Kerber’s Farm School expands with 20-year farmland lease
The School at Kerber’s Farm and Suffolk County Parks recently announced a 20-year agreement for Kerber’s to lease and manage 20 acres of land directly across the street from their property located at 309 West Pulaski Road in Huntington.
The agreement, which was unanimously approved by the Suffolk County Legislature, will allow the school to expand its farming education programming.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for our school, and I am grateful for the support of Legislator Bontempi and County Executive Ed Romaine and Nick Gibbons from Suffolk County Parks. We are excited to teach our community about farming and highlight the rich history of farming in Suffolk County,” said Nick Voulgaris, owner of Kerber’s Farm.
The 20-acre parcel is part of the 312-acre Froehlich Farm Preserve, which was acquired by Suffolk County in 1991. The additional acreage will be used by the school to further its mission to teach students the importance of farming, sustainability and healthy eating practices.
Students attending the school participate in a hands-on farming experience where they can learn about agriculture and plant and harvest vegetables. They then can go into the school’s 32-seat interactive classroom and cook a meal with the items that the farm grows.
The school also aims to address food insecurity in marginalized communities and educate students about the carbon footprint of their food choices. Increased public access will also be made to the existing walking trails of Froehlich Farms through the West Pulaski Road site.
The school hopes to run 10-15 classes per week for students of all ages, as well as a summer camp program.
Kerber’s Farm was founded in 1941 and was saved from development in 2013 when it was purchased by Voulgaris, a longtime patron of the farm who is passionate about historic preservation. In 2021, Voulgaris created The School at Kerber’s Farm on the property to help people reconnect with farming and agriculture. To learn more about Kerber’s Farm and The School at Kerber’s Farm, visit kerbersfarm.com/.
