The Hub Regenerative Farm Owego, NY - Camping, Events, Farm

Organizing the Regenerative Farm Vision

Divide into Project Sets

Land & Property

Project Set: Land & Property
2026 - We combined all three Parcels into One!

Parcel 1: Primary Homestead

29.75 Acres
Primary (1.00 acres)
Pasture (3.24 acres)
Woodland (20.05 acres)
Residual (1.50 acres)

Parcel 2: Farm Operational Spaces

Size: 22.98 Acres
Tillable (21.00 acres) (Remember - No Till! )
Wetland (1.98 acres)

Parcel 3: Farm Building

19.05 Acres
Field crops (Hay) / Tillable (Remember - No Till! )

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Soil, Water, Fields & Forest

Project Sets - Soil, Water, Fields & Forest
Watershed

Sustainable Ecosystem Reset

Water Network of Ponds

Collection Mindset & Reset

Soil

Sustainable Permaculture Shift

Fields

Open Hay - Transformation from Hay to Rotational Grazing
Meadows - Awaken Growth through Native Species
Pastures - Cultivate & Plant within old soils

Forest

Protect and Repurpose Wood Sources

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Buildings & Structures

Project Sets - Buildings & Structures
Structure - Barn

Restoration - 5-8 Year Plan

Structure - Bothy (Shed Makeover)

Repurpose - 2023-2024
Set up for RV Haven

Structure - Cabin (Granary Makeover)

Move
Repurpose
Set up for Writing, Reading, Thinking Cabin

Structure - Spring House

Restoration & Reconstruction - 2025-2026

Structure - Outhouse

Restoration, Relocate, & Reconstruction - 2025-2026

Structure - House

Restoration, Reconstruction, Energy Efficiency - 2024-2028

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Marketing & Sales

Project Sets - Creativity & Collaboration
Focus & Flexibility

Event Collaboration
Event Scheduling
Experience Booking
Project Management
Public Information, Interest, & Visibility
Planting & Harvesting
Reduce Distractions
Focus on Delivering
Focus on Value
Stay on Task - with people who know and care.

Setup & Service Delivery

Collaboration - Building Your Network
Events - Learning & Experiences
RV Stay - Camping at The Hub
Crops for the Stand and Market
Merch Availability & Distribution
Eggs, Eggs, Eggs -Never Enough!
Animals - Learn First!

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Land & Property Projects

Restoring the Forest Edge

The begin again approach on our family farm means we are resetting the landscape.

Remove Invasive Species:
We have had years of invasive issues.
Back in the 1950's, plants were introduced by Agriculture Experts as 'good ideas'.

Unfortunately, the invasive plants grow quickly and often have thorns.

These plants grew fast in the Spring and took over the fence line where the berries used to grow.

The thorns often popped the tires of the equipment.

The actual fence lines became a twisted mess of plant root and branches twisted around the wire.

Animals did not eat them, and they continued to grow.

Some farmers tried to burn them, kill them with chemicals, pull them out, or pay to have them brush hogged.

Finally, we have a plan. The "Forest Mulcher" looks like a monster eating the beast!

Now we have a fresh start. This is step 1.
The Forest Mulching Services were an important step in clearing invasives and restoring native habitats.
Our Investment has been out of pocket.

Next steps;
Use mulched areas.

Summer:
Clean up any broken limbs
Trim
Burn Old Brush Piles

Fall 2026:
Plant buckwheat to prep

Spring 2027:
Crimp buckwheat
Secure seed for bird habitat
Secure seed for food source
Plant seed, plants & plugs

Why?
Encourage Wildlife and Gamebirds.

Pheasants
Quail
Turkeys
Grouse

Encourage Wild Berries and Flowers.

Food for Wildlife
Bees
Food for People

Watershed Projects: 2026

Resource: Water
Water Shed: Vernal Pools
Description
Vernal pools are seasonal depressional wetlands that occur under the Mediterranean climate conditions of the West Coast and in glaciated areas of northeastern and midwestern states. They are covered by shallow water for variable periods from winter to spring, but may be completely dry for most of the summer and fall. These wetlands range in size from small puddles to shallow lakes and are usually found in a gently sloping plain of grassland. Western vernal pools are sometimes connected to each other by small drainages known as vernal swales, forming complexes. Beneath vernal pools lies either bedrock or a hard clay layer in the soil that helps keep water in the pool.

Climatic changes associated with each season cause dramatic changes in the appearance of vernal pools. The pools collect water during winter and spring rains, changing in volume in response to varying weather patterns. During a single season, pools may fill and dry several times. In years of drought, some pools may not fill at all.

Vernal Pool
The term vernal pool originally referred only to small, intermittently filled wetlands found in the Mediterranean-type climate of the western United States. Today it is used more broadly to include other small ephemeral wetlands found country-wide.
In the spring, wildflowers often bloom in brilliant circles of color that follow the receding shoreline of the pools. By early summer, the water has evaporated, and the clay pools appear brown, barren, and cracked.

Functions & Values
However, appearances may be deceiving. The unique environment of vernal pools provides habitat for numerous rare plants and animals that are able to survive and thrive in these harsh conditions. Many of these plants and animals spend the dry season as seeds, eggs, or cysts, and then grow and reproduce when the ponds are again filled with water. In addition, birds such as egrets, ducks, and hawks use vernal pools as a seasonal source of food and water.

Status
Vernal pools are a valuable and increasingly threatened ecosystem, often smaller than the bulldozer that threatens to destroy them.

Catchment Ponds:
Set up ponds that cascade the topography of the landscape. Begin at the top of the hill replenish aquifers, provide irrigation and prevent erosion of top soil.

On the 70 Acres we have:
Multiple Springs, an existing pond, a creek and a plan!

We are expanding our Pond Ecosystem Approach:
Small catchment higher that feeds the main pond 90 feet below. In general, numerous small ponds higher in elevation are superior to one big pond lower.

NOTE: Remember that 1/3 of raindrops become surface runoff, so in your high rainfall area (let’s say 42 inches per year) you’ll have 14 inches of runoff, which is 14 X 30,000 gal. per acre-inch, or 420,00 gallons per acre. Just a 5 acre watershed would yield 2 million gallons.

That’s a lot of water.

Know Your Waterflow!

Sources
Rainfall
Topography
Soil Conditions

Enter Woods to Flow to the Forest Wetland as new pond >
Flows to Barnes Creek >
Flows to Susquehanna River>
Flows to Chesapeake Bay Estuary
(Estuaries are bodies of water and their surrounding coastal habitats typically found where rivers meet the sea.)

1. 2026 New Set of Four Vernal Pools!
Key Characteristics:
Temporary:
Vernal pools are ephemeral, meaning they only hold water for a portion of the year, typically from winter to spring.
Shallow:
They are characterized by their shallow depth, often no more than a few feet.
No permanent inlet or outlet:
Unlike ponds or lakes, vernal pools lack permanent water sources or outlets.
Unique habitat:
The temporary nature of vernal pools makes them a specialized habitat for certain species, including amphibians like salamanders and frogs, as well as invertebrates like fairy shrimp.
Formation:
Vernal pools form in depressions where a hard layer of soil or bedrock prevents water from draining into the subsoil.
Location:
They can be found in various locations, including glaciated areas of the northeastern and midwestern states, and under Mediterranean climate conditions on the West Coast.
Importance:

Vernal pools are ecologically important, supporting a variety of plants and animals, including those that are rare or endangered.

2026 Transforming & Performing

The fourth year of beginning again.
Strong moves and outpacing any Small Farm programs!

Forest Mulcher

Forest Mulcher

Forest Mulcher

Forest Mulcher

Forest Mulcher

Forest Mulcher

Vernal Pools

Vernal Pools

Vernal Pools

Watershed Projects: 2023-2028

Resource: Water
Water Shed:
Scale-dependence of watersheds, and how each body of water has its own watershed - from the smallest ponds and creeks to rivers... to the Ocean!

Catchment Ponds:
Set up ponds that cascade the topography of the landscape. Begin at the top of the hill replenish aquifers, provide irrigation and prevent erosion of top soil.

On the 70 Acres we have:
Multiple Springs, an existing pond, a creek and a plan!

We are expanding our Pond Ecosystem Approach:

Small catchment higher that feeds the main pond 90 feet below. In general, numerous small ponds higher in elevation are superior to one big pond lower.

NOTE: Remember that 1/3 of raindrops become surface runoff, so in your high rainfall area (let’s say 42 inches per year) you’ll have 14 inches of runoff, which is 14 X 30,000 gal. per acre-inch, or 420,00 gallons per acre. Just a 5 acre watershed would yield 2 million gallons.

That’s a lot of water.

Know Your Waterflow!

Sources
Rainfall
Topography
Soil Conditions

Begin at the Highest Elevation:
New Pond >
New Run Off / Creek >
Spring entrance to Existing Pond > Overflow >
Creek (Riparian) >
Pass by Pasture with Spring as New Pond >
Flow back to same creek >
Enter Woods to Flow to the Forest Wetland as new pond >
Flows to Barnes Creek >
Flows to Susquehanna River>
Flows to Chesapeake Bay Estuary
(Estuaries are bodies of water and their surrounding coastal habitats typically found where rivers meet the sea.)

1. Pond #1
Catchment ~ A spring located at the top of hay field @1490 elevation
Pond idea (New) ~ Highest Elevation - Upper Hay Field above Pond @1490 Feet. A pond could flow down to the existing pond intake where the one spring feeds the pond. Is it possible to start a pond using pigs in a paddock to find the best place for water?

2. Pond #2
Existing Pond ~ Becomes Pond #2 - below Pond #1 (2025 riparian area) @1420 est elevation
Pond #1 (Existing) @ 1400 Feet, located below the upper hay field. In the middle of the elevation of the property.

3. Creek
Our 2023 Planted Riparian Area
Located ~ Creek: Below Pond - pond overflow / run off feeds creek under the road / across the street at 1400 Feet. @1400' to 1290' elevation that currently flows to wet lands and to (connecting Ponds #3 & #4)

4. Pond #3
Catchment ~ Pond Idea (New) ~ Currently, wet Land from ground springs and creek run off in a pasture located between barn and lower creek riparian @1380 elevation

5. Pond #4
Catchment ~ Multiple Vernal pools. (New) just before Barnes Creek in the woods open area. @1290 elevation.
Another Riparian area!
Multiple Vernal Pools ~ Marshy, Wet Land in Forest, Springs off creek feeding a larger creek system.
This will be a set of Vernal pools.
Vernal Pools are temporary, shallow wetlands that fill with water during the spring and dry up in the summer, providing unique habitat for certain species of wildlife, including amphibians and invertebrates.

Key Characteristics:
Temporary:
Vernal pools are ephemeral, meaning they only hold water for a portion of the year, typically from winter to spring.
Shallow:
They are characterized by their shallow depth, often no more than a few feet.
No permanent inlet or outlet:
Unlike ponds or lakes, vernal pools lack permanent water sources or outlets.
Unique habitat:
The temporary nature of vernal pools makes them a specialized habitat for certain species, including amphibians like salamanders and frogs, as well as invertebrates like fairy shrimp.
Formation:
Vernal pools form in depressions where a hard layer of soil or bedrock prevents water from draining into the subsoil.
Location:
They can be found in various locations, including glaciated areas of the northeastern and midwestern states, and under Mediterranean climate conditions on the West Coast.
Importance:

Vernal pools are ecologically important, supporting a variety of plants and animals, including those that are rare or endangered.

2025 Progressing Nicely

The third year of beginning again.
We removed oh so many invasive plants, and we planted over 1,200 native species!

2025 arial drone looking east of south field

2025 arial drone looking north east of south field

2025 arial drone looking north west homestead and pond edge

2025 arial drone looking north pond and cabin

2025 arial drone looking south west full pond

2025 arial drone looking south east end of pond

2025 arial drone looking south homestead

2025 arial drone looking west north homestead

2025 arial drone looking west with pond and powerline

2025 arial drone looking west 2023 planting by creek

2025 arial drone looking west higher pond

2025 arial drone looking west road and southside of pond

2025 arial drone looking west south side of pond and plants

2025 arial drone looking west south side of pond

Transforming Land to Ecosystem - Victory Garden Principles

The begin again approach on our family farm means we are resetting the landscape.

Replace Mowed Grass:
A combination of Permaculture and Clover will eventually become the landscape.

We have a Victory Garden that has a permaculture, permanent infrastructure, to support a vegetables and herbs in a companion planting set up. No Chemicals, No fences, just plants and their friends, companions, working together.

A Victory Garden with permaculture principles in Owego, NY, combines the historical concept of a Victory Garden—home gardens grown to supplement food supplies during times of scarcity, popularized during World War I and II—with permaculture’s sustainable, ecosystem-based design. This approach creates a resilient, productive garden that maximizes food security, minimizes environmental impact, and integrates seamlessly with the local environment in Owego’s USDA Hardiness Zone 5a-5b climate.
Definition and Core Concepts:

Victory Garden: Traditionally, a small-scale garden focused on growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs to reduce reliance on commercial food supplies. In modern contexts, it emphasizes self-sufficiency, community resilience, and food sovereignty.
Permaculture: A design philosophy that mimics natural ecosystems to create sustainable, low-maintenance agricultural systems. Key principles include observing and working with nature, using renewable resources, maximizing diversity, and integrating functions (e.g., plants serving multiple roles like food, pest control, and soil improvement).
Victory Garden with Permaculture: A garden that prioritizes food production while incorporating permaculture techniques like companion planting, polycultures, soil regeneration, water conservation, and perennial crops. It’s designed to be productive, ecologically balanced, and adaptable to Owego’s cold winters, mild summers, and fertile soils (e.g., Honeoye loam).

Key Features of a Victory Garden with Permaculture in Owego, NY:
Diverse, Productive Crops:

Annuals: High-yield vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini, beans, kale, and carrots for quick harvests.
Perennials: Asparagus, rhubarb, or fruit trees (e.g., apples like ‘Honeycrisp’, cherries like ‘Montmorency’) for long-term yields with less maintenance.
Herbs: Chives, thyme, or oregano for culinary use and pest deterrence.
Native Edibles: Incorporate local plants like wild leeks or serviceberries to support biodiversity.

Permaculture Design Elements:

Guilds: Build fruit tree guilds (e.g., apple tree with comfrey, clover, and marigolds) to enhance soil health, attract pollinators, and deter pests.
Polycultures: Mix crops (e.g., beans, corn, and squash—the “Three Sisters”) to maximize space and nutrient sharing.
Soil Fertility: Use compost, cover crops (e.g., white clover), and nitrogen-fixing plants (e.g., lupine) to enrich Owego’s fertile but sometimes heavy soils.
Water Management: Install rain barrels or create swales to capture runoff, critical in Owego’s variable rainfall (around 38 inches annually).
Zoning: Place high-maintenance crops (e.g., lettuce) near the home and low-maintenance perennials (e.g., fruit trees) farther out.

Local Adaptation:

Climate: Select cold-hardy, disease-resistant varieties (e.g., ‘Empire’ apples, ‘Bartlett’ pears) to withstand Owego’s -20°F winters and late frosts.
Pests: Use companion plants like garlic or marigolds to deter apple maggots and cabbage worms, common in the region.
Season Extension: Employ cold frames or row covers to extend the growing season, as Owego’s frost-free period is roughly May to September.

Community and Resilience:

Victory Gardens historically fostered community. In Owego, this could involve sharing surplus produce with neighbors or collaborating with local groups like Owego’s Farmers Market (Tuesdays/Fridays, Tractor Supply parking lot) or Tioga County Cornell Cooperative Extension (607-687-4020) for workshops.
Permaculture emphasizes stacking functions, so the garden could also provide habitat for pollinators, educational opportunities, or even small-scale income through plant sales.

Example Layout for an Owego Victory Garden with Permaculture:

Central Feature: A dwarf apple tree guild with ‘Honeycrisp’ surrounded by comfrey (mulch), bee balm (pollinators), and garlic (pest repeller).
Vegetable Beds: Raised beds with polycultures of carrots, kale, and beans, interplanted with marigolds for pest control.
Perennial Zone: Asparagus and rhubarb along the garden’s edge, with clover as a living mulch to fix nitrogen.
Water System: A rain barrel collecting roof runoff, feeding a drip irrigation system for efficient watering.
Compost Area: A bin for kitchen scraps and garden waste, enriched with local manure (available from Tioga County farms).
Wildlife Support: Native plants like coneflower or milkweed to attract pollinators and beneficial insects.

Transforming Land to Ecosystem - Orchard with Guilds Principles

The begin again approach on our family farm means we are resetting the landscape.

Replace Mowed Grass:
A combination of Permaculture and Clover will eventually become the landscape.

We have an Orchard where each tree is surrounded by a "Fruit Tree Guild".
A fruit tree guild is a permaculture technique that involves planting a fruit tree as the central element, surrounded by companion plants that work together to create a mutually beneficial, self-sustaining ecosystem. These companion plants are chosen for specific roles, such as improving soil fertility, attracting pollinators, repelling pests, suppressing weeds, or providing mulch. The goal is to enhance the health, yield, and resilience of the fruit tree while reducing the need for external inputs like fertilizers or pesticides. Guilds mimic natural ecosystems, promoting biodiversity and low-maintenance gardening.

In Owego, NY, a fruit tree guild would be tailored to the local climate and conditions, which fall within USDA Hardiness Zones 5a to 5b. Owego experiences cold winters (as low as -20°F) and mild summers, with well-drained, fertile soils like Honeoye, ideal for fruit trees. Common fruit trees for the area include apples (e.g., Empire, Honeycrisp), cherries (e.g., Montmorency), pears (e.g., Bartlett), and plums, many of which require cross-pollination.

2023 Starting Point

The first year of beginning again, our dormant family farm, comes back to life!

2023 arial drone looking north north west

2023 arial drone looking south forest and valley

2023 arial drone looking east south east

2023 arial drone higher looking north east

2023 arial drone higher looking south east