BeECO is joining the Bethlehem Garden Club for their Ice Cream Social.

Come out and enjoy!

Location: Beneficial Pollinator Garden located in front of the Bethlehem Town Hall

Thursday, September 3rd 5:30 pm -7:30 pm

The month of October!

Bethlehem Environmental Commons is hosting the American Farmland Trust’s exhibit “Our Farms, Our Future” for the month of October at the Bethlehem Public Library.

Our Farms, Our Future tells the story of New York’s farms in transition, as a third of our state’s farmers are now 65 and older and own two million acres of farmland that will be changing hands in the coming years. This massive shift in land ownership is unprecedented, and the pace of farmland loss is increasing. Across the nation, we lose 2,000 acres of farmland every day to development and other uses that jeopardize farming. American Farmland Trust has worked tirelessly to protect farmland and keep farmers on the land, and we see an urgent opportunity to uplift and preserve the stories of those stewards of the land who choose to protect it and transition their farms to a new generation. The exhibit features poignant images and written stories of farmers who are both exiting and entering the field, capturing this critical moment in time.

Join Bethlehem Environmental Commons and American Farmland Trust at the Bethlehem Public Library for the opening reception of “Our Farms, Our Future” an immersive exhibit uplifting stories about the next generation of New York farmers and protecting farmland.

Light bites and beverages will be provided by American Farmland Trust, and attendees will have an opportunity to view the exhibit and speak with AFT staff and local partners.

Common Ground: Film Screening

Join us for a screening of Common Ground (Redux), a thought-provoking documentary that explores the vital connections between agriculture, healthy soils, food systems, and the choices that shape our landscapes, communities, and future.

Following the film, participants are invited to stay for a facilitated discussion to share perspectives and explore what the film’s themes mean for our community and local experience.

The event will be at the Bethlehem Public Library

Join us for an evening of farm transfer stories!

Transitioning farmland and farm business can be a complicated and lengthy process. However, a successful transition to a new generation of farmers is critical to ensure that we have a thriving farm and food sector to feed New Yorkers. Join us for a screening of a short documentary followed by a panel of several local area farmers who will share their own farm transition stories and plans.  

This session is brought to you as part of American Farmland Trust’s “Our Farms, Our Future” photo exhibit with support from the Land Transfer Navigator Program, a program led by AFT in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Every farm has a story. Gather around for an evening of live storytelling from New York farmers. In the style of The Moth, storytellers will share true personal stories drawn from their own experiences on the land. The event concludes the Our Farms, Our Future exhibit and our month-long celebration of New York farmers. Stories will be shared by members of American Farmland Trust's Growing Farmer Voices cohort. Community members are also invited to share their own farm stories