At Crossroads Farm at Grossmann’s in Malverne, the autumn harvest brings land, food and community to the table. Each year, its Farm-to-Table dinner transforms the farm into a distinctive seasonal gathering. Elected officials, civic leaders, longtime supporters and neighbors gather among the fields for elegant meals connected to the land around them.
The farm’s rustic charm frames beautifully dressed tables and conversation, offering guests the pleasure of dining where their food’s story begins. Beyond the table, growing fauna, freshly gathered produce, educational programs and seasonal traditions draw generations onto the land. Tucked within suburban Malverne, agriculture remains part of everyday life.
At its center is Farm Manager Michael D’Angelo, whose farming heritage spans generations and whose connection to Crossroads ties to legacy. “I raise my family here. I wouldn’t be content if I wasn’t doing this”. His vision begins with something precious on Long Island: keeping people connected to the land and to one another. For Michael, the work joins family tradition with a responsibility to sustain agriculture within the surrounding community.
Michael’s connection to the land runs through both sides of his family. His Italian family grew produce; his Irish side raised dairy cattle, beef and lamb. After studying civil engineering in Ireland, he traveled through Portugal, Spain, Italy and beyond, maintaining farms. After returning to the United States, he was employed in engineering until being laid off during COVID. He returned to agriculture, volunteering with Cornell Cooperative Extension, leasing property in Old Westbury and selling produce at the Long Beach farmer's market before an Operations Manager position opened at the Crossroads Farm.
In four years, Michael has helped Crossroads quadruple its success, growing the farm to four times its scale. A team of four or five has grown to fifteen, alongside production, education, store operations and hours. Michael describes the larger idea: “Our goal here is to really show everybody what it means to be a community and potentially take this concept and model and recreate it. Being a true three prong mission, farming robustly, growing lots of food, full fledged education, and then events.”
That vision builds on a century-old foundation. The Grossmann family worked the land for over 100 years as suburbia grew around it, until a sale called for new preservation advocates.
In came Leonore Russell. A teacher for 30 years at the Waldorf School of Garden City, who helped develop the RFP for the property. Her approach drew from a story she shared with students about Sir Percival, the Knight of the Round Table. In contrast to earlier Grecian heroes remembered through glory and triumph, Percival learned through failure and time, including the importance of asking the right questions.
Leonore saw that lesson as the farmland faced the potential of being sold and turned into condominiums, with private businesses interested in acquiring the property. The land’s future brought stakes sharply into focus. “The hero had to ask the right questions at the right time,” Leonore recalls. “There was no pushing our own interest. We were just going to save it.” The mission soon expanded.
The preservation effort next leaned on the Nassau Land Trust. Lloyd Zuckerberg, then its chairman and founder, became a significant conservation voice. Peconic Land Trust’s guidance helped lay the foundation for Nassau Land Trust, showing Lloyd how conservation tools could protect open space for public benefit. Kathleen Kleinman was a co-founder, while many others contributed legal and conservation expertise. Llyod wishes he could name them all.
Their achievement remains extraordinary: “It’s a miracle. That six and a half miles from Kennedy, one of the world’s largest international airports, is a five and a half acre certified organic farm," Llyod reflects in awe. "That wasn’t supposed to survive.”
Its endurance now nurtures learners. Agriculture is now seen in children learning firsthand. Education Manager Delia Serrano explains, “Crossroads Farm’s education programs plant the seed for a lifetime of learning through hands-on, experiential activities sparking joy and wonder. Our Little Seeds programs serve children 18 months-3 years, our Sprouts 4-6 and our Young Farmers 7-12.” Crossroads offers a Family Program for mixed ages and a Home School program, partnering with school districts and organizations, even serving people with developmental disabilities through programs like Smile Farms.
LIJ-Valley Stream Northwell Health Community Advisory Board member Maria Casini suggested another collaboration. Lissa Nelson, Director of Patient & Customer Experience, and Jason Tan, Hospital SVP & President, visited the farm, and a partnership followed, recognizing health across interconnected systems. Lissa shares, “We are always looking for ways to amplify the voice of the community. Health has many different aspects and we recognize that.”
For Michael, preservation is personal, woven into the life he shares with his wife and family. “Farmers, people who are attached to the land, Amish people, indigenous people.. we are all attached to something. And we all used to be connected to that. Every one of us. It’s in you. So once you get it back, you almost regain a piece of you that has been lost.”
Perhaps that is Crossroads’ invitation: to return to the land, gather around its harvest and help preserve a place, where generations can rediscover that connection for themselves.
You almost regain a piece of you that’s been lost.
Experience Crossroads Farm at Grossmann’s through seasonal produce, farm events and educational programs. Visit the farm, support its preservation and discover a remarkable piece of Long Island’s agricultural heritage.