Common Ground Farm Education Programs

Common Ground Farm Education Programs include activities such as Preschool on the Farm, Farm Camp, Group Visits, Sustainable Textiles, Homeschool, After School, and Farm to School. Educational programming on the farm includes chances for participants to harvest vegetables with their own hands, learn basic cooking skills, and directly interact with the local food system. Common Ground offers these education programs year-round for children and adults, and welcomes visitors and volunteers to work and spend time on the land.

• Schedule: Year-round programs

Common Ground’s three main branches work together to address food access and education on the farm, in schools, and in cities, using a multifaceted approach to food insecurity in the 21st century. The farm grows a diverse array of vegetables on six and a half acres and dedicates about half of the vegetables produced each season to food justice efforts. Common Ground operates weekend markets in the cities of Beacon and Newburgh that support local farmers and makers while making fresh food affordable and accessible to everyone. The Hudson Valley Farmers’ Market Academy is a professional development series created and supported by Common Ground, the Beacon Farmers’ Market, and the Newburgh Farmers’ Market to support farmers’ market vendors and strengthen the local food community while supporting small businesses. The organization’s leadership team includes Liz Craig (Operations Manager), Sember Weinman (Executive Director), Rhys Bethke (Farm Manager), Renae Essinger (Education Manager), Amy Bandolik (Market Manager, Beacon Farmers’ Market), and Ilyana Campos (Market Manager, Newburgh Farmers’ Market). A portion from every purchase of a special edition Beacon Farmers’ Market bottle of wine, offered in partnership with City Winery Hudson Valley, goes to support the Beacon Farmers’ Market.

Last updated February 6, 2026.