoy a delicious, fun-filled outing with family and friends right in Cortland County. Head to Cooper Hill Maple Farm during Maple Weekend to experience all things maple!   When you think of upstate New York, never-ending winters, chicken wings, and hard-to-pronounce town names come to mind (Oswegatchie, anyone?), but dig…

Edible alchemy is how Carly and Dave Dougherty describe their food fermentation. What began as a fascination became their passion in 2012 with the launch of Food & Ferments. What is food fermentation? When vegetables like cabbage are left to sit and steep, their sugars are broken down and promote the growth of bacteria. The bacteria converts sugar into lactic acid and that acts as a…

Hollenbeck's Cider Mill celebrates its 86th cider season this fall. A trip to see the cider press, or to enjoy a freshly made donut is a fall must do in Cortland County. Check out the video below. Share your Cortland County adventures with us for a chance to be featured! Tag @experiencecortland and use hashtag #experiencecortland.

Trinity Valley Dairy Farm is a fourth-generation family farm in the beautiful East Homer valley. We got to explore it all from cows to their 2-mile long corn maze! Make a trip to Trinity Valley Dairy Farm a must do on your fall adventure in Cortland County.   Check out the video below. Share your Cortland County adventures with us for a chance to be featured! Tag @experiencecortland and tag…

Main Street Farms has been around for eight years, but they are still seen as beginning farmers. The USDA recognizes a beginning farmer as someone who has been in business less than 10 consecutive years. While Main Street Farms is still technically in its infancy as a farm, they have established a great presence and focus on building community through food. It is through their CSA (Community…