By Christine Briel / Skaneateles Design
Last summer I was hit or miss at remembering to go to the Farmer’s Market on Thursdays. I’m self-employed and sometimes lose track of what day it is … or maybe just getting older and losing my mind 
Either way, it was a Friday and I had missed the Farmer’s Market and needed produce for the week. In the growing season in CNY I consider it a crime to purchase produce that isn’t local. I know some of the grocery stores work closely with our local farmers (and that’s great) but nothing beats buying it straight from the farmer (whether at the Farmer’s Market or at their roadside stand). That being said I happened across a double treat last summer, Borodino Market at Schoolhouse Farms (wiki). Initially I spied the sign, then I noticed the fresh produce at the roadside stand. That caught me so I pulled in their driveway (they have room for several cars to park too). After perusing the vegie stand - and picking up beans and tomatoes (several varieties of each) - I walked up the driveway and went exploring in the store that they also have on the premises. They carry an amazing array of products in the store - honey, tea, herbs, spices and a variety of specialty foods. The Borodino Market at Schoolhouse Farms is a seasonal Market. It is located in a one room Schoolhouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Richard Malcolm and Rebecca Muir-Malcolm run the place with their four young children: Morel, Finan, Brahm and Baryl. They established Schoolhouse Farms in 1998. They refer to it as a Micro-farm to distinguish it from large commercial operations. The Farm was so named as a result of the One Room Schoolhouse that is on the property. The focus of the agriculture has always been natural, pesticide free crops consisting of heirloom tomatoes, heirloom beans, squashes, sun flowers, black currants, and a host of other culinary specialties. The Farm is not registered organic as a result of the large amount of paper work and the money involved, but they do follow organic practices.
They call themselves purveyors of the unique and invite people to rejoice in the re-birth of real food, and of real flavor. They are a family dedicated to food with real flavor and reconnecting with their roots by sowing, growing, learning and sharing! Personally, I think if you take a look at the products they offer you won’t be able to argue with the fact that they have accomplished their goal.
Borodino Market at Schoolhouse Farms opens for this year’s seasonal business on Memorial Day Weekend. They are located at 1848 Rose Hill Road state Route 174, Skaneateles, NY. If you have questions or would like more information about their GREAT operation call Rebecca or Richard at 315-673-0744. I should also mention that Rebecca and Richard are a part of the ever growing list of Skaneateles locals doing the blogging thing - check out their Borodino Market Blog and Schoolhouse Farms blog.
Rebecca is also a quality amateur photographer and the photo gallery below is just a sample of her work. These “sample’s” are also available, during the growing season, at Borodino Market at Schoolhouse Farms if anything looks appealing to you
Tags: borodino market, muir, schoolhouse farms, seasonal produce, Skaneateles, specialty foods
Bravo! thank you for being such a welcome and vibrant asset to Borodino. We look forward to your opening, and the rest of the summer!!
Mary Ten Eyck, Tully,
also— The Pines, Pine Grove Rd.,Borodino
What is The Pines? I haven’t heard of it before.
Yes, it is about time that word of the yeoman work the entire family of Schoolhouse Farmers puts into their beloved micro farm. One only needs to stop at their roadside stand at 1848 Rosehill Road to be struck by the love and dedication with which each item is displayed, be it tomatoes, beens, berries, sunflowers or whatever… There is no denying that a lot of Blood Toil Tears and Sweat (using Churchill’s famous words rather loosely, but which say it all) have gone into the realization of the offerings on this roadside stand. From the youngest member of the family, Baryl, just 3-1/2; Brahm, 8; Finan, 10; Moral, 12 to their mom and dad each puts his heart and soul into the planing and harvesting of the wonderful and not run-of-the-mill produce one can find at Schoolhouse Farms. It is truly a unique experience to pay a visit to this spot on Rosehill Road. Anyone going there will come away with an uplifted and happy feeling.
I am in complete agreement with you. The project this family has undertaken is nothing short of a TREASURE! It’s not to be missed.
I travel this world, far and wide, but have never found a gem that glitters so brightly with the answers to my every culinary wish and whim as I have at the Borodino Market and Farm Stand.
As a long standing vegetarian, I have spent a life convincing carnivores that vegetables can be full of flavor too…And if you take a bite of a sweet & crisp Dragon Tongue bean or a luscious Heirloom Tomato at the Schoolhouse Farm Stand, my work will be done for me and you too will see vegetables in a whole new way! Then, inside the Market, what wonders to behold… I’m taking a special trip from San Francisco - land of Farmer’s Markets & world class fare - to stock up on all my favorites at the Borodino Market!!! Viva the purveyors of gastronomic magic!!!
Darn that others have discovered Becky and Richard’s hidden gem in the finger lakes! I was hoping I could keep this secret to myself. The Malcolm’s skill, knowledge and creativity are second to none. I suppose I’ll wait in line now that people are discovering these very special farmers.