Page 16 - Valley Table - June-August 2024

Digging In
A real estate developer transforms Ulster Couinty farmland into a dining and events destination. BY SABRINA SUCATO
magine you’re cruising the scenic countryside of Ulster County and after passing through charming
towns such as New Paltz and Rosendale, you veer off to quieter side streets until you arrive at your final destination: an inconspicuous driveway that leads you to Callisto Farm, 63 acres in High Falls that’s fast becoming a hub for pop-up experiences and events in the Hudson Valley.
“Callisto is a farm and gathering space,” explains founder Amalia Graziani, who named the property after a Greek nymph. A real estate developer and CEO/ principal at the NYC-based Noor Property Group, Graziani, who is in her early 30s, started her career with projects in the Hamptons, Manhattan, and San Francisco after studying real estate development and architecture at Columbia University and securing her MBA from NYU Stern.
“My [experience] in real estate makes this dream possible,” adds Graziani. While she often travels to the city for work, she considers High Falls her home base, and the perfect location to make her longtime dream come to life.
I’ve always imagined that my retirement would involve farming, keeping animals, and growing flowers, but when I passed the yellow barns, my dream was fast-tracked.
“I have loved playing in the dirt and working with plants ever since I was a child,” says Graziani, who
was born and raised in San Francisco. “I grew up helping out in the garden, and I began my agricultural education at the community garden during my undergraduate studies. I’ve always imagined that my retirement would involve farming, keeping animals, and growing flowers, but when I passed the yellow barns that are now the central hub of the property, my dream was fast-tracked. There is something so special about this land, and I knew I had to find a way to create something here.”
So how did Graziani make Callisto happen? Well first, she spent three years working on restoring arability and increasing biodiversity. Graziani repaired the acreage, ground water systems, and structures on the 1800s dairy farm, which features an eye-catching Dutch barn with an arched roof. By 2023 her efforts paid off, with the orchard fruiting and flowers and
14 TheValleyTable | June–August2024
PHOTOS (TOP TO BOTTOM) BY HARRISON LUBIN' STEPH MOSSEY