OVERVIEW
ChoShields is engaging in land based social enterprise. We are currently researching how to initiate an ecology of cooperative businesses that catalyze progress in the regional food, energy, and transportation networks.
Our goal is to help people and planet move towards a sustainable and equitable cultural economy.
Our diagram of how sustainable community and regional development may be facilitated through a land based enterprise.
Arrowhead Farm, Kerhonkson NY
Goat Creamery, NYS
Addition to a 260 year-old barn - Passive House principles were applied to Acorn Hill’s new milking and cheese making center at Arrowhead Farm, Upstate NY. New high-performance building envelope allowed the entire facility to be efficiently heated, cooled, and de-humidified by a SINGLE One-Ton Minotair Pentacare ERV/HRV mechanical unit. CMU walls, wood framed SIP roof, full air-sealing, 8”T continuous exterior insulation, and rain screen siding of local hemlock plank to match existing barn.
Check out the goat cheese at http://acornhillfarmny.com/
Esopus
Study for a 5,000 SF workshop and 9,000 SF social event barn at Esopus Agricultural Center: A multi-tenant farm organized through North East Farm Access. Farmers here are a mix of both production and CSA community oriented platforms.
Sugar Cabin
Reconfiguration and renovation of existing hand-built cabin at Arrowhead Farm. Live-edge siding will be maintained or replaced in kind.
RESEARCH
Small Grains Field Day
The Small Grains Field Day that we attended about the emerging market for grain produced in New York State and efforts made to reestablish local grain production.
Vermont Compost
Vermont Compost with founder Karl Hammer. Karl is a fountain of soil and world systems knowledge. Take a ride with Karl on this Farmer-to-Farmer podcast.
Essex Farm
Essex Farm, one of the first full-diet CSA’s in the country. Sign up for a free one week trial of their all-you-can-eat CSA door-to-door delivery!
Coppersea Distilling
Coppersea Distilling, an enterprise using locally sourced grain.
Glynwood Farms
Glynwood Farms where we discussed a variety of programming from farmer training to regional food programs like the Cider Project.
Intervale Center
CSA pick up at the Intervale Community Farm. We spent some time with Will Raap and Travis Marcotte discussing how the Intervale’s Food Hub and Farm Incubation programs have helped catalyze Burlington and Vermont’s strong local food economy.
Zero Gravity Brewery
Canning operations at Zero Gravity Brewery in Burlington.
McNeil Generating Station
The McNeil Generating Station which is powered by sustainably harvested wood chips brought in by rail car. Located in Vermont the power station is one element of an ecology of enterprises making Burlington a model for sustainable develoment.
South Village
A housing development, CSA farm, and preserved open space coexist at South Village, an “agrihood” in South Burlington, VT.
