The SHARE Farm - Strengthening Haudenosaunee - American Relations Through Education - is located off Great Gully Road in Springport on a breezy ridge with views of Cayuga Lake.
Photos provided by Julia Reich
Students from Ithaca College work on The SHARE Farm - Strengthening Haudenosaunee - American Relations Through Education.
Students from Ithaca College work on The SHARE Farm - Strengthening Haudenosaunee - American Relations Through Education.
It is a unique community confluence bringing together regional college faculty and their students, local neighbors, and the Haudenosaunee. Haudenosaunee means “People of the Long House;” they are also known as the Iroquois Confederacy. The Cayuga are one of six nations belonging to the Confederacy, whose region once spanned the east side of the lake from Ithaca to Montezuma.
In 2001, the 70-acre farm was purchased by a group of non-Native citizens calling themselves the SHARE group. Eventually it was given to the Cayuga Nation as a gesture of goodwill.
In the early years, the produce grown and harvested on the farm was sold at markets to raise funds. It is no longer a market farm, instead the harvest is shared within the native community and the many volunteers (both native and non-native) who come out to help on work days. The farmhouse at the site serves as an education center to help revive native culture, the forefront of which is the Cayuga's impressive tradition of agronomy.
Each spring the SHARE group donates a peach tree to the farm. This is in honor of “Peachtown” #* the nickname given to a flourishing Native American site, now called Aurora - when, in the 18th century, thousands of Cayuga-cultivated peach trees were cut down by order of the Revolutionary Army in what became a mission to lay claim to the land.
Ernie Olsen is an anthropology and religion professor at Wells College, one of the original SHARE founders and donates his time as “head gardener.”
One of the biggest crops, and his favorite, are the red raspberries. They can be harvested all throughout the summer, although he tells me, with a laugh, that he probably eats more than he keeps.
“We hope the Cayuga, all Haudenosaunee and visitors to the farm will take what they've learned,” he said. “We'll provide them with raspberry plants so they can start their own gardens.”
The farm grows a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs, many of which are symbolic to this native community. Purple asparagus - rather than the more common green variety - is purposefully planted because this is the color of the Haudenesaunee flag. Wild strawberries are gathered in June and celebrated at a native strawberry festival. White pines, known as the Great Tree of Peace, are planted alongside the road leading up to the farm.
Corn, beans and squash are the “Three Sisters” - a traditional agricultural mainstay for the Iroquois. Here at the farm they are planted together in mounds, as they have been for countless generations. The three plants benefit each other by providing structure, nitrogen and mulch.
The herb garden consists of both traditional herbs, like tobacco, and European culinary herbs. It is shaped like a big turtle, which is a reference to the Iroquois story of creation.
The apple orchard and cidery are a big part of the farm operation in the fall, with an abundant harvest of Red Delicious and Empires.
SHARE is farmed as organically as possible (although not officially certified) using no artificial fertilizers or chemical pesticides. Furthermore, all work is done using manpower instead of machinery or tractors.
On the day I visited, it was a work day and the farm was teeming with young people from Wells College, Ithaca College, SUNY Cortland and Cornell, although anyone - not just students - are welcome to participate in this agricultural community. One group was pulling Japanese Knotweed from a garden plot. Another was readying the hoop greenhouse for the growing season. A third was affixing black plastic sheets over tenacious weeds in the raspberry patch. Many are environmental studies students, but other majors are represented as well.
In addition to offering community service and honing their gardening skills, Olsen tells me “it's really cool to have this critical mass of Cayuga Nation people here interacting with students. There's just not a lot of opportunity for them (the students) to have this kind of multicultural experience.”
I also chatted with Karl Hill, a Cayuga “faithkeeper” or sub-chief. He appreciates the students because of their role as emissaries.
“They help break the ice and bring back to their communities that we're not bad neighbors,” Hill said.
Dan Hill (no relation to Karl) was there too. The sole resident of the farm, Dan's title is Environmental Task Force Officer. He is concerned with the health of the air, water and soil, not just here at the farm but throughout the Cayuga Nation. He dreams of a future for the farm that includes longhouse residences, a library and a ceremonial center.
“We're coming back to a land we haven't lived on in 200 years,” he said. “We belong here; our ancestors are here. We've been scattered, living on other peoples' property, now we're coming home.”
He continues by saying that neighbors have generally appreciated their donation to the land.
“We're no different than anyone else,” he adds. “We're friendly!”
The SHARE Farm leadership is aware of the tensions that have existed between the area natives and non-natives, especially in regards to the Land Claim. Their hope is that this mutual community can begin to heal the rift.
“We're really proud of this project,” said Jack Rossen who teaches at Ithaca College and is one of SHARE's original founders. “It's all about creating space for people to get to know each other.”
Julia Reich, of Scipio Center, is owner of Julia Reich Design, a graphic design studio, and self-proclaimed “foodie” with interests in cooking (and eating)
In 2001, the 70-acre farm was purchased by a group of non-Native citizens calling themselves the SHARE group. Eventually it was given to the Cayuga Nation as a gesture of goodwill.
In the early years, the produce grown and harvested on the farm was sold at markets to raise funds. It is no longer a market farm, instead the harvest is shared within the native community and the many volunteers (both native and non-native) who come out to help on work days. The farmhouse at the site serves as an education center to help revive native culture, the forefront of which is the Cayuga's impressive tradition of agronomy.
Each spring the SHARE group donates a peach tree to the farm. This is in honor of “Peachtown” #* the nickname given to a flourishing Native American site, now called Aurora - when, in the 18th century, thousands of Cayuga-cultivated peach trees were cut down by order of the Revolutionary Army in what became a mission to lay claim to the land.
Ernie Olsen is an anthropology and religion professor at Wells College, one of the original SHARE founders and donates his time as “head gardener.”
One of the biggest crops, and his favorite, are the red raspberries. They can be harvested all throughout the summer, although he tells me, with a laugh, that he probably eats more than he keeps.
“We hope the Cayuga, all Haudenosaunee and visitors to the farm will take what they've learned,” he said. “We'll provide them with raspberry plants so they can start their own gardens.”
The farm grows a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs, many of which are symbolic to this native community. Purple asparagus - rather than the more common green variety - is purposefully planted because this is the color of the Haudenesaunee flag. Wild strawberries are gathered in June and celebrated at a native strawberry festival. White pines, known as the Great Tree of Peace, are planted alongside the road leading up to the farm.
Corn, beans and squash are the “Three Sisters” - a traditional agricultural mainstay for the Iroquois. Here at the farm they are planted together in mounds, as they have been for countless generations. The three plants benefit each other by providing structure, nitrogen and mulch.
The herb garden consists of both traditional herbs, like tobacco, and European culinary herbs. It is shaped like a big turtle, which is a reference to the Iroquois story of creation.
The apple orchard and cidery are a big part of the farm operation in the fall, with an abundant harvest of Red Delicious and Empires.
SHARE is farmed as organically as possible (although not officially certified) using no artificial fertilizers or chemical pesticides. Furthermore, all work is done using manpower instead of machinery or tractors.
On the day I visited, it was a work day and the farm was teeming with young people from Wells College, Ithaca College, SUNY Cortland and Cornell, although anyone - not just students - are welcome to participate in this agricultural community. One group was pulling Japanese Knotweed from a garden plot. Another was readying the hoop greenhouse for the growing season. A third was affixing black plastic sheets over tenacious weeds in the raspberry patch. Many are environmental studies students, but other majors are represented as well.
In addition to offering community service and honing their gardening skills, Olsen tells me “it's really cool to have this critical mass of Cayuga Nation people here interacting with students. There's just not a lot of opportunity for them (the students) to have this kind of multicultural experience.”
I also chatted with Karl Hill, a Cayuga “faithkeeper” or sub-chief. He appreciates the students because of their role as emissaries.
“They help break the ice and bring back to their communities that we're not bad neighbors,” Hill said.
Dan Hill (no relation to Karl) was there too. The sole resident of the farm, Dan's title is Environmental Task Force Officer. He is concerned with the health of the air, water and soil, not just here at the farm but throughout the Cayuga Nation. He dreams of a future for the farm that includes longhouse residences, a library and a ceremonial center.
“We're coming back to a land we haven't lived on in 200 years,” he said. “We belong here; our ancestors are here. We've been scattered, living on other peoples' property, now we're coming home.”
He continues by saying that neighbors have generally appreciated their donation to the land.
“We're no different than anyone else,” he adds. “We're friendly!”
The SHARE Farm leadership is aware of the tensions that have existed between the area natives and non-natives, especially in regards to the Land Claim. Their hope is that this mutual community can begin to heal the rift.
“We're really proud of this project,” said Jack Rossen who teaches at Ithaca College and is one of SHARE's original founders. “It's all about creating space for people to get to know each other.”
Julia Reich, of Scipio Center, is owner of Julia Reich Design, a graphic design studio, and self-proclaimed “foodie” with interests in cooking (and eating)
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