More About Us

A little more than five years ago The Lands rose from an idea within a single mind into fruition when the non-profit was granted operational control of the 412 acre farm on a lease-purchase basis. Since that day the organization faced numerous challenges ranging from the formation of the organization to the pressure to acquire the farm with a prescribed timeline to the repair of the numerous fantastic historic structures, both visible and hidden.

The Lands is blessed with hard working staff members that measure their day by progress and not hours, numerous volunteers who selflessly serve to accelerate and enhance the endeavor, a sweat equity board of directors, and incredible people who share their blessings with The Lands as they make capital and programmatic progress possible through gifting.

Over the past eighteen months The Lands acquired the property, was fortunate enough to experience multiple capital improvements, and, most importantly, experienced tremendous growth where the “rubber meets the road,” in programs and experiences for all ages that teach sustainable ways of living.

These programs and experiences range from schools students learning the importance of stewardship to the creation of new friendships resulting from volunteerism and hard work to the resurrection of useful skills lost in time, and on and on. Most of all, The Lands provides an opportunity for all to agree and strive for common progress as the value of values are beneficial to all.

Without charity and hard work none of this would be possible as these concepts generate a common bond for us. You can see a garden as a plot of soil that provides food, or you might look deeper and see it as an opportunity for stewardship, collective effort, bonding, exercise, productivity, peace, and nourishment on many levels.

The Lands is a garden of sorts for us all, provided by the charity of those who honorably choose to share their “time, treasures, and talent.” Charity is the virtuous fuel of The Lands at Hillside Farms, and The Lands honors it.