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FARM

Farm History

Community Supported Agriculture

Short-Term Goals

Long-Term Goals

Volunteer on the Farm

DONATE Tools or Machinery

The Regional Food Bank, in partnership with the Patroon Land Foundation, is working to create a viable, self-sustaining, educational farm that will produce large quantities of high quality produce every year. The Farm will enhance the Food Bank's operations while fulfilling the mission of the Patroon Land Foundation.

Farm Manager, Mark Weinheimer is in charge of managing and developing the farm, and educating the community and local schools and colleges about the farms mission and vision. The Regional Food Bank's long term goal is to create a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) on a portion of the land that will help to generate revenue to underwrite farm expenses.

Farm History

In June1997, Pauline Williman placed her family's 162 acre farm, located in the Town of Knox, into the Patroon Land Foundation, a protected land trust. The mission of the Foundation is to preserve the property as farm land and cultivate the land to grow and distribute produce, or the income from the sale of such produce, to feed the poor and hungry. The secondary purpose of the Foundation is to offer an educational opportunity for students to learn about agriculture and to participate in farming.

From 2001 to 2005, Ms. Williman managed the Farm by herself, planting corn, summer and winter squash, and pumpkins. Food Bank volunteers harvested the crops, and the Food Bank used its vehicles to transport the produce to its warehouse for distribution to member agencies.

The Regional Food Bank and the Patroon Land Foundation partnered together in 2006 to create a viable, self-sustaining, educational farm that would produce large quantities of high quality produce every year. The Farm enhances the Food Bank's operations while fulfilling the mission of the Patroon Land Foundation.

Mark Weinheimer, Farm Manager, manages the farm and educates the community and local schools and colleges about the Food Bank and the Farm’s mission and vision. In 2008, the Regional Food Bank initiated a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to generate revenue to underwrite farm expenses.

The Food Bank has embraced this challenge, growing and harvesting a wide variety of fresh, local, high quality vegetables for the hungry people it serves, while developing an educational program for the Farm. 31,833 pounds of a wide variety of produce was harvested in 2006 and 96,359 in 2007. This magical increase was possible due to Gorman Brothers organizing a team of companies to install drainage tiles on flooded fields at no cost to the Food Bank. In addition of setting a goal of 100,000 pounds of produce for the Food Bank this year, extra produce grown will be harvested for the CSA.

Community Supported Agriculture - CSA

Download the 2008 CSA Brochure

2008 will be the inaugural year for the Patroon Land Farm's Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).

A CSA is a partnership between a farm and a community of supporters. Members contribute to the farm's yearly operating budget by purchasing a share of the season's harvest. In return, the farm provides a healthy supply of seasonal fresh produce throughout the growing season. CSA'S create a relationship between people, the food they eat, the land on which it is grown, and those who grow it. CSA members reap the rewards of abundant harvests, but also share the farm's risk due to nature's uncertainties. You will not only be assured of receiving local, fresh, high quality vegetables each week during the harvest season, you will have the opportunity to meet the Farm Manager and learn about agriculture. Your membership also supports the production of fresh-from-the-farm produce for distribution to the hungry through member agencies of the Food Bank.

How the Patroon Land Farm CSA Works

• Members sign up to purchase one or more shares by completing a registration form. Shares are $400 and are limited to 50 shares in 2008
• Members will receive a weekly supply of fresh produce during the harvest season, approximately early July through late-October. A share is designed to feed a family of 3-4
• Members can pick up their weekly shares at the Farm in Knox or at the Regional Food Bank in Latham on Thursdays between 3:00-6:30pm
• In addition to weekly shares, members will have the opportunity to pick their own allotment of certain crops such as string beans, peas, cherry tomatoes, and herbs
• Members are encouraged to visit, meet the Farm Manager and volunteer

Short-Term Goals

• Raise operating funds to sustain the farm and provide long-term sustainability
• Grow a variety of quality produce
• Develop the farm into an agricultural educational landmark
• Involve local youth clubs, schools, and the general public in harvesting and farm work
• Prepare acreage for organic production
• Install fencing
• Build a barn
• Seek in-kind services to upgrade infrastructure

Long-Term Goals

• Bring additional acreage into production.
• Create a CSA to generate revenue to help underwrite farm expenses
• Develop the farm into an educational landmark
• Continue to raise funds to support the farm and provide long-term sustainability timeline
• 2007-2009: Increase the number of acres farmed, install drain tile, develop educational program
• 2008-2009: Implement a CSA

Volunteer on the Farm

Please contact:
Norah Pattison
Regional Food Bank's Volunteer Coordinator
518-786-3691 x234
norahp@regionalfoodbank.net

DONATE tools or machinery

Please contact:
Linda Comstock
518-786-3691, x245
lindac@regionalfoodbank.net