Sean Gargamelli-McCreight

I am co-founder of a small non-profit organization (Benincasa Community, Inc.) pursuing the development of a small farm, home, and retreat space.

Since 2015, we have held diverse programming and resided in a formally vacant convent our community fully renovated and rents from the catholic school.

• Since 2015, in preparation for opening a “green community”, we have (1) apprenticed and worked at rural and urban as well as secular and religious farms, (2) operated community supported agriculture programs and soup kitchens using local, organic food, (3) studied sustainable organic and permaculture growing practices, and (4) supported movements for farm worker justice and the protection of land from developers and corporations.

Our vision includes...

• Growing food using organic/permaculture practices for residents and to share w/ neighbors,
• Restoring and protecting land through trusts and sustainable management efforts,
• Designing innovative outdoor educational programming (for young and old) to promote right relationship with land, food, self, and others.
• Creating community with others seeking formation and inclusion in an open, diverse, and inclusive faith-based setting.

We are looking for...

• Acreage: 2-50 acres
• Buildings: Living and meeting space to work, celebrate, share and build community
• Agreement:  long-term lease, or purchase
• Location: East of the Hudson River, within ~75 miles of NYC
• Accessibility: Easily accessible by train lines/public transit
• Preservation: Already protected by land trust or potential for farm land protection