Welcome to the Patroon Land Farm

The Regional Food Bank, in partnership with the Patroon Land Foundation, manages a sustainable farm that grows large quantities of high-quality vegetables that supplies the Food Bank and 1,000 partnering agencies in 23 counties with diverse, fresh produce to people in need.

The 162-acre farm was constituted to preserve the farmland in 1997 through the Patroon Land Foundation to preserve the property, cultivate the land to grow food to feed the hungry, and educate students and the community as a whole about agriculture. In 2006, the Regional Food Bank assumed the Farm’s management.

The Farm is truly an effort of the community at large. Volunteers, private donors, corporations, and community organizations continue to support the Farm through financial and in-kind contributions. These contributions have helped build infrastructure, expand operations, and strengthen our ability to serve our neighbors in need.

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Our mission

Preserve the
farmland


In accordance with the Regional Food Bank’s strategic plan, we are committed to Pauline Williman’s vision that this land shall always be farmland.

The farm also demonstrates mission-driven agriculture through soil stewardship, responsible water use, and sustainable growing practices that help ensure the land remains productive for future generations.

Feed the
hungry

Since the partnership began in 2006, Patroon Land Farm has grown into one of the Food Bank’s most impactful, hands-on hunger-relief programs. What started as a small, volunteer-supported effort has since produced more than 1.8 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables.

All of this produce is distributed through the Regional Food Bank’s network of partner agencies, going directly to food insecure individuals and families across our 23-county service area, helping ensure access to fresh, nutritious food for those who need it most.

Provide
education


Education is a core part of the farm’s mission. Volunteers, students, and community groups help plant, harvest, and prepare food for distribution while learning about agriculture, nutrition, and hunger in our region.

The farm provides a hands-on connection between the land and the people we serve, strengthening community understanding of how food and farming support hunger relief.

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Timeline

1923

Pauline Williman’s family moves across Thompsons Lake and settles in what is now the Albany County Hilltowns, near Voorheesville. Her father starts a dairy farm and what is now the Patroon Land Farm is born.

1997

After making a trip to Ireland and seeing how a land trust benefits farmers and the land, Pauline puts the Patroon Land Farm into a land trust. This protects it and ensures that it can only ever be farmland. At the same time, Pauline ensures that there would always be a place to grow food for the hungry.

2001

The Patroon Land Foundation is created. Pauline began growing pumpkins and squash for neighbors, with volunteers supporting the early planting and harvest efforts.

2006

The Regional Food Bank assumed management of the Patroon Land Farm, officially taking over farm operations while committing to uphold Pauline’s mission, values and vision.

2008

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) comes to the Patroon Land Farm. This allows members to support the farm by buying shares of produce each week.

2010

With community help, the Packing Barn is raised, giving volunteers and staff a place to work indoors. Also, the highest yield of any season to date , 168,548 pounds of produce.

2011

The Farm constructs its first greenhouse, giving them a safer space to start seeds and increasing the germination success rate. This leads to more plants, which in turn, leads to a more produce.

2014

The repair shop and office are erected, giving staff a place to fix equipment and do farm administrative tasks.

2015

The first high tunnel is raised, extending the growing season and giving more control over the elements. The farm also passes the 1 million pounds of produce supplied to the Food Bank mark.

2019

The Farm gets an irrigation pond, holding up to one million gallons of water. This pond allows the farm to water their plants throughout the entire growing season.

2020

The Farm surpasses 1.6million pounds of food supplied to the Food Bank.

2021

A new pump house is installed, allowing water from the pond to better flow to the rest of the farm and sustain the farm during the harsh winter months. Plus, funding for the second greenhouse is secured.

2023

In October, the second greenhouse is completed, and the CSA program is discounted, ensuring that 100% of the produce grown at the Patroon Land Farm goes directly to the Regional Food Bank.

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