Betty Acres Farm

Though it sat fallow for fifteen years, Aissa O’Neil saw the potential of her Betty Acres Farm located on Route 28 between Delhi and Andes. The lovely house shaded by huge trees, dairy and livestock barns, and the gentle sloping pastures showed their age and wear.

Moving from New York City, Aissa identified with a strong and growing demand for organic products. “I knew that specialty organic growing was the only way for my small farm to turn a profit.” Lacking the experience, equipment and capital required for a conventional farm, Aissa began by selling her excess produce first locally and soon to markets in the City, and to health food stores and farmers markets, including the Round Barn in Margaretville. In her on-farm greenhouse, Aissa specialized in Eastern European heirloom varieties of vegetables for their taste and because they are a hardy match for this climate.

As her experience grew, so did the opportunities to buy used equipment and grow more products on a larger scale. Aissa expanded her organically certified products to include vegetable seedlings and eggs. She complements the short growing season by raising grass-fed meats and poultry year-round. Each new venture is added slowly, and she continues to try new things. A major investment was the greenhouse, which paid for itself with increased sales and an extended growing season within two years.

The micro-enterprise course offered through Cornell Cooperative Extension was helpful to Aissa in creating business plans and projections. She received much of her farming education from Northeast Organic Farmers Association (NOFA NY) as well as by working closely with extension agents and “mentor” farmers. Her professional training as a graphic designer has given her an edge with creating appealing product displays and product packaging for her growing enterprise.

Aissa would like to balance further growth equally between wholesale and retail accounts. She is pursuing value-added product ideas to complement her fresh product list, and to allow her to sell via e-commerce. Projections for the third year of operation include once again doubling with increases in meat and poultry production.

Participating in WAC’s Small Farms Program has given Aissa and her new husband, Tom, access to technical advice and resources to increase their production by reclaiming useful pasture for rotational grazing and tackle barnyard water management challenges created by a spring running through the farm towards the East Branch of the Delaware River. A WAC forest management plan will improve their understanding of the forest resources they steward and they have applied for a farm easement from WAC as well.

As Aissa and Tom entered their second year of organic production, they see the value of organic certification and the support they receive from NOFA in adhering to the standard. They have also found benefits in working together with neighboring organicand sustainable farms, whether it is for marketing, distribution, or just day-to-day support. The O’Neils are also planning to grow their on-farm stand, both for retail selling and for farm tours and special events.