Maureen Sager

CapNY Essentials: Farmers Markets, Nurseries, and Farm Stores

June 1, 2020 By Maureen Sager

One of the very best things about NY’s Capital Region is our access to farmers and farmland. Lucky for us, most of us can get to rolling fields in under thirty minutes. These beautiful drives are a great way to spend an afternoon; I let out an audible sigh at my first sight of cows. Another good reason to go: supporting small farmers and family-owned nurseries keeps our local economy humming. Also: your brand-new Victory Garden will be healthier with locally grown seedlings. Therefore, to get you started, we’ve offered up some great farm store and nursery options in all eight counties.

Download the map, below, to take it with you on your journey. But, please know that this map won’t be complete without your input! It is designed to be crowd sourced. Share your farm faves by clicking below.

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Farmers Markets
Farm Stores
Nurseries

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Farmers Markets

Farmers markets are rapidly adapting to current conditions with online ordering, timed shopping, and more. Therefore, we suggest that you check their websites for updates.

Cambridge Valley Farmers Market, 24 South Park Street, Cambridge, 12816. Sundays 10am – 2pm at Cambridge Central School.

Chatham Farmers and Makers Market, Chatham, 12037, Fridays 4pm – 7pm on the Village Green, across from the Clock Tower.

Copake Hillsdale Farmers Market, 9140 State Route 22, Hillsdale, 12529. Saturdays 9am – 1pm, through October 31st.

Delaware Community Farmers Market, 331 Delaware Avenue, Albany 12209. Tuesdays 4pm – 7pm, July 2 – September 24.

Delmar Farmers Market, Elm Avenue Park, 261 Elm Ave, Delmar, NY 12054, Saturdays 9am – 1pm, with 9am – 10am.

Germantown Farmers Market, Palatine Park Road, Germantown, 12526. Saturdays 10am – 1pm, under the Pavilion at Palatine Park.

Glens Falls Farmers Market, Elm Street, Glens Falls, 12801. Saturdays 10am – 2pm at South Street Pavilion in downtown Glens Falls.

Hudson Farmers Market, North 6th Street, Hudson, 12534. Saturdays 9am – 1pm, April 25 – November 21, on Columbia Street between 5th and 6th Streets.

Kinderhook Farmers Market, 1 Hundson Street, Kinderhook, 12106. Saturdays 8:30am – 12:30pm.

New Lebanon Farmers Market, 496 Columbia Pike, New Lebanon, 12125. Sundays 10am – 2pm, beginning June 7th.

Saratoga Farmers Market, Wilton Mall, Saratoga Springs, 12866. Wednesdays 3pm-6pm and Saturdays 9am – 1pm, at Wilton Mall, near Bon Ton parking lot.

Schenectady Greenmarket, 105 Jay Street, Schenectady, 12305. Sundays 10am – 2pm, around Schenectady City Hall.

South End Healthy Market, 230 Green Street, Albany, NY 12202. Saturdays 11am – 2pm, July through October.

South End Night Market, The Radix Ecological Sustainability Center, 153 Grand Street, Albany 12202. Thursday evenings 4pm – 7pm; curbside pickup is available.

Troy Waterfront Farmers Market, Troy, 12180. Online sign-up and other pickup options available; check their website for updates.

Farm Stores

Black Horse Farms, 10094 U.S. Route 9W, Athens, 12015. Black Horse Farm is a family-owned country market with a wide array of fruits and vegetables. Also, their garden store offers summer blossoms, nursery stock, garden items, pottery, gourmet foods, and much more.

Capital Roots Urban Grow Center Market, 594 River Street, Troy, 12180. Terrific collection of locally-grown fruits, vegetables and herbs, produced by dozens of area farms. Open 9am – 5:30pm, Monday – Friday.

The Chatham Berry Farm, 2309 Route 203, Chatham, 12037. Take a drive to Columbia County to find this award winning, family owned store with a range of local, regional, all-natural & organic products. But don’t be fooled by their name — it’s more than berries!

Gade Farm Farm Stand, 2479 Western Avenue, Guilderland, 12084. Family-owned farm stand and nursery, available for pickup and delivery.

Hawthorne Valley Farm Store, 327 County Road 21C, Ghent, 12075. This full-line natural / organic food and grocery store is set on a working farm in rural Columbia County. In addition to the store, Hawthorne Valley offers programs and products that fulfill their social and economic mission.

Samascott’s Garden Market, 65 Chatham Street, Kinderhook, 12106. Vegetables, fruit, local products and more available for online orders and in-store shopping.

ACE Director Maureen Sager at Story Farms — ACE Director Maureen Sager at Story Farm in Catskill

Saratoga Apple, 1174 Route 29, Schuylerville, 12871. Family owned for a century, this orchard and farm market produces much more than apples. Here you’ll find a wide range of fruit, cider, fresh baked goods, and produce, as plus local, natural, and healthy food and gifts. In addition, the world’s best apple cider donuts are made daily, all year round.

Story Farms, 4640 NY-32, Catskill, 12414. My favorite place to buy fresh vegetables and seedlings for my backyard garden, Story Farms also has terrific baked goods and local meats in their freezer.

Nurseries

Suzanne Haight of Balet Flowers and Design

Balet Flowers and Design, 5041 Nelson Avenue Extension, Saratoga Springs, 12866. Just outside of downtown Saratoga Springs, you’ll find this wonderful greenhouse and flower farm helmed by farmer / owner / potter Suzanne Haight. In addition to vibrant blooms, vegetables, and herb plants, Suzanne offers kind and supportive tips for what will work in your garden.

beckers garden center hanging baskets — Becker’s Farm Garden Center

Becker’s Farm Garden Center, 420 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer, 12144. Family owned for five generations, Becker’s offers soils, mulch, and a great plant and flower selection.

Story’s Nursery, 4265 Route 67, Freehold, 12431. Great selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, greenhouse crops, soils, and bedding plants, much of it grown on site. This wonderful family business has been thriving for over 50 years.

Toadflax Nursery, 1604 Saratoga Road, South Glens Falls, 12803. Idyllic nursery with 11 greenhouses and huge selection of shrubs and trees, common and unusual annuals, tropicals and perennials. In addition, there is a full selection of mulches, landscaping materials, and soils.

Pondside Nursery, 5918 Route 9G, Hudson, 12534. Great selection of plants and trees in a beautiful, pondside setting, just a few minutes’ drive from downtown Hudson.

faddegons edible baskets — Faddegon’s Nursery

Faddegon’s Nursery, 1140 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham, 12110. Three beautiful greenhouses of trees, plants, flowers and more, owned by the Faddegon family for 100 years.

And more nurseries…

Gade Farm Nursery, 2479 Western Avenue, Guilderland, 12084. Family-owned farm stand and nursery, available for pickup and delivery.

Kulak’s Nursery and Landscaping, 1615 Route 146, Rexford, 12148. Family-owned nursery and greenhouses with wide selection of flowers, plants, shrubs, trees and more.

Olde Saratoga Home and Garden, 934 Route 29, Saratoga Springs, 12866. Family-owned nursery with locally grown herbs, flowers, bedding plants and perennials. In addition, you’ll find garden supplies, tools, potting soil, crafts, gifts and more in their store. They’re also great with tips, and have a teaching garden on-site.

Zema’s Nursery, 154 Presbyterian Hill Road, Stephentown, 12168. Family-owned nursery and greenhouses with varied selection. Also note that curbside pickup is welcome.

Greene Bee Greenhouse, 2744 Route 20, Cornwallville, 12418. Family-owned nursery with online ordering and on-site pickup.

Cap Region Road Trip: Rural Schenectady County

May 19, 2020 By Maureen Sager

This drive through rural Schenectady County is a great way to explore Capital Region’s natural beauty and pick up some craft beverages along the way. We are finally seeing some sunshine and warmer temps, which makes it a lot easier to get that vital dose of Vitamin D. While visiting any of our amazing outdoor spaces, please take all of the safety measures recommended by NYS Parks Department.

How To Get There: There are several routes that will take you into rural Schenectady County from US-90 and US-88 to State Routes 20, 7 and 74. We recommend downloading a map before you go as there are some areas without cell coverage. Virtually visit our recommendation with our Google Earth map if you are unable to get out (View that here)..

What To See:

Christman Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary, 3281 Schoharie Turnpike, Delanson, NY 12053. Home to the spectacular Bozenkill waterfall and plantations of locust, cedar, spruce and pine. Explore the two looped main trails and two side trials. Located on the property is a two-story dwelling built in 1868, a stone dairy house, large stone walls, and more.

Schenectady County Forest Preserve, Lake Rd. (County Route 88), Delanson, NY 12053. The Preserve has three trail paths. The pates feature a number of habitats including a native hardwood forest, a red pine plantation and a man-made pond.

Mabee Farm Historic Site, 1100 Main St, Rotterdam Junction, NY 12150. The oldest farm in the Mohawk Valley (1705), Mabee Farm Historic Site offers visitors beautiful vistas and riverside beauty. The buildings are currently closed, but the trails and grounds are still open to visitors.

Great Flats Nature Trail. W. Campbell Rd, Schenectady, NY 12306. The Great Flats Nature Trail is a wetland habitat that offers an easy well-defined path through a wooded area. The path leads to wetlands and a small lake, where you can walk on a boardwalk around the lake. The trail is a circular route that has both a long and short option.

Where to Eat and Drink

Back Barn Brewing, 7082 Western Turnpike, Delanson, NY 12053. Growlers, pints and cans are available for pick-up Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons. Check out what’s currently on-tap on their website at the link.

Altamont Vineyard & Winery, 3001 Furbeck Rd, Altamont, NY 12009. While their wine alone is worth a stop, don’t sleep on their full array of good for sale online. From yummy grape jelly to small-batch honey to home decor & more, there is so much great stuff to score. Order ahead of time and they will provide curbside delivery. Don’t miss out on the view of the vineyards as you head up the driveway.

Wagon Train BBQ, 671 Mariaville Rd, Schenectady, NY 12306. Worked up an appetite from exploring all the natural beauty in Schenectady County? Wagon Train BBQ is ready to tackle any sized hunger. We dare you to try and conquer the Train-Wreck Burger (A burger topped with Swiss cheese, ham, roast beef, coleslaw, horseradish mayo and chipotle ranch) or one of their Wagon Train Combos. Check their IG for daily specials including family meals.

Wolf Hollow Brewing Company, 6882 Amsterdam Rd, Schenectady, NY 12302. Don’t miss out on the great brews on tap at Wolf Hollow Brewing Company. Call ahead or order online for growlers and cans. I recommend the Lock 9am Vanilla Coffee Porter. And don’t forget to check the website to see what food truck is on-site serving up delicious eats on the weekends. Click here for pre-order information. I mean because you’ll need to wash something down with all that great beer.

Cap Region Road Trips: Saratoga Springs to Schuylerville

May 14, 2020 By Maureen Sager

This country drive on Route 29 from Saratoga Springs to Schuylerville is a great chance to revel in the farmland, lakes and rivers, and apple groves of rural Saratoga County. The solace and space of Stillwater, Schuylerville and all of these little hamlets make for a great spring drive. While visiting, please take all of the safety measures recommended by NYS Parks Department.

How To Get There: Take Exit 14 Saratoga off the Northway I-87, and follow directions for NY-9P toward NY-29/Saratoga Springs/Schuylerville. Route 29 will be the “backbone” for this drive, with side jaunts to Saratoga National Historic Park, Fish Creek, Hudson Crossing Park, and more. Download this custom Google Map to find all stops mentioned in this article.

What to See:

Bog Meadow Brook Nature Trail, Route 29, Saratoga Springs. This two-mile, well-maintained rail trail is an easy, relaxing walk through marshy wetlands (don’t worry, the trail itself is dry). I was thrilled to see a blue heron during my visit in May.

Saratoga National Historic Park, 648 Route 32, Stillwater. The park facilities and tour road are closed, but the grounds are open for pedestrians and bicycles every day from sunrise to sunset. Click here for a map to the grounds. Updates are available on their Facebook page.

Hudson Crossing Park, County Road 42, Schuyerville. Open every day, year round, dawn to dusk. This terrific park offers fishing and birding sites, a children’s play garden (keep safe distances, of course!) and two miles of nature trails with panoramic Hudson River views and Champlain Canal overlooks. There’s also a floating dock where boaters can stay for up to 48 hours, and a kayak launch on their Riverwalk Sensory Trail walk.

Champlain Canal Lock 5, County Road 42, Schuylerville. On your way to Hudson Crossing Park, park your car and take a look at Champlain Canal Lock 5. The now-inactive lock has great signage to give you a sense of our region’s history and relationship with the Canal.

Kayak Shak, 251 County Route 67, Saratoga Springs. Enjoy some spring paddling on Fish Creek! You’ll need to book your reservation online before arriving, as no more than 5 watercrafts will be allowed to launch at once, every 15 minutes.

Browns Beach / Saratoga Lake, 511 NY-9P, Saratoga Springs, NY. If you’ve never seen Saratoga Lake, this side tour is worth your time. You can enjoy the serene and beautiful lake drive from your car, and if you want to stretch your legs, Brown’s Beach offers public access to the lake.

Where to Eat:

Farmer’s Daughters’ Drive-In Restaurant, 882 Route 29, Saratoga Springs. One of my all-time favorites, this 60’s style stops is doing a fantastic job of adapting to quarantine, with car-side or internet orders, and safe, well-marked pickups. Try the fresh-cut fries with Michigan sauce. Gluten-free menu and cones available.

Saratoga Apple Orchard and Farm Stand, Route 29, Schuylerville. This Saratoga institution is open daily all year round, offering a full array of fresh vegetables in addition to its startlingly fresh, crisp apples — twelve varieties in all! Order online or shop in their store. Delivery is also available within 15-mile radius.

Just Meats, 1023 Route 29, Schuylerville. A carnivore’s paradise, this butcher shop has deli sandwiches made to order (call ahead for pick up, 518-507-6061) and fresh meat, milk and eggs for purchase.

Saratoga Gluten Free Goods, 176 Broad Street, Schuylerville. Trust me, you do NOT have to be gluten free to enjoy these amazing, homemade baked goods. Grab yourself some lemon blueberry cheesecake bars. You’ll thank me later.

Harvest and Hearth, 251 County Route 67, Saratoga Springs. Terrific wood-fired pizza available for takeout Wednesday – Sunday, starting at 4:30pm. Located on Fish Creek, right next door to Kayak Shak, if you’re up for a paddle!

A Chat With SPAC’s Elizabeth Sobol

May 7, 2020 By Maureen Sager

SPAC President and CEO Elizabeth Sobol in quarantine

Elizabeth Sobol is the President and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. She is also a voracious reader, champion of the cultural arts and lover of the natural world. She recently posted an eloquent letter about life during a pandemic and the impact of Beethoven’s music on our world in the year of his 250th birthday. You can read that here.

We just knew she’d have some great insight and advice for us during New York’s Shelter In Place orders. Please enjoy our conversation with Elizabeth Sobol.

ACE’s Rachel Dunn interviews SPAC’s Elizabeth Sobol

Elizabeth Sobol’s Favorites:

Saratoga PLAN – Saratoga PLAN is dedicated to preserving the rural character, natural habitats and scenic beauty of Saratoga County and provides information on County parks and trails. Includes information on Hennig Preserve.
SPAC “Sparked By Beauty” Facebook Page – Saratoga Performing Arts Center has created an online forum for the sharing of poetry, art, music, dance – things of beauty that bring you joy and light under the dark clouds of uncertainty.
Elizabeth’s Reading List:
- Brian Greene’s Until The End of Time – “It’s a huge book in scope – and he is really looking at both the history of the cosmos – as well as the history of human thought and experience. Kind of like “from the Big Bang to Beethoven”. It sounds daunting, but it is so precisely and beautifully written that it is very gripping. “
- Erik Larson’s The Splendid and The Vile – “[This] is basically a history of Churchill’s first year as Prime Minister – and also the first year of WWII and the Blitz. It’s a timely and powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit – and the importance of honest, powerful oratory – in leading people through times of crisis.”
- Irina Ratushinskaya’s Grey Is The Color of Hope – “A memoir about her many years in the gulags of Russia and how she maintained hope and sustenance through the clandestine writing of poetry on matchbooks.”
- Tracy K. Smith’s Life on Mars – “Our immediate past US Poet Laureate and an extraordinary human being. She also has her own poetry podcast called “The Slowdown”. I listen to it at night when I can’t sleep. It is magical.”
Favorite Beethoven recordings:
- “Because I was an aspiring pianist in a distant past, I always gravitate to [Beethoven’s] piano music. Any recording of any of the 32 piano sonatas performed by Richard Goode, Jonathan Biss or Igor Levitt (representing three different generations of pianists).”
- “Jonathan Biss is also a great writer and has a terrific Kindle Single called ‘In Beethoven’s Shadow’.”

Cap Region Road Trip – Lake George

April 29, 2020 By Maureen Sager

By: Rachel Dunn

Despite all of our restrictions, we are not without options – and no, we don’t mean Netflix vs. Hulu. The great outdoors are still open, and Lake George — the “Queen of American Lakes” — is one of the crown jewels of the Capital Region . Whether you stay in your car or take a safe, COVID-compliant hike, this is a great opportunity to take in the beauty of the lake and the stirrings of Spring. You’ll enjoy vast history, trails and beautiful architecture all along the way. Depending on how interactive you want to be, your trip can last a couple of hours or a whole day. Please consult NYS Parks Department COVID Guidelines before leaving home.

We’ve created an interactive Lake George Map using Google Earth, with links, stops and information to help you with your drive. If you aren’t able to leave your home, you can use this map to go on a virtual drive. Access the interactive map HERE.

The Lake George Drive

Start by exiting the Northway I-87 at Lake George Village (Exit 22) and make a left onto Route 9N, which will lead you through Lake George Village. Lake George makes small appearances throughout the village drive, and its beauty is spectacular. If open, take a detour down Beach Road and take in Lake George and the Adirondacks from “Million Dollar Beach,” at the southern end of the lake.

Follow Route 9N through Lake George Village to the end of town, and keep right and continue on 9N along Lake Shore Drive. You’ll see some of the inns and resorts that make Lake George a thriving tourist destination in the warmer months.

A little further along the route, we came upon the charming Diamond Point Community Church, a historic church dedicated in August, 1879. You can take a virtual tour here.

Continue north toward Bolton Landing, a village with lots of nearby hikes (the family-friendly trails at Up Yonda Farms are open, but the educational facilities are not), and the gorgeous Sabbath Day Scenic Lookout, which has two spots to pull over where you can take the opportunity to eat some lunch, breathe in the fresh air and take in the incredible views of Lake George. During our drive, it was so quiet that we could hear dogs barking on the other side of the lake.

If you’re getting hungry, there are a few options nearby. You can order takeout Wednesday-Sunday at Bolton Landing Brewing Company (518) 644-2739), or get a curbside delivery of some locally made wine and liquor at Huddle Bay Wine and Spirits, (518) 644-2111. I included a couple of options on our Google Earth map, but you might want to plan ahead and pack a lunch or some snacks.

Further along the drive, you’ll get a closer view of Lake George as the road meets the shore, and you’ll pass Silver Bay and the sprawling YMCA Family Retreat Center on the way to the town of Ticonderoga. As you approach Ticonderoga, you’ll find the quaint and historic Valley View Memorial Chapel, an iconic structure set atop a hill in the Lord Howe Valley. The chapel was dedicated August 25, 1901.

You can now choose to turn around and head back south along the lake, or you can drive around the entire lake by crossing through Ticonderoga and heading south on Route 22. Detailed directions here.

If you feel like stretching your legs during your drive, there are several hiking trails that offer extraordinary views of the lake, many with streams, ponds and falls along the trails. You can find a list of trails on the Lake George website. We recommend that you check ahead of time to make sure they are open to the public.

If history’s your thing or just want a little extra info along the way, you can check out The Warren County History Mapper where you will find a comprehensive list of historical sites around Lake George.

Please note that there are several spots throughout the drive where there is little to no cell service. If you are looking for historical markers, hiking trails or to order takeout, make sure to plan ahead by downloading information or calling businesses ahead of time.

Please follow the DEC and CDC guidelines to adhere to social distancing while hiking and recreating outdoors during this public health crisis. Let’s all do our part to stay safe and flatten the curve.