Inn at Shaker Mill Farm

The Inn at Shaker Mill Farm, Berkshire Permaculture & the Mediterranean Café: an opportunity, based on a long friendship, to purchase a functioning 24 room country inn on the edge of the Berkshires in historic New Lebanon New York, at a fraction of its value.
New Lebanon is a revitalized community once settled by a series of highly creative Shaker Communities. Located just 20 minutes from the Tanglewood Music Festival and the Kriplau Center for Yoga and Health in the tourist rich Berkshires, the Inn was run by Ingram Paperny for 50 years. The opportunity is predicated on IPC principal, Rev. Michael Pergola MA, MBA, JD’s relationship with Ingram. Approaching 88, and still lucid, Ingram seeks an opportunity to “age in place” at the location where he has invested his life. He would live out his days, under arrangements already worked out between the parties, in the Lodge, a building on the property down the road from the Inn. Ingram would also pass on his knowledge of the property and the business to ease the transition to new ownership and expanded business  opportunities
The Inn at Shaker Mill Farm (Assessed Value $985,000; Purchase Price $300,000; Improvements & Startup funds $150,000)
The enterprise will serve the following needs.
  • Land is in the upper Hudson Valley close to the Berkshires and Albany and accessible to the New York and Boston Metropolitan Regions. Approximately 20 acres and appropriate for an integrative permaculture design on a larger scale and abundant production.
  • New Lebanon is a revitalized rural community with a long history and an accessible location to significant populations, with a shortage of satisfactory accommodations. Initiatives that make this a prime venue for long term growth include: Behold New Lebanon –  http://www.beholdnewlebanon.org/  ; the Darrow School – http://www.darrowschool.org/   ; the Hancock Shaker Museum – http://hancockshakervillage.org/  ; the Abode – http://www.theabode.org/  ; The New Lebanon Library – http://newlebanonlibrary.org/  ; The Hawthorne Valley Association & Farm – http://hawthornevalleyassociation.org/branches/  ; The Shaker Swamp Conservancy – http://shakerswamp.org/  ; and the Mount Lebanon Heritage Herbfest – http://www.mountlebanonherbfest.com/  ; not to mention the many outdoor and cultural activities in the Berkshires and immediate environment.
  • Located just off the main road it offers opportunity to build on existing business to increase occupancy for those visiting New Lebanon’s rich cultural history and the Berkshires many attractions and seeking a relaxed and reasonably priced accommodations.
  • Existing Inn and food system facility is a perfect venue for a casual farm to table café and restaurant.
  • Immediately create additional revenue streams with hands on educational programs in organic farming, permaculture design, natural building and related topics using team members existing relationships. 
  • Team is in place for Integrative Permaculture design and education with Andrew Faust, owner of the Center for Bioregional Living as well as Team members Frank LaSala who will serve as inn keeper, Ben Brownell who will provide technical, design and agricultural support and Michael Pergola who will oversee the management of the inn/farm/restaurant.

Investment Seed Benefits:

  • Building relationships with local leaders, farmers, citizens and visitors that can lead to new enterprise opportunities and the acquisition of additional land for organic conversion
  • Offering Sustainability and Permaculture Education that is both practical and academically solid in a rural environment accessible to significant population centers. For example the Yestermorrow Design Build School is 3 hours further north
  • Creating a cadre of well-trained cooperative workers to start and staff additional related enterprises
  • Demonstrate the opportunity of market scale Integrative Permaculture approaches and related downstream cooperative business initiatives
  • Seeding additional businesses across the local food economy that utilize the cadre of young adults eager for a place to develop their skills and invest their labor in an enterprise that will offer meaningful employment
  • Strengthen a growing local economy and healthy food system in the greater Berkshire and Albany/Troy region
  • Use creative approaches to conservation easements and the purchase of development rights to protect organic land and raise additional funds

Investment risk and the opportunity:

  • Security: You will own an interest in the asset, with stable and increasing value, as well as a time share for lodging and a food share for direct consumption or donation
  • The opportunity to participate in intergenerational activities with a variety of age groups in social activities and culturally relevant conversation
  • Connection with a growing network of “autumnals” (50 to 75) with energy and a desire to stay engaged with today’s important currents
  • The possibility of a place to live in proximity or community with other active adults, and have connection with a diverse age range of people making a difference for the future pf the earth
  • Your investment can be liquidated through selling your share to another buyer, which may be the land managers/business enterprise owners or other investors
  • Commitment to hold investments for a minimum of 7 years
  • Opportunity to create thriving local economies with a bioregional impact
  • Support social and environmentally responsible business models and build an enterprise ecology of mutually supportive relationships
  • Offer access to progressive agricultural education and employment to young farmers that do not currently exist, combatting the issue of sustainability given that the average age of current farmers is close to 60.