AnnualReport2015_fin.. - Queens County Farm Museum

annual report
queens county farm museum
2014-15 volume xl
Operated by Colonial Farmhouse Restoration Society of Bellerose, Inc.
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
a message from james a. trent, board president
40 Years of Progress at the Farm
T
he end of this fiscal year marks the
completion of 40 years of operation
since our founding on July 4, 1975.
We’ve come a long way! From a derelict farm
with an abandoned farmhouse, we’ve grown
to become​one of​the busiest farm museums​
in the country​. Visiting hours that began
just two hours each Saturday in 1975, have
expanded to being open seven days a week;
from a handful of visitors in the early years,
to a peak of 500,000 a couple of years ago.
(We’ve since trimmed the visiting numbers
to make for a more comfortable experience.)
Our initial budget was $10,000 for the
first full year of operation, and today our
annual budget e​ xceeds​$3 million — we’ve
achieved phenomenal growth. To mark
this extraordinary milestone, we hosted a
modest celebration in late July attended by
members, staff, and farm supporters. It is
also bittersweet for me as I am the last board
member from the origins of our organization.
I’ve been president for 40 years and it has
been a great honor.
We have an ambitious capital program going
forward. We expect construction to start
soon on the rebuilding of the greenhouse
complex. We are in design for a rehabilitation
of the Horse Barn Complex, and are
raising funds for a new Visitors Center/
Administration building to be built in the
parking lot at the south end of the farm.
Unfortunately, the planned roadway
circulation system is on hold due to a law
that requires that trees removed have to
be funded for replacement. Thus we need
$6 million to pay for trees that will not
be replaced on the farm but would be planted
2 \ annual report
contribute online at www.queensfarm.org
elsewhere. A
​ ​lthough well-intentioned,​the
law​has unintended negative consequences​
for the Farm Museum​. Currently, we have no
City Council member who can work on this
as the seat that covers the farm is vacant. It
will be filled on January 1, 2016 and at that
time we will begin t​ o seek a solution to allow
for fulfillment of our excellent master plan.
Our local elected officials change more
frequently now due to term limits, but what
hasn’t changed is their commitment to the
farm’s financial needs. We have received
proposed funding for Fiscal Year 2016 from
the City Council, the Borough President,
and the Mayor’s Office.
board of
directors
James A. Trent
President
Robert J. Bishop, Esq.
Vice President
Legal Affairs
Dr. Marcia Rudy
Vice President
Board Development
John Sandmann
Treasurer
Carole Buitrago
General Secretary
Thomas J. Diana, P.E.
Sergeant-at-Arms
Eugene Andreassi
Bruce D. Bergbom
Linda Blohm
Italo DiModica
Gerri Jackson-Wyatt
Dr. Andrew Greller
I take this opportunity to express gratitude
to those who continue to work to keep the
Farm Museum a viable and cherished cultural
resource for the people of Queens and
beyond. This includes our industrious staff,
our wonderful Executive Director, Amy
Boncardo, our dedicated Board of Directors,
and you our visitors and supporters.
Helene Kornstein
Ann Moynagh
Stuart M. Nachmias
Katherine B. Paccione
Steven Perry
Kathleen A. Sciortino
Samuel Shapiro, Chair
Dr. Neal Vichinsky
Christina M. Wilkinson
Edward Zebrowski, Jr.
Franklin D. Vagnone*
NYC Department of
Parks and Recreation
Delegate to the
Commissioner
Nayelli Valencia*
Delegate to Queens
Borough President
*Ex-Officio
James A. Trent, Board President
annual report / 3
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
follow us
online!
a message from amy fischetti-boncardo, executive director
A Growing Resource for All
W
facebook
www.facebook.com/
thequeenscountyfarmmuseum
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@queensfarm
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@queensfarm
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www.foursquare.com/
v/queens-county-farmmuseum
website
www.queensfarm.org
hen our Museum’s founder,
James Trent, gathered a
small group of neighborhood
volunteers over 40 years ago to save this
important site from development, they
never imagined it would grow to become the
dynamic cultural institution it is today. In
1975 this 47-acre parcel officially became
the “Adriance Farm Park” and Queens
County Farm Museum was created. State
Senator Frank Padavan incorporated the
“Colonial Farmhouse Restoration Society
of Bellerose Inc.” by means of a law that
was passed on May 23, 1978 along with
documents protecting this farm site from
development into perpetuity. The effort
this took is astonishing. Mr. Trent and I
often discuss the early days and reflect on
this incredible journey.
I am privileged to share our 2015 Annual
Report with you — we’ve included images
and stories that highlight some of the year’s
activities that further our mission and keep
the Farm Museum a meaningful cultural site
for thousands to learn from and enjoy. The
talent and dedication of our board, staff,
partner organizations, and volunteers has
produced dynamic results.
Queens County
Farm Museum
73-50 Little Neck Pkwy
Floral Park, NY 11004
p 718.347.3276
f 718.347.3243
www.queensfarm.org
4 \ annual report
Our new educational programs for adults
have been a big hit. Hundreds joined us for
a broad variety of workshops in beekeeping,
canning, flower arranging, gardening and
much more. If you were at our photography
workshops, you are certainly taking better
selfies! The feedback from participants
was a delight to read. Stay tuned for more
programs coming your way.
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
1927
Our membership has reached a record
high; we especially enjoyed seeing so many
familiar faces at our events throughout
the year. We are very grateful to all of our
members for their support and interest in
the Farm Museum.
Image from Seen In NY
video about Queens Farm
beekeeping class
in the news:
2015 press on
queens farm
I have the privilege of managing a staff
of outstanding professionals, continually
working to improve all aspects of the Farm
Museum for the public we serve. We are
grateful for the resources provided and
energy imparted by Board President, James
Trent, the Board of Directors, City officials,
corporate supporters, society members,
donors, and volunteers.
5 Boroughs 5 Weeks
AM New York
NY1
Seen In NY
The New York Times
The Village Voice
The Wall Street Journal
Time Out NY
June 30, 2015 brought a landmark anniversary year to a close. We hope you get a sense
of the joy and enthusiasm we all have for the
Queens County Farm Museum through our
Annual Report.
The area where Queens County Farm Museum is located has changed dramatically over the years, from acres of open
farmland to residential and commercial development.
WNYC
2015
Enjoy!
Our team had a photo op
with actor Jason Bateman
when he visited to shoot
his film The Family Fang.
Amy Fischetti-Boncardo, Executive Director
contribute online at www.queensfarm.org
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colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
NYC cultural institutions. This program
introduces young adults to the farm as a
piece of NYC’s rich history. In the spring,
students from JHS 210 in Ozone Park,
Queens visited the farm for six sessions.
They had a fantastic time exploring the
historic aspects of the Museum, getting
their hands dirty in our compost area and
growing field, and learning about folk arts
from American history like drop-spinning,
natural dyeing and quilting.
education report
“Thank you for
showing us the
animals! Thank you
for the hayride and
the crackers.
Thank you for
showing us how to
make buttermilk
and butter. Thank
Our Children’s Garden received a lot of
special attention this year under our garden
manager and the efforts of our farm educators.
We added infrastructure in the form of a
qcfm
educators
Rachel Becker
Shavar Clarke
you for letting us
Leslie Colon-Nori
feed the goats!”
pre-k, ps 446k
brooklyn
“I like feeding the
sheep because they
are so fluffy. I found
out that some of
my seeds sprouted.”
george,
student
“I learned that a
chicken lays 1 egg
a day every 26 and
1/2 hours.”
jacqueline,
student
Expanding the Farm Classroom for All Ages
The Education Department is proud to
play a role in the 40-year legacy of sharing
Queens Farm with residents of New York
City and beyond. In the early years, our
educational programs consisted of tours and
teaching simple concepts about history and
early farming practices. Over the years, we
have cultivated our department and today
we offer school groups and adults a series of
interactive, hands-on, farm-based programs
in a wide array of subjects (and let’s not
forget the hayrides)!
This year, we began some
new and exciting educational programs, forged
partnerships with
other educational
organizations,
expanded our
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Children’s Garden, and continued to make
internal improvements and adjustments in
the department.
Another partnership program we participated in with the DOE was STEM Matters:
Budding Scientists – The Urban Ecosystem.
This program connected us with eight
public elementary schools who may not have
otherwise visited, if they were not involved
in the program. Their visits were a field
experience for students to explore the farm
as part of the larger urban ecosystem. They
participated in our science-based programs
learning about chicken embryology, the life
cycle of plants, and the captivating work of
the honeybee!
Jorge Cubas
Stacey Delise
Medina Diggs
Kyle Dries
Alissa Ebel
“bean house” and rain catchment barrel —
teaching children about trellising legumes
and harvesting rainwater. Additional learning
opportunities emerged with new crops,
colorful signage, and expanded garden beds.
This garden space not only enhances the
beauty of our landscape, but provides a
Chloe Fuentes
Marty Jackel
Cassidy Kirch
Caitlin Kundrat
Chris Lord-Barry
Emanuel Lorenzo
Chrissy Lucchesi-Leon
Michele Mateus
Daniel O’Donnell
Jamie O’Hara
We increased our Adult Education offerings
to include: Insider’s Tours, Photography on
the Farm, Beginner Beekeeping,Veggie Gardening
Basics, Queens Farm Flowers, and Preserving
the Harvest. We gathered participant feedback
from every class we offered, and the
responses were overwhelmingly positive.
In addition, folks offered suggestions for
new classes, and gave us a better sense
of how to promote our offerings and meet
the needs of a wider audience.
Meagan Pittman
Jeval Robinson
Elizabeth Sczesnak
Lindsey Jo Smith
Priscila Smith
Diane Squillari
Lisa Stein
Mallory Sustick
Mike Syverson
Renee Tone
The NYC Department of Education (DOE)
offered us the chance to participate in Teen
Thursdays, an afterschool program that
partners junior high school students with
contribute online at www.queensfarm.org
annual report / 7
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
education report
Thank You cards from
students who visited
the farm
sensory experience for any child that comes
to visit, engaging them in the natural world
growing around them.
This past fiscal year saw a lot of selfevaluation, logistical improvements, and
professional development for our staff
and department as a whole. Each educator
underwent observations during the program
year and received feedback on their
strengths and areas for improvement, with
regard to visitor engagement and farm
knowledge. Educators had the opportunity
to complete self-evaluations, discuss
personal goals, and offer ideas for program
improvements. We began a pre-payment
system for school visits, providing a more
streamlined process on our end and creating
a better experience for teachers when
arriving on what are often hectic field trip
mornings. In an effort to continually expand
our professional expertise, our team participated in staff development throughout the
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year. Topics included Queens Farm history,
drop-spindle practice, “farm talks” with our
Agriculture staff, and visits to partner farms
and programs.
No matter what the season, our dedicated,
diverse team of educators arrives in all
weather to provide an unforgettable learning
adventure to our city’s youth and adult visitors.
We have seen so
much growth in
the past year and
we look forward
to continuing to
cultivate enriching,
educational experiences for farm-lovers
of all ages.
75 species 200 lbs
1,600 seedlings 5,600 students
of flowers and
vegetables grew
in our Children’s
Garden
were transplanted and
taken home by students
in our spring programs
(to grow & eat!)
of butter was
churned by students
in our program
Hands-on Farm
learned about the
process by which
a seed grows
into a pumpkin
fun facts
learned
during our
programs:
• If you lived here in 1772,
you would have a lot of
chores! Colonial kids
were expected to collect
eggs, feed pigs, herd
sheep, chop wood, tend
the kitchen fire, stir the
stew pot, sweep the
floors, gather vegetables,
card wool, spin yarn,
and much more!
• Our hens each lay
about 5-6 eggs a week.
• The peppermint
in our herb garden
smells like your
toothpaste at home.
• This farm is older than
your parents and even
your grandparents!
contribute online at www.queensfarm.org
annual report / 9
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
education report
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
event highlights
snapshots: adult education
We’re grateful for our
continued partnership with
Con Edison, which makes
The Amazing Maize Maze
such a great success!
“Excellent location,
informative class!”
participant,
photography
on the farm
“I learned a new skill
and was able to
We’re especially thankful
for our staff members
behind the scenes, who
make parking and
housekeeping seamless
during events.
practice it on my
own without
someone over
my shoulder, but
Big Fun at the Queens County Fair
enough attention
to assist when
With carnival rides, circus acts, live music &
dance, blue ribbon competitions, the Amazing
Maize Maze and more — the Queens County
Fair draws a crowd! Record turnouts prove
that this continues to be the Farm’s signature
event of the year. To enhance visitor experience, we’ve created custom fair signage
which helps guests navigate from point A to
B. Our public events provide extraordinary
opportunities for new and seasoned visitors
to engage with Queens Farm in dynamic ways.
needed.”
participant,
apple tree
pruning 101
clockwise from upper left: Photography on the Farm; Beginner Beekeeping; Tree Pruning 101; Queens Farm
Flowers: From Field to Bouquet (featuring Education Coordinator Kelsey Ter Meer on right)
“It was great to be in
the same space as
the flowers and
to visually see a
bouquet designed
before my eyes.”
participant,
queens farm
flowers: from
field to bouquet
Submissions poured in for
our Blue Ribbon competition
at the Queens County Fair.
Categories included
vegetables, livestock, arts
& crafts, aviculture, poultry,
culinary arts, and floral
arranging.
10,684
Participants in our Community Compost Build event with GrowNYC helped make a windrow pile from
over 10,000 pounds of food scraps, woodchips, and leaves.
10 \ annual report
visitors attended
the Queens County Fair
contribute online at www.queensfarm.org
annual report / 11
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
agriculture report
“I love being and
Cultivating Land & Community in NYC
We continue to grow a
wide variety of heirloom
and hybrid tomatoes,
with an emphasis on
great flavor.
“I’ve been to Queens
Farm a few times
with my kids and
decided to volunteer
when I had some
The Agriculture Department had another
bountiful year, harvesting over 32,000
pounds of food in 2015! Our passion for
growing exceptional produce remains as
important as our commitment to cultivating strong community. As a public farm in
Queens, we have the tremendous fortune
of interacting with visitors of all ages, from
all walks of life and our farmers delight in
sharing vegetables, fruit, herbs, & flowers —
all grown using organic practices — at our
on-site Farmstand. Direct marketing is
such a wonderful way to introduce people
to Queens Farm and, what is more, to spark
lasting friendships.
free time — I love
the work that is
done and what the
farm stands for.
It’s important for
citizens to learn and
help preserve our
environment.
Monthly Farmer-Led Tours provide exclusive
access to our growing operation, and our
Volunteer Program is tremendously popular,
with an average 2,500 hours logged each
season. Most of our volunteers return week
volunteering at the
farm! For me, the
after week, and it is heartening to see how
much Queens Farm means to each of them.
farm is a place to
interact with soil,
over 32,000
plants, people, and
pounds of food was harvested
at Queens Farm in 2015.
Over the past year we have continued to
plant vegetables, herbs, flowers, shrubs,
and trees which contribute to the beauty and
biodiversity of the farm, and as a result we
have seen more birds and beneficial insects
than ever. The farm’s gorgeous array of
perennial and annual flowers are harvested
for special events, too, like on-site
weddings. Everything grown on the farm
is tended to by hand, and nourished with
compost made on-site. We strive to
provide visitors with an engaging space
which produces the most nutritious food,
and the smiles we see day-to-day are where
we feel most gratified as an organization.
animals. I hope my
newborn daughter
will enjoy this unique
and rewarding place
as much as I do!”
dennis strk,
volunteer
skill-sharing: cooking demos
This year, we introduced cooking demos to our
on-site Farmstand, as a way to feature some of the
unusual produce that we grow and show visitors
of all ages how easy it can be to prepare your own
meals. Observers had the opportunity to watch
as our staff demonstrated all the steps to get to
It is truly a form of
seasoning with herbs, and sautéing along the way.
therapy for me and
In the spring, we highlighted colonial cooking in our
of utilizing our
historic Adriance Farmhouse. When tomatoes were
maintaining a
there’s nothing
in their prime, we partnered with The City Saucery,
better than playing
a local tomato sauce company that demonstrated
in the dirt! Thank you
tomato canning as a way of prolonging the flavors
for the opportunity
healthy lifestyle.
of summer. Visitors enjoyed trying samples of each
I hope to continue
dish, and taking home recipe sheets so they could
to be a part of the
for this program!
a complete dish, learning things like knife skills,
Farming is the core
resources and
“I am so grateful
experiment at home.
to make a difference
in my community
and inspiring me
Queens Farm family.”
to advocate for
odelia lee,
volunteer
sustainable farming.”
lisa darrigo,
volunteer
12 \ annual report
contribute online at www.queensfarm.org
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colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
Our fields had over
100 varieties
of fruits, vegetables, and flowers
growing in them this year.
annual crops
Eleonora Basil
Sweet Thai Basil
Maxibel Bush Bean
Scarlet Runner Bean
Merlin Beet
Red Ace Beet
Piracicaba Broccoli
Minuet Napa Cabbage
Dragon Carrot
Mokum Carrot
Napoli Carrot
Nelson Carrot
Sugar Snax Carrot
Bright Lights Chard
Fordhook Giant Chard
Calypso Cilantro
Bear Paw Corn
Diva Cucumber
Green Finger Cucumber
Manny Cucumber
Dancer Eggplant
Galine Eggplant
Solaris Fennel
Zefa Fino Fennel
Aunt Molly’s Ground Cherry
Red Russian Kale
Toscano Kale
Winterbor Kale
Kolibri Kohlrabi
Chinook Leek
King Richard Leek
Tadorna Leek
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Green Forest Lettuce
Magenta Lettuce
Nancy Lettuce
Panisse Lettuce
Mesclun Lettuce Mix
Clemson Spineless Okra
Purplette Onion
Red Long of Tropea Onion
Giant of Italy Parsley
Hungarian Hot Wax Pepper
Joe’s Long Cayenne Hot Pepper
Peach Habanero Hot Pepper
Jimmy Nardello’s Sweet Pepper
Shishito Sweet Pepper
Cherriette Radish
Red Meat Radish
Rover Radish
Sora Radish
Racoon Spinach
Space Spinach
Noche Summer Squash
Spineless Perfection
Summer Squash
Butterscotch PMR Winter Squash
Metro PMR Winter Squash
Cherokee Purple Tomato
Eva Purple Ball Tomato
Hungarian Heart Tomato
Moonglow Tomato
Rose Tomato
Sheboygan Tomato
Striped German Tomato
Sun Gold Tomato
Trophy Tomato
Hakurei Turnip
perennial crops
Apples
Asparagus
Blackberries
Blueberries
Currants
Gooseberries
contribute online at www.queensfarm.org
Grapes
Herbs
Horseradish
Raspberries
Rhubarb
cut flowers
Ageratum
Blue Lace
Calendula
Celosia
Centaurea
Cosmos
Dahlias
False Queen Anne’s Lace
Gomphrena
Gypsophila
Indigo
Larkspur
Leptosiphon
You won’t see this in the
grocery store! We love to
highlight the beautiful
irregularities that can
happen in nature, like this
snail-looking tomato.
“Finding Queens
Farm was one of
the best experiences
I have ever had.
The Farmstand is
not only unique,
Marigold
Nasturtium
Queen Anne’s Lace
Rudbeckia
Salpiglossis
Salvia
Scabiosa
Statice
Strawflower
Sunflower
Mexican Sunflower
Zinnia
and many perennial varieties
but beautiful and
lovingly tended by
wonderful people.
Always a smile, a
new vegetable
and most of all —
nothing fresher in
Queens!”
farmstand
customer
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colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
plants
harvested
for dyeing
at qcfm
agriculture report
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
agriculture report
Tapping Into our Resources
At the end of winter, when the fields are
muddy or covered in snow, our farmers
have found a way to continue to demonstrate
where our food comes from. In March, the
farmers tapped three sugar maple trees
on the property for the first time. During
the spring sap flow, the crew collected 20
gallons of sap which boiled down to 3 liters
of sweet maple syrup! This small operation
Apple bark
Apple leaves
Black Walnut
Dahlia leaves
Elderberries
Fennel fronds
Goldenrod flowers
Marigold flowers
Pokeweed berries
gives visitors and school groups the chance
to witness how sap is collected and to learn
about the process of maple sugar production.
This upcoming winter, the farmers will
expand the sugarbush to five trees that are
all in easily accessible and visible locations.
The farm is constantly working to expand
and diversify ways ways to engage visitors in
sustainably producing food.
Rhubarb root
Rudbeckia stems
Sumac
Tansy flowers
Zinnia flowers
Explorations in Color: Natural Dyeing
Natural dyeing offers a way to pull together
many of the different elements of the farm.
The raw materials come from both our
livestock pens and our fields. And the process
allows us to think about the history of fabric
production and gives us a living story to
share with school groups and visitors. Both
the Agriculture and Education Departments
have been experimenting with natural
dyes for the past few years and increasingly
incorporating them into our programs.
Farmer Charlotte Sullivan
boiling down sap to make
maple syrup
The Agriculture Department has harvested
plants and dyed some of our yarn spun from
our Cotswold and Romney sheep. Visitors
can view the yarn in the Gift Shop and then
find the sheep, the wool, and the plants that
produce the dye.
“We love this place!
A local farm with
locally grown
produce of the
highest quality.
There’s no better
way to get your
food anywhere.
Period! We will miss
In the winter, the farm offers the program
Fabrics from the Farm for school groups
which discusses non-food crops, the
process that goes into production of our
clothes, and to think about how clothes were
produced in pre-modern times. Our Teen
Thursdays program offers the chance to dye
fabric with plants found on the farm.
16 \ annual report
you during the
photo: charlotte sullivan
winter! Can’t wait
contribute online at www.queensfarm.org
til next season.”
shachar & nieves
korman
annual report / 17
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
livestock report
An Integrative Approach to Livestock
photo: kelsey ter meer
It is a gift to be able to farm organically —
with livestock! — right here in New York
City. Our animals excite and educate visitors
while also fulfilling important roles within
our small farm system. Manure is the key
ingredient of rich compost, free-range
eggs are a hot commodity, and sheep and
alpaca fiber provide wonderful value-added
products for our customers.
18 \ annual report
As a public farm, it is imperative that we
show our visitors what happy, healthy, active
livestock look like. This is, in part, why we
raise Heritage breeds, including Cotswold
sheep, Dexter steers, Berkshire pigs, and
over seven different types of laying hens.
Farm animals, like humans, come in all
shapes, colors and sizes!
contribute online at www.queensfarm.org
At mealtime, we supplement the diets of our
livestock with fresh produce from our fields.
Vegetables that are not fit for market due to
visual irregularities are still perfectly edible;
we’re happy to be able to reduce food waste
while adding nutritional value to our animals’
diets with these variable veggies.
Our farmers systematically rotate livestock
around the entire property, paying special
attention to overgrown wooded areas. This
adds diversity to diet, minimizes parasite
pressure in paddocks, and keeps invasive
weed pressure in check. As a result, we continue to expand our gardens and beautify the
grounds, thereby increasing the biodiversity
of the farm.
With over 200 laying hens
on site, we are happy to
continue to be a supplier
of fresh, local eggs to our
community. Our laying
hens produced over 2,100
dozen eggs this year.
The wildflower honey
that our Italian honeybees
produce is in high demand.
It is especially popular
with customers seeking
raw, local honey to relieve
seasonal allergies.
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colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
This is why we love our
visitors! A secret admirer
sent our cattle a Valentine.
We then took a photo of
the valentine being given
to Dexter the steer and
made a postcard out of
it to mail back to this
Super Fan.
fiscal year 2015 (july 1, 2014 – june 30, 2015)
fiscal year 2015 (july 1, 2014 – june 30, 2015)
Statement of Activities
0.3% Corporate Support
1.29% Membership
0.18% Non-Government Support
2.45% Museum Shops
0.09% Investment Income
2.86% Contributions
unrestricted net assets
Unrestricted Revenue and Support
Revenue
Educational Tours and Seminars
Special Events
Museum Shop and Vending Machine Sales
Produce and Livestock Sales
Memberships
Investment Income
Total Unrestricted Revenue
Support
Grants, Corporate
Contributions
Net Assets Released from Donor Restrictions
Total Unrestricted Support
Total Unrestricted Revenue and Support
We were delighted when
farm volunteer Wally
Kupferberg was selected to
be the Queens Person of
the Week by news station
NY1 after they saw our
Instagram post featuring
Wally. Wally is 91-years-old
and loves helping us tend to
the plants in our greenhouse.
Expenses
Program Services
Educational
Events
Agricultural
Supporting Services
Management and General
Fundraising
Total Expenses
Net Change in Unrestricted Net Assets
This year, farm educators
canned our tomatoes for
use during winter cooking
programs. Not only does
this have financial and
environmental benefits, it
also strenghthens students’
connections to their food.
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
temporarily restricted net assets
Grants, State
Grants, Municipal
Grants, Corporate
Grants, Foundation
Net Assets Released from Donor Restrictions
Net Change in Temporarily Restricted Net Assets
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
net assets at the beginning of the year
net assets at the end of the year
2015
2014
$9,750
$41,355
$5,850
$ 1,391,044
936,044
78,802
399,816
41,355
2,997
2,850,058
$1,559,636
790,098
82,183
494,735
32,071
719
2,959,442
5,000
91,952
268,900
365,852
6,621
36,908
332,631
376,160
3,215,910
3,335,602
$78,802
$2,997
$91,952
8.03% Government Support
$258,300
Amy Boncardo
Executive Director
Alexandra Abate
Director of Education
43.3%
Education
$1,391,044
Farm
Support and
Revenue
Kennon Kay
Director of Agriculture
12.4%
Agriculture
Sarah Meyer
Director of Sales &
Marketing
$399,816
Gary Mitchell
Director of Operations
Frances Erato
Director of Finance
1,228,219
585,574
738,273
1,450,476
481,993
786,050
571,213
13,999
3,137,278
546,959
13,449
3,278,927
78,632
56,675
2,500
255,800
4,750
5,850
( 268,900 )
–
78,632
1,670,830
$1,749,462
5,000
263,301
24,330
40,000
( 332,631 )
–
56,675
Jen Griffith
Farm Manager
29.1%
Public Events
$936,044
0.44% Fundraising
$13,999
Kelsey Ter Meer
Education Coordinator
Children’s Garden
Manager
Maria Otero
Site Rental Coordinator
18.21%
Steven Eftimiades
Caretaker
Management
$571,213
39.15%
Education
$1,228,219
Farm
Expenses
special
thanks to
18.67%
all of our staff members
and volunteers,
whose contributions
are invaluable to
our organization.
Public Events
$585,574
1,614,155
$1,670,830
23.53%
Agriculture
$738,273
Audited financial report available at www.queensfarm.org or by request.
20 \ annual report
qcfm
personnel
contribute online at www.queensfarm.org
No part of this report
may be printed without
the permission of
the Queens County
Farm Museum. © 2015
ISSN 11-2508369
annual report / 21
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
“Being here I got a sense of spaciousness
that’s not often available in other walks of life.”
22 \ annual report
contribute online at www.queensfarm.org
— toni roberti, volunteer
annual report / 23
colonial farmhouse restoration society of bellerose, inc.
The mission of the Farm
Museum is to preserve,
restore and interpret
the site. Through
educational programs,
events and museum
services we educate the
public as to the
significance of Queens
County’s agricultural
and horticultural past &
heighten awareness of
present-day practices.
Queens County Farm
Museum is operated by
the Colonial Farmhouse
Restoration Society of
Bellerose, Inc., a non-profit
corporation, and owned by
the NYC Department of
Parks. Programs are
supported in part by
public funds from the
NYC Department of
Cultural Affairs. Queens
County Farm Museum
is a member of the
Historic House Trust
of New York City.
fiscal year 2014-15 supporters
Friends of the Farm
The Queens County Farm Museum gratefully acknowledges our supporters.
corporate support
Creedmoor Civic Association
Katharine B. Paccione
American Express
C. Steel Bay Paul Foundation
C. Robert Passantino Trust
Astoria Bank
Noah Davis
Frances Passantino
Verizon
Connie DeMartino
George Pellechia
Leon DeSimone
Steven Perry
government support
Thomas Diana Sr. (MSU)
Diana Petro
Historic House Trust of NYC
Italo DiModica
Philip & Marie Plasencia
New York City Department of
Cultural Affairs
Julia Dobry
Prodigy Plumbing
Diane & Karl Dratz
PS 186
New York State Office of Parks,
Recreation & Historic Preservation
Julie Elena
Paul Reily
Henry Euler
Michael Rolla
Euler-Ravez Family Foundation
Dr. Marcia Rudy
Mary Farrall
Andi Rugg
New York Community Trust/
Hawk’s Nest Fund
Fink Family Foundation
John Sandmann
One Point of Light
Sakatis Fotios
Lauret Savoy
Joanne Frerks
Joseph Schmidt
Rosalia Gioia
Joan Schlegel
Edith Girardi
Kathleen Sciortino
Girl Scout Troop #1045
Josephine Scorca
Carmine Grimaldi
Samuel Shapiro
Arlene & Kenneth Heim
Yarden Shavit
June Heinecke
Grant Sheely
Stephanie Holdcroft
Andrew & Nancy Simmons
Thomas & Marie Holt
Nicole Spector
Karen Hoover
Louise Spoto
Harris Insler
Hemak Thapa
Gerri Jackson-Wyatt
James A. Trent
Brett Klug
Helene Kornstein
U.S. Marine Corps – North Shore
Queens Detachment #240
George & Greta Kuhls
Elizabeth Vago
Dr. Richard & Mrs. Lange
Joseph Vartanian
Lori Goldman-Longo
Dr. & Mrs. Neal Vichinsky
Phoebe Massimino
Donald Wachter
MCU Credit Union
Glenn & Mary Wachter
Richard & Erna Melchers
Jerry Wein
Carol & William Menendez-Dellano
Robert White
Vincent Montano
Christina Wilkinson
Ann Moynagh
Womens Club of Forest Hills
Thomas Mugno
Andrea Wong
Stuart Nachmias
Suzanne Wurtemberg
Lydia Nagle
Chris Zafiridis
Noah Wallace School Farmington
Phyllis & Joseph Zanghi
John & Sue O’Gorman
Brian Zaratzian
John & Martina Okulski
Helene Zaro
Meredith Oliver
Edward Zebrowski
foundation support
Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement
Syracuse University Environmental
Education
Joan N. & Norman Bluestone Foundation,
Inc.
The Bay & Paul Foundation
individual support
Ravi Ajodah
Alley Pond Striders
Eugene Andreassi
Suzanne Atkins
Cindy Benigno
Robert J. Bishop, Esq.
Walter & Lin Blohm
Louis Blumengarten
Aiha Blumfelds
Amy Boncardo
Cover photo and
inside cover photo:
Sarah Meyer
William & Lynne Boyett
Sondra & Iris Brooks
Carole Buitrago
Norma Busching
Bernadette Camillo
Carey Dad’s Club
Queens County
Farm Museum
73-50 Little Neck Pkwy
Floral Park, NY 11004
p 718.347.3276
f 718.347.3243
www.queensfarm.org
H. Frank Carey Student Government
H. Frank Carey Sunshine Committee
Michael Cartola
Maureen Chen
Brian Connelly
contribute online at www.queensfarm.org
design: sarah meyer
mission