At Pitney Meadows Community Farm, our vision of land stewardship is “farm as ecosystem.” That means we see the land as an interconnected system of agricultural fields, forests, wetlands, meadows, gardens, wildlife, and people, where everything affects everything else. As a working farm, we aim to balance agricultural production, with habitat conservation, public access for community gardens and walking trails, as well as educational programs and community events.

When we think of the farm as an ecosystem, we consider what’s best for the long-term health of the land and strive to support natural processes when we make decisions. We also recognize that the farm is affected by and affects nearby lands and waters, notably Slade Creek, Rowland Hollow Creek, and Geyser Brook that flow through our lands into the Saratoga Spa State Park. Our core focus is soil health, because we acknowledge soil’s pivotal role in sustaining healthy plants, animals, and ultimately, the well-being of our community.

Our concept of stewardship goes beyond what we do on the land. We also see it as a commitment to engage the community in learning, celebrating, and honoring the land. We invite people to build their own connections with the land and each other in ways that are consistent with this stewardship vision.

Although the farm is conserved forever, Pitney Meadows’ stewardship of the land is temporary, connected to the past and the future. We acknowledge the past caretakers and recognize that what we do on the land affects people in our neighborhood and downstream, as well as future generations of stewards.

The Pitney Meadows Community Farm Stewardship Plan is a tool that will help us achieve a vision for the farm that will ensure its relevance for generations to come.
The purpose of this Stewardship Plan is to:

- Document the conservation and community values of Pitney Meadows Community Farm
- Integrate the Farm’s ecological, public health, and agricultural priorities and projects into a clear vision
- Create parameters for how different parts of the farm will be managed, balancing natural resources and community values on our publicly accessible working farm
- Clarify uses that are and are not allowed, what’s compatible to protect conservation values, different kinds of recreation.

Stay tuned for a live link to our full plan.