Is Farming Right for You? Cornell Co-Op Wants to Help You Decide

The older I get, the less I want to be around chaos. And people. Okay, maybe not all people, but definitely chaotic crowds of people in small spaces. I've found that I prefer a slower and more peaceful pace.

I've always had a dream of opening up my own small-town coffee shop where community members stop by each day to catch up on life over a cup and with a kiddie corner where little ones can play while moms get off their feet for a bit.

My husband's dream, on the other hand, is different. A lot different. My husband has had a dream of buying a small farm and raising animals or growing produce. At one time we talked about the possibility of running a farm with a community coffee shop, but then we realized that might be a bit too ambitious.

Running a coffee shop is hard. Running a farm is even harder. But we haven't completely given up on our dreams because if 2020 has taught us one thing, it's that unimaginable things have a way of materializing when you least expect them to.

If you've been tossing around the idea of getting away from the hustle and bustle of life and getting back with nature by getting into the farming business, this might be what nudges you in that direction: Exploring the Small Farm Dream presented by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County.

During this four-part online series, a representative from Cornell Cooperative Extention of Broome County will walk you through farming as a business. You'll learn what it starts to create and manage and farm. The weekly zoom meeting will be held each Thursday in August (August 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th).

The cost to attend the online workshop is $50 and includes a padfolio and a workbook so that you can walk through the four-part decision-making process. Any veteran who is engaged in agriculture is invited to attend for free, but pre-registration is required for everyone. For more information, please email  lw257@cornell.edu by August 3, 2020. If you're a veteran, please make note of that.