Stone Barns



If you want to go to a fascinating place in Westchester County, head over to Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills! This is a non-profit farm, education, and research center that was created on 80 acres that used to belong to the Rockefeller estate.

The stone barns on the property were commissioned by John D. Rockefeller Jr. to be a dairy farm in the 1930s, then it fell into disuse in the 1950s and was mostly used for storage. In the 1970s, agricultural activity started up again when David Rockefeller’s wife Peggy McGrath began a successful cattle breeding operation. The actual center as it is today was created by David Rockefeller, his daughter Peggy Dulany, and their associate James Ford as a memorial for David’s wife who died in 1996, and it opened to the public in 2004. 

The farm on the property runs all year round and has six acres that are used for vegetable production. It grows 300 varieties of produce year-round in the outdoor fields and gardens and in the 22,000-square-foot minimally heated greenhouse. The farm also raises cattle, chickens, sheep, pigs, goats, and bees that are all suited to the local ecosystem. These animals are raised on pastures that are kept healthy and productive through the process of rotational grazing.

The center also offers a variety of programs for farmers, teachers, and the public. These include hiring eight livestock and crops apprentices and hands on training with courses on business, pollination, water, and soil. In 2008, they held the first Young Farmers Conference to provide inspiration and education for beginning farmers, with a focus on farming on a smaller scale and training workshops. They also offer farm and garden workshops for anyone who is interested in regenerative agriculture. 

There is also a restaurant there that opened in 2004 called Blue Hill at Stone Barns. It seats 88 people in what used to be a cow barn, and it has received two Michelin Stars. The restaurant serves contemporary cuisine using local ingredients, most of which come from Stone Barns fields and pastures.

There are also some events scheduled at the center over the next several weeks. These include regular lunches at Blue Hill that are trays with freshly milled whole-grain breads, fermented and pickled vegetables, and pork and beef charcuterie. Blue Hill will also be offering several family-style dinners over the next several days in what they call a community table. The education team will also be offering guided tours of the property on weekends. There will also be a cooking class for members on Saturday that will focus on side dishes that are popular during the holidays. There will be another event next Saturday about how different seasons, growing spaces, and ingredients inspire the creation of a beverage, and this one will focus on toddies, punches, and nogs. 

Admission to get into Stone Barns is free. So, go ahead and go see a beautiful place in Westchester County!


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