Farm Stand Farmer Feature: Tim Biello and Featherbed Lane Farm; Rooted in Intention & Stewardship

During his first year at Featherbed Lane Farm, on early mornings, you could often find Tim Biello walking the land with a coffee in hand, deep in thought. These are what he used to call his “coffee freak-out walks” … an anxious ritual of surveying the fields, barns, and greenhouses while mentally tallying the hundreds of tasks that lie ahead.

“There was a point early on,” Tim recalls, “when I was just overwhelmed by the weight of it all… modifying the barn so the draft horses could enter, figuring out irrigation, getting compost piles right, managing crop rotations. I had this moment one morning, standing out there alone, where I thought, ‘If this all fails, it’s okay. I’ve done my best.’ And somehow, that made me feel calmer. It made it all possible.”

Ten years after first walking this land as its steward, Tim’s vision has taken firm root, both literally and philosophically. Tucked into the gentle landscape of Ballston Spa, Featherbed Lane Farm is a place where the old rhythms of farming meet an uncompromising vision for the future. At the heart of it all is Tim Biello, who has spent the better part of two decades nurturing both land and community.

Tim’s path to farming began in 2006, sparked by a desire to combine physical work, ecological care, and meaningful community connection. After years of working land not his own, he acquired the Featherbed Lane property in 2015 through a lease-to-own agreement, ultimately purchasing it in 2020 after placing a conservation easement that permanently protects it from development and secures its future as a forever working farm. “Even if the whole thing goes down in flames,” Tim says with characteristic humility, “the land is protected. That’s something I’m proud of.”

Tim doesn’t farm alone. Featherbed Lane is sustained by a small, dedicated team: Tory, Yusuf, Bri, and Libby, each bringing their own care, skill, and presence to the rhythms of the farm. His partner, Jamielynn, and their children, Finnegan and Evelyn, are woven into the life of the land too.

Featherbed Lane Farm is 63 acres of mixed woods, wetlands, and fields, seven of which are now in diversified vegetable, herb, and flower production. It’s a living example of what farming can look like when it’s guided not by trends or profit margins, but by values.

Sustainability, equity, ecology, and community are woven into every row of vegetables, every bed of pollinator flowers, and every quiet moment shared with the farm’s draft horses.

A Living System, Not Just a Farm

Standing in one of the newer fields, Tim runs a hand across a cover crop… a vibrant mix of clover, rye, chicory, and field peas. “We’re always trying to do more with less disturbance,” he says. “The more I learn about soil biology, the more I realize the roots and microorganisms are running the show down there. Our job is to support them.”

That means layering rather than stripping. The farm’s signature style is one of organic abundance: diverse interplanting, minimal tillage, and constant cover. “Diversity is key,” Tim says. “The more plant families growing in the same space, the more microbial diversity you get, which helps with nitrogen fixation, nutrient access, water retention—you name it.”

He gestures toward the compost mounds, a slow, intentional system built from a blend of horse bedding, wood chips, CSA member food scraps, and farm waste. Rather than turning the piles with a loader, they’re layered and blended by hand, a weekly act of care.

“It’s a slow build,” Tim says. “But it works. And it keeps us in rhythm with the land.”

Powered by Horses, Guided by Soil

Featherbed Lane is one of only a handful of farms in the region still using draft horses for fieldwork. Bear and Duke, Tim’s two draft horses, have been with him for over a decade… Bear since 2010, Duke since 2012.

“They’re family,” Tim says. “Bears’ steady as they come. Duke has a rougher past; we think he was mistreated before we got him, but he’s come a long way. They teach me patience every day.”

The horses rotate between work, rest, and pasture. During the day, they stay cool in the barn or turnout; at night, they graze. Their manure, mixed with wood chips and bedding, fuels the compost that feeds the fields. “It’s a closed loop,” Tim says. “Sun grows grass, grass feeds horses, horses work the land, land grows food.” Their role isn’t symbolic… It’s essential. “They’re slower,” Tim says, “but they’re gentler on the soil and on the soul.”

Flowers, Food, and Community

Featherbed Lane’s crops span the full spectrum: garlic, potatoes, leafy greens, brassicas, leeks, carrots, storage roots, and more. But increasingly, flowers are claiming their place in the field. “At first I was like, ‘Why are we growing flowers? We need to grow food!’” Tim laughs. “But people love them. And I love that people love them.”

Flowers now play a practical and symbolic role, supporting pollinators, beautifying CSA shares, and deepening the emotional connection between people and their food. “Our CSA members go home with food that nourishes their families—and flowers that brighten their homes,” Tim says. “That matters. That’s part of nourishment, too.”

Even the Discovery Garden is evolving, with native plants, herbs, trellised gourds, and areas designed for children and exploration. “We’re not just growing food,” Tim says. “We’re growing relationships.”

Farming for Farmers

Perhaps the most quietly radical thing about Featherbed Lane is its work culture. “Farming is hard,” Tim says. “But people shouldn’t have to suffer to do it.”

Tim has worked on farms where a "40-hour week" meant being paid for 40 hours but working 60-80 hours. "It's not uncommon," he says. "And it burns people out."

So he built something different. “I wanted this to feel like an off-farm job,” he explains. “We track hours. We pay fairly. We offer time off. Nobody’s expected to give more than they’re compensated for.”

His vision includes eventually hiring a full-time manager, someone who could one day own the farm. “The land is conserved, so it will remain affordable,” he says. “That’s part of the vision: that this place outlives me and stays a farm, run by someone who truly cares.”

The Work You Can Taste

Ask Tim where his favorite place is on the farm, and he won’t point to a field or a greenhouse. He talks about a quiet bench near a pond at the back of the property.

“There’s this little trail through the woods,” he says. “When you sit there, it feels like the Adirondacks. You hear the birds, the wind in the trees. It reminds me why I’m doing this.” He pauses. “It’s easy to get lost in the grind. But that spot—every time I go there, I feel lucky. I’ve worked hard, yeah. But I’ve also been lucky. And I want to share that—with my family, my team, and this community.”

At Featherbed Lane Farm, every decision is made with care: the kind that shapes soil over time, that treats animals with patience, and that values people as deeply as produce. It’s not flashy. It’s not fast. But it’s the kind of work you can taste.

That’s what makes it so meaningful to offer Featherbed Lane Farm’s incredible produce at the Pitney Meadows Farm Stand. When you bring home anything grown by Tim and his team, you’re participating in something bigger: a story of land protected, of workers respected, of farming done the right way, even when it’s the hard way.

Tim’s commitment to land and community doesn’t stop at his own farm. He serves on the Advisory Council at Pitney Meadows Community Farm, offering his experience to help guide our work. He also works part-time for American Farmland Trust, advancing farmland conservation to ensure more land is protected and more farmers have a path to ownership.

Featherbed Lane reminds us that farming can be a model for how we treat the world and each other. Food can nourish more than bodies, it can nourish community, and it can nourish hope.

So when you visit the Farm Stand and pick up something grown by Tim, Tory, Yusuf, Bri, Libby, and the whole Featherbed Lane Farm family, know this: you’re holding more than just produce… you’re holding a piece of the future they’re growing, one careful season at a time!