The importance of preserving America’s agricultural and historic assets was brought to the forefront when the issue made the front page lead story of a suburban Philadelphia, PA newspaper. Historic Patterson Farm, settled in 1683 and owned by Lower Makefield township since 1998, has fallen into disrepair. The grassroots Patterson Farm Preservation, Inc. group continues to advocate for complete preservation of the farmland, restoration of the farms contributing agricultural outbuildings and its responsible perpetual stewardship.

America’s small farms such as Patterson Farm, at less than 200 acres, are critically endangered, yet vitally important to provide fresh, local produce. The USDA has evaluated the soil types on Patterson Farm and found them to be “Soils of Statewide Importance” due to their extreme fertility for food production. Only a portion of Patterson Farm’s land is currently preserved with a protective easement. None of its buildings are preserved.

Your signature on this petition tells elected officials you support perpetual preservation of the entirety of this irreplaceable American farm as a working farm and historic asset, serving present and future generations.