KEEPING THE PAST ALIVE
Fun day shares vision for future of Pitney farm
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.» Lots of local families spent their Sunday at Pitney Meadows Community Farm, enjoying its firstever Family Fun Day.
The fall event, held around the 166-acre West Avenue farm, offered horse-drawn wagon rides, an alpaca petting zoo, bounce houses and pumpkin painting for children and their families to enjoy. Attendees also had the opportunity to learn more about Pitney Meadows and the vision for its future.
That vision includes creating a school for next-generation farmers, community education programs, a year-round farm hub and nature trails, in addition to the already-established Community Gardens and public events like Family Fun Day.
Thw longtime farm, sold by the Pitney family to the nonprofit Pitney Meadows Community Farm late last year, has undergone a lot of changes in the past several months. On Sunday, visitors were able to explore the new Community Gardens, a high tunnel and the farm’s vast fields.
Gardens, a high tunnel and the farm’s vast fields.
Dan Forbush, the nonprofit’s chair of community outreach, said the purpose of Sunday’s event was to show people what’s going on at the new Pitney Meadows Community Farm, which many only remember as corn fields from the old Pitney Farm.
“It’s very different now, so we’re inviting the people in the community to see the farm and to learn our plans for the farm,” Forbush said. “It’s educational, but it’s also fun.
“We especially wanted to create an opportunity for kids, because kids are going to be a big part of the future of Pitney Meadows.”
Spa City mom Emily Matthews was curious to explore the farm on Sunday with her family. They drive on West Avenue frequently on the way to preschool, passing the farm often.
“I’ve kind of been watching as they’ve been cleaning it up,” Matthews said as her children played with some toys in the garden on Sunday.
She said she’s also observed the nonprofit inching closer to its fundraising goal, as displayed on a sign outside the entrance.
“We’ve kind of been aware and keeping our eye on it,” Matthews said, “so when I saw they were going to have a Family Fun Day I was like ‘We definitely have to go check it out and see what’s going on over there,’ because we live just like a mile away.”
When the Matthews family finally had the chance to experience it all on Sunday, they were all pleased.
“I think it’s awesome,” Matthews said. “I’m totally impressed with all of the things they have going on. I think it’s great to get families and kids outside and get them interested in gardening and not on their tablets and not watching TV. I think it’s beautiful.”
Matthews’ 4-year-old daughter, Gwendolyn, particularly liked the farm’s large fairy garden, built by local Girl Scouts as part of a recent project.
“They’ve done such a great job,” Matthews added. “It’s very cool.”
For more information about Pitney Meadows Community Farm and its other upcoming projects and events, visit www.pitneymeadowscommunityfarm.org.