Vietnam and Food Sovereignty Vietnam and Food Sovereignty

Transcription

Passages
Sustainable Food and Farming Systems
Newsletter of the
Pennsylvania
Association
for Sustainable
Agriculture
Serving the Community of Sustainable Farmers, Consumers and Businesses Throughout Pennsylvania and Beyond
Number 91
July/August 2011
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Vietnam and
Food Sovereignty
Left: Farmstead of the H’mong minority near Sapa,
Vietnam. The large shed is for water buffalo, and
the smaller for pot-bellied pigs. Note the
corn and beans being grown together, Native
American style.
Middle: Farmer near Sapa, Vietnam prepares terraced ground for rice planting with water buffalo
and single-bottom plow. And you say it was wet
here this spring?
Bottom: Street vendor In Hanoi, selling inidividually made bowls of Pho (rice noodle soup),
made with fresh ingredients and usually served
with beef (pho bò) or chicken (pho gà). Locals will
know where to find the best cooks.
By Brian Snyder
n April of this year I had an
opportunity to do something I
had wanted to do for a very long
time — travel to Vietnam. There
are several reasons I wanted to do
this, chief among them being a
desire to connect with a place I
grew up fearing in the context of the times.
I was ten years old before it even occurred to
me that perhaps not every young man in
America must eventually go off to war in
Southeast Asia, and nearly draft-age when
the Vietnam War finally ended.
I
To say the war conveniently
stopped just before I would have
signed up to go is to ignore the
fact that in many ways it still goes
on today. Probably the most stunning thing I learned on what otherwise was a very pleasant trip is
that, to this day, the Republic of
Vietnam loses more than one citizen per
week to previously unexploded artillery
deployed during a conflict that ended nearly
forty years ago. For perhaps obvious reasons,
most of those lost are children and farmers.
For us, the war goes on in very different
and less concrete ways. It still colors the way
we treat each other, affects the outcome of
significant elections, contributes to a
continued on page 4
Business Resource Guide
See page 16
Passages STAFF & OFFICE
Editor: Michele Gauger
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: Kim Seeley, Bradford County
Vice President: Jennifer Halpin, Cumberland County
Secretary: Mary Barbercheck, Centre County
Treasurer: Louise Schorn Smith, Chester County
Sara Baldwin, Adams County
Roy D. Brubaker, Juniata County
Jerry Brunetti, Northampton County
Melanie Dietrich Cochran, Cumberland County
John Jamison, Westmoreland County
Jeff Mattocks, Dauphin County
Susan Miller, Chester County
Jamie Moore, Allegheny County
Brian Moyer, Berks County
Rita Resick, Somerset County
Heidi Secord, Monroe County
At-Large Board Members
Dave Mortensen, Centre County
Stephanie Ritchie, Maryland
PASA STAFF
PASA Headquarters
Phone: 814-349-9856
Brian Snyder
Executive Director
[email protected]
Lauren Smith
Director of Development
[email protected]
Jean Najjar
Auction Associate
[email protected]
Kristin Hoy
Conference Manager/
BFBL Centre County Chapter Coordinator
[email protected]
July/August 2011
1
Director’s Corner:
Vietnam and Food Sovereignty
3
Educational Opportunities
5
PASA Conference Update
7
PASA Board Perspective
8
Sue’s View — From Over Here
9
Buy Fresh Buy Local Update
13 Food Alliance
14 Fundraising
16 Business Resource Guide
24 Regional Marketing
26 Sprouting Grain For Small-Scale
Livestock Production
Michele Gauger
Director of Membership
[email protected]
28 Book Review:
Tomatoland
Ted Palada
Member Communications Assistant
[email protected]
32 Classified Ads
Megan Epler
Business Outreach Coordinator
[email protected]
Page 1
11 Community Outreach
Page 15
33 Calendar
34 Membership Form
Rebecca Robertson
Farm Based Education Coordinator
[email protected]
Lisa Diefenbach
Human Resources Manager
[email protected]
Page 28
Amy Taylor
Office Manager
[email protected]
Susan Beal, DVM
Ag Science Advisor
[email protected]
Dan Zettle
Bookkeeping Associate
[email protected]
Matt Soccio
Information Technology Consultant
[email protected]
Community Outreach
Hannah Smith
Community Outreach Coordinator
[email protected]
Eastern Region
Phone: 610-458-5700
Marilyn Anthony
Southeast Regional Director
[email protected]
Billy Templeton
Member Services Assistant — Northeast
[email protected]
Western Regional Office
Phone: 412-365-2985
Leah Smith
Member Services Manager
[email protected]
Alissa Matthews
Western Program Assistant
[email protected]
Contributing Writers & Photographers
Linda Aleci, Susan Beal, Lisa Diefenbach, Megan Epler,
Dave Lefever, Kristin Hoy, Alissa Matthews, Sandra Miller,
Maria Montenegro, Brian Moyer, Anne & Eric Nordell, Lynn
Prior, Kim Seeley, Denise Sheehan, Hannah Smith, Lauren
Smith, Leah Smith, Brian Snyder.
Note to our Readers — If you are moving, please contact
PASA to update your mailing address. Several of our publications are sent via bulk mail service, which is not forwarded via the USPS. Contact [email protected]
or call 814-349-9856 to make an update.
Do you have a great article idea for Passages? — Want
to share a farming practice with members? We’d love to
hear from you. Please contact the newsletter staff at
newsletter@ pasafarming.org.
Reproduction of Newsletter Material — please contact
the PASA office before reprinting or distributing materials
contained in this newsletter.
Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture
P.O. Box 419
Millheim PA 16854-0419
Phone: (814) 349-9856 • Fax: (814) 349-9840
www.pasafarming.org
PASA’s Mission is…
Promoting profitable farms which produce healthy food for
all people while respecting the natural environment.
PASA is an organization as diverse as the Pennsylvania landscape. We are seasoned farmers who know that sustainability is
not only a concept, but a way of life. We are new farmers looking for the fulfillment of land stewardship. We are students and
other consumers, anxious to understand our food systems and
the choices that must be made. We are families and children,
who hold the future of farming in our hands. This is an organization that is growing in its voice on behalf of farmers in Pennsylvania and beyond. Our mission is achieved, one voice, one
farm, one strengthened community at a time.
Find Us on Facebook — http://pasafarming.org/facebook!
Deadline for September/October 2011 Issue:
September 2, 2011
Advertising Sales: Ted Palada
PASA office, [email protected]
Layout: C Factor
Passages is printed on recycled paper
2
PASA is an Equal Opportunity Service Provider and Employer. Some grant funding
comes from the USDA and complaints of discrimination should be sent to: USDA
Office of Civil Rights, Washington, DC 20250-9410.
Education Opportunities
FARM-BASED EDUCATION
What Are Field Days & Intensive Learning Programs?
Field Days are typically hosted on a farm, include a farm tour and utilize a farmer-tofarmer teaching model. Events typically run from 10am-4pm and include a meal. Field
Days are listed in the annual Farm-Based Education Calendar and are open to the public.
Intensive Learning Programs (ILP) are statewide educational events that often have a
participation limit to facilitate hands-on, focused learning. They are often hosted at farms
or in a classroom setting. ILPs may vary in length from day-long to several days, and the
fee for participation is driven according to the market, materials used and experience
level of the program.
For more information or to register visit www.pasafarming.org/farmbasededucation
or contact Rebecca Robertson, 814-349-9856 x20 or [email protected]
AUGUST
OCTOBER
August 22
Hands-on Specialized Equipment
for Vegetable Production
The Seed Farm, Lehigh Co.
October 5
Soils & the New Farmer: Building a
Solid Foundation for Your Farm
McCormick Farm, Cambria Co.
In partnership with the Seed Farm; funds provided by
EPA, region III
August 26
Niche Farming in Diverse Times: The
Role of Kunekune Pigs on a New Farm
Black Valley Farm, Bedford Co.
August 31
Intensive Learning Program —
On-Farm Poultry Processing: From
Hands-On Processing to Planning &
Exemptions
Poultry Man LLC, Union Co.
In collaboration with Penn State Cooperative Extension;
sponsored by The Fertrell Company
SEPTEMBER
September 8
Sheep: Nutrition, Handling & Health
Concerns
Owens Farm, Northumberland Co.
September 10
Growing, Harvesting & Marketing
Ginseng
Western PA, Location TBA
In partnership with Shaver’s Creek Environmental
Center
September 13
Late Season Care for Bees
Two Gander Farm, Berks Co.
Funds provided by EPA, region III
October 14 & 15
Home Cheesemaking for Beginners
Quiet Creek Herb Farm, Jefferson Co.
October 17
Innovative Farmers: Finding Creative
Solutions to Common Problems
Sunnyside Farm, York Co.
Master Classes
Organized by PASA’s Western and
Eastern regional staff, Master Classes are
shorter, regionalized educational and/
or networking events. They typically utilize the expertise of knowledgeable
area producers and local businesses and
are shorter in length than Field Days.
Master Classes are typically scheduled
on a month-to-month basis. Our Western & Eastern regions are working to
schedule more Master Classes in the
coming months so stay tuned!
Planning for Conservation & Profit: A
statewide series of PASA workshops in collaboration with the PA Natural Resource
Conservation Service (NRCS). Watch for
announcements of future workshops in
other regions of the state soon.
WESTERN REGION
August 13
Western Region Master Class —
Planning for Conservation & Profit:
Developing Diversified Farms and
Connecting to Local Resources, Information and Assistance Through NRCS
1–4:30pm
In partnership with Northeast Sustainable Agriculture
Research & Education (SARE)
Meet at Pine Run Farm:
12433 Robison Road
Conneautville, PA 16406
NOVEMBER
Finish at Fresh from the Vines:
18374 Hwy 98, Meadville, PA 16335
November 9–10
Intermediate Cheesemaking
Stone Meadow Farm, Centre Co.
Registration fee: $10; beverages &
locally-made snacks provided.
RSVP to Leah at 412-365-2985 or
[email protected]
November 14
Hands-on Beef Butchery
Jamison Farm, Westmoreland Co.
DECEMBER
December 3
Exploring Farm Leasing:
A Field Day for Farmers & Landowners
Chester Co. Economic Development Center
Offices, Chester Co.
September 28
Briars to Bovines:
Reclaiming Abandoned Farmland
Provident Farms, Tioga Co.
December 8
Community Supported Agriculture 101
Clinton County Cooperative Extension
Offices, Clinton Co.
Sponsored by The Fertrell Company
In collaboration with Penn State Cooperative Extension
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Tour two diversified farms in Crawford
County and learn how local farmers collaborated with their local Natural Resource
Conservation Service (NRCS) office and
implemented sustainable agriculture and
conservation practices into their farming
enterprises.
Workshop begins at Pine Run Farm
where Eric Rifenberrick will lead a tour of
his livestock operation. Then travel a short
distance to Fresh from the Vines and tour a
family farm owned by Rebecca & David
Vines, who grow vegetables and fruits in
gardens, fields & high tunnels.
A representative from the local NRCS
office will share information on ways that
farmers practicing sustainable agriculture
can connect to local resources, information and assistance related to conservation
planning and implementation.
Director’s Corner
Vietnam…
continued from page 1
national pessimism about the future and
for some, leaves us trying to make a difference with our lives that will somehow
balance the smoldering guilt we feel for
having survived those very eventful, troubling years.
You may wonder what all of this has
to do with sustainable agriculture. If you
wonder very long, then I suggest you
have not paid enough attention to the
state of the world today, including especially the very tight, causal relationship
between food systems and international
politics. Food is not only integral to the
survival of any species, but also of any
political system which tries to organize
people, with greatly varying results, for
the betterment of all.
It has been argued convincingly that
the so-called “Arab Spring” has as much
or even more to do with food costs as
compared to democratic fervor of any
kind. Statements like that can make one
wonder why in the United States we
seem to maintain what has been termed a
“cheap food policy.” However, those of
us with experience in the area of food
policy know that the issue is not cost
alone, but a dynamic and poorly understood mix of issues known popularly as
“food sovereignty.”
This concept has something to do
with uninterrupted access to affordable
food for any community. But it also connotes the availability of healthy variety
and the ability to choose what to eat, the
freedom, whether in whole or part, to
grow and cook one’s own food, and the
dignity of a homelike setting in which to
eat. Going beyond that, the achievement
of food sovereignty also indicates a relatively unfettered ability to produce,
process, procure, prepare and proffer
food on the open market for personal
profit.
So, getting pack to the connection
between food systems and international
politics, one could say that a community
or country is less stable if any one of the
factors involved in maintaining food sovereignty is somehow missing or unnecessarily impinged, and any country that
ADVERTISEMENT
allows such impingement, no matter how
democratic or otherwise, does so at its
own peril. The converse is true as well…I
saw with my own eyes how the Castro
brothers have been able to maintain control over Cuba for more than fifty years
in part by simply allowing people to
engage in growing high quality food
practically wherever and whenever they
wish.
Vietnam is similar to Cuba from a
food perspective, save that urban agriculture is not as prevalent or necessary,
probably due to a much larger and more
diverse land mass in general that is available for food production (if you can
avoid the aforementioned munitions).
What Vietnam may lack in terms of
urban farm plots, however, it more than
makes up for in terms of market access;
many streets in the biggest cities, including Hanoi in particular, are lined with
food vendors cooking right on the spot
and serving to passersby on what to us
would be recognized as plastic toy patio
furniture. The ambience of such eating
establishments may be lacking, but the
continued on page 6
ADVERTISEMENT
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• Materials reviews
• Quarterly Organic Matters Newsletter
• Workshops and field days
Contact us for a free info pack or to speak to
one of our certification specialists.
ASSURING the INTEGRITY of ORGANIC PRODUCTS
106 School Street, Suite 201 • Spring Mills PA 16875
814-422-0251 • [email protected] • www.paorganic.org
4
PASA Conference Update
Save the Date!
MMM… Potatoes!
PASA’s 21st Annual
Farming for the Future
Conference
February 1–4, 2012
Penn Stater Conference Center
State College, PA
sponsorship program, please contact
Kristin Hoy at [email protected]
or 814-349-9856 x11.
By Kristin Hoy, Conference Manager
Farmers understand that it’s not too early to think about dinner in
February! Leslie Zuck of PA Certified Organic (PCO) and Common
Ground Farm knows that and has planted a PASA Potato Patch. PASA
and PCO staff and friends got together in May to get those taters in the
ground and they’re making great progress. Special thanks goes out to
our friends at Patchwork Farm for donating a scoop of compost. This
kind of attention and generosity is what makes the conference meals
so delicious! A large portion of
our conference food comes from
our members. If you have plants
in the ground or animals growing for the conference food program, let us know or, better yet,
send us a picture. Questions
about donating food? Contact
Lauren Smith at [email protected] or 814-349-9856.
Top: The potato planting gang are all
smiles after getting them in the ground.
Left: Taters are up and on their way to
being your dinner in February!
Planning Underway
If you have an idea for a speaker, track
or workshop, please share it with us. To
submit an idea or learn more about this
process, please visit pasafarming.org/conference or call Kristin Hoy at 814-3499856 x11.
Sponsorships
Our conference sponsors are a very
special part of Farming for the Future.
Not only do these generous and valuable
companies and agencies provide the necessary revenue to bring our membership a
cutting edge program, but they also stand
proudly by PASA’s side in presenting this
nationally recognized event. Sponsorship
materials and information for the 2012
conference are being developed and will
be mailed to our business partners. If you
would like more information about our
5
PASA-bilities — Nominations
Needed for Sustainable Ag
Leadership Awards for 2012
One of the highlights of the Farming
for the Future conference is the presentation of the Sustainable Ag Leadership
Awards exemplifying the spirit of sustainablily in agriculture and food systems.
The PASA Board is currently accepting
nominations for two leadership awards,
one to an individual farmer (or farming
couple) and another to a business proprietor. Award winners will each be asked to
prepare an 18 to 20-minute presentation
for one of the plenary sessions, and will
receive a plaque and modest cash prize.
The PASA-bilities series is designed
with three distinct objectives in mind:
n
n
n
To hear the stories of our successful
leaders and innovators in the sustainable ag community.
To inspire farmers and business owners
in the audience to improve their operations and/or to begin transitioning to
more sustainable management.
To provide outreach to the public in
promoting sustainable agriculture.
Announcements of awards will be
made approximately one month in
advance of the conference.
The Communications Committee of
the board of directors will be receiving
and reviewing the nominations for the
awards. Please send your nominations for
either category (farm or business), complete with a brief statement explaining
why the nominee is qualified, to the committee’s chair, Brian Moyer, at
[email protected] by September 30, 2011.
Director’s Corner
Vietnam…
food is good, wholesome, and made with
fresh ingredients that are easily observed
even before ordering.
Farmers markets are also everywhere
in Vietnam, and a central part of community life. Without knowing the language, I could hardly tell if actual farmers
were always present at the markets, but it
was at least clear that most food was
being sold closer to its source that what
we consider to be the norm in this country. When it comes to meats, the almost
nonexistent use of any kind of packaging
or refrigeration makes proximity to the
farm a practical necessity.
I was quite frankly a bit overwhelmed
by the widespread availability of a
tremendous variety of meats — including
some that would be unthinkable in our
own culture — that were displayed in
massive lumps, ready for oh-so-close consumer inspection and cut to order right
out along a busy street or town square.
Let’s just say I returned from my trip
with a whole different perspective on the
issue of food safety…
Vietnamese social life closely follows
food practices. Each evening in the cities,
people not eating at home flock to their
favorite food vendors and can sit for
hours on sidewalks and along very busy
streets with their favorite friends and
foods. My nephew (with whom I traveled) and I surmised over time that some
streets were actually known for different
kinds of foods being served (e.g. there
was a dried squid alley and a literal
“Smoothie Street” in Hanoi).
One Saturday night, just to get out in
the beautiful springtime air, we walked to
the town square in the northern city of
Sapa, and were amazed to find dozens of
“barbecue” vendors serving various
meats, mushrooms and vegetables
cooked over open grills on wooden skewers. When we were privileged to eat in a
more intimate, home setting, it was clear
that certain rituals and traditions governed the meal from start to finish.
Regardless of venue, it seems that to Vietnamese people, mealtime is not an occasional interruption in a day, but the
whole point of the day itself.
Outside the cities one can find,
depending on the location, massive agricultural operations aimed at producing
rice, tea, coffee, rubber or other products
destined both for domestic and export
markets. But in many areas there is an
equally massive array of smaller, diversified farms producing not only food, but
also crops for fiber and natural dyes (like
indigo) in support of local craft markets
and indigenous textile needs.
There are numerous different communities of original peoples throughout
the country that are known collectively as
the “minorities.” Anyone used to thinking of Vietnam as neatly divided into a
northern and southern cultural heritage
would be amazed to see just how diverse
a society this really is. There seemed to be
widespread poverty among the minorities, at least in terms of how we define it,
but a common reliance on small-scale
agriculture for both daily food and very
basic commercial activity prevailed. We
learned, for instance, that the common
price paid in one community by a potential groom to the family of his wife-to-be
is one fully grown water buffalo, which
by the way can be purchased at some of
the weekly markets. But differences
between one minority and another
abound, including expectations regarding
which partner of a new marriage must
leave home and join the other family.
There are things about everyday Vietnamese life that are troubling to sustainably-minded observers as well. We were
told that just a decade ago, the most common modes of transportation in many of
the cities were human powered (walking
and bicycles), though they are now
choked beyond comprehension with a
combination of automobiles and thousands of individually owned and noisy
motorbikes. In the countryside we found
many of the rivers and streams equally
choked with discarded plastic containers
and shopping bags…when we asked
about this, an interpreter just said “the
water takes it away.” And then there is
the persistent street vending of mostly
useless crafts that can only be properly
described as begging.
Some of these negative aspects of the
trip caused me to do the most thinking.
They were all recent additions to an
evolving society — post-war at the very
least — and they were all reflections of
values learned from the Western world.
6
Which leads me to another troubling
observation…areas along the coastline in
particular are undergoing rapid development of such horrific proportions,
involving foreign investment in luxury
resorts and golf courses, that it’s difficult
to imagine where all the people will come
from to patronize these establishments.
There is no doubt whatsoever, though,
where the people who clean rooms, wait
on tables and hold the doors for visitors
will originate.
I sit writing this memoir on the
Fourth of July, and am actually typing
these words as the evening sights and
sounds of celebration across the countryside ensue. We are indeed very proud of
our hard-earned freedom and independence in this country, but so often forget
about the real cost of our chosen lifestyles
to the rest of the world, and since the
world is shrinking all the time, the cost
ultimately to ourselves. Every now and
then you’ll hear a foreign policy expert
explain problems in other parts of the
world as “they just want to live like we
do.” After my trip, I have a keen sense of
what that description means.
Bringing this back to the topic of food
sovereignty, I have to say that I saw some
things in Vietnam, similar to what I had
seen in other “third world” countries
before, that really deserve our earnest
attention. It will not be possible for citizens of Western countries to continually
improve their standard of living on the
backs of other peoples, spurring social
disruption and great environmental costs
— not to even mention the wars that
would be necessary to protect what we
have — that our children cannot and
should not be expected to bear.
Instead, we should notice some of
the simpler realities that have held
nations together, even when things were
not going so well. I’m talking about
things like widespread, diversified and
scale-appropriate farming that produces
food near where people live and wish to
consume it. That, plus the freedom to
make a decent living by serving one’s
neighbors as oneself, and the dignity to
enjoy a variety of healthy foods in a
homelike environment surrounded by
one’s family and friends.
How many wars will it really take for
us to learn those most basic necessities of
being human? n
PASA Board Perspective
How to Rebuild
By Kim Seeley,
PASA board president
A
s most of you know our farm store
and dairy processing facility suffered
extensive damage from a fire on March
23. Over the last few months our family,
with the help of many others, has begun
the rebuilding process. One of my
cousins from Florida asked me the other
day if there was ever a doubt about
rebuilding. As I recreate the events in my
mind, I remember watching the flames
and already starting to create a plan of
cleanup and redesign. I told people at the
fire we must rebuild because what we are
doing is too important to quit.
What we were doing was producing
affordable, sustainable, food for all people, while respecting our natural environment. How hard could it be to want to
continue doing good work and nourishing our surrounding communities? Who
else would fill our void? On this day,
many weeks later, hundreds of people
have asked how soon they will be able to
get their dairy products again.
However this perspective is not about
our farm’s setback.
I would like to compare our rebuild to
what needs to happen for the world’s
food and energy systems. When we
started rebuilding there were many things
to consider. What do we want to change?
How can we make our energy dependency smaller while we become more
productive? How can we offer even
higher quality food choices for our
community? How do we create a new
model which benefits our children?
These same questions can be used in any
rebuilding scenario.
During a rebuild there is a need for
strength, determination and perseverance. A blueprint for the perfect rebuild
doesn’t exist. Changes will happen. Plans
need to be amended. If the desired outcome is a better future for our children,
get them involved. When you know what
you want, stand your ground with regulators when you know you must.
Our food systems need rebuilding.
Our farms need all of our help to continue feeding our children’s future with
the healthiest food possible. Organizations like PASA need all our collective
efforts to continue facilitating the important work necessary to insure the countryside we live near remains sustainable.
Our energy culture also needs rebuilding. After witnessing the last several years
of exploitation I can testify, money can
be a powerful sedative. Influential local
and state decision makers with land holdings quickly quit asking questions about
what happens to the land, as long as they
get a check payment each month.
What I have seen already reminds me
of the current status of industrialized
agriculture. The gas (food) is extracted
(produced) without concern for water
(soil) contamination. The workers (farmers) are only a necessary resource to generate huge profits for the few companies
who control the end result. Seldom
do the decision makers live in the
community, or even take notice of
the long-term environmental ramifications that their grandchildren will have to
live with. Let me make it clear, some
energy (food) companies are more
responsible than others.
Yes, we need energy for our world
every day. However, the history of ravaging our resources is well documented. I
live in the epicenter of the Marcellus
drilling invasion. Will my countryside
remain sustainable? If I have a say it will.
Our countryside will only remain sustainable if all of us say so!
Everyone needs to get involved in the
dialogue. All of you need to educate
yourself to what is going on and to
demand a sustainable outcome. Thanks
to all of you who have stepped up and
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voiced your opinions. The quest for
energy should be controlled, cautious
exploration, not greedy, opulent exploitation. Yes, technology has allowed us to
drill deeper than ever, but with it comes
uncontrolled, gas migratory issues, which
are well documented as the cause of
drinking water issues. Proper drilling
technology, coupled with an honest
method for traceability of water contamination has to be a mandate. Violators
need to be heavily fined.
Dumping “fracking” water into
streams and rivers should be totally
stopped. Let’s insist that energy companies build mobile water treatment plants
to properly do the job at their expense.
Movable plants would eliminate much of
the excessive truck traffic, which is currently wrecking public roads and causing
traffic chaos everywhere.
You and I need to continue to become
educated and remain passionate about
how we want our countryside to look.
It is time for rebuilding our culture.
Let’s stand together and create the blueprint that we need for food and energy
sustainability. It won’t happen without
hard work.
As we looked at the charred remains
of our store, we saw a mess but we also
saw an opportunity to rebuild a better
outcome. Throughout the process,
countless PASA members have provided
help, hope and ideas. Our new building
will be extremely energy efficient,
designed with a new production flow,
and enhanced to serve our customers
more fully. Our old outdated building
will allow for expansion, and will help
educate others about energy usage.
Throughout every step of our rebuild, I
allow our boys to help with the decisionmaking, and ask for their vision about
what they want the outcome to be.
In early July you received an informational letter from PASA via email or surface mail. If you didn’t have a chance to
read it yet, please take the time. PASA is
continuing to build relationships and
networks. You and I are an important
resource for fueling PASA’s future. With
our exemplary staff, and responsible
Board of Directors, we have the necessary
components to continue rebuilding a sustainable countryside. My thanks to you
ALL for your efforts. n
Sue’s View —
From Over Here
By Susan Beal, DVM
I
t seems like just last week we were
warming up for the Memorial Day
weekend, wading through mud and
dodging — or not — the torrents of raindrops. Now here it is — July, and we’re
striding on some pretty dry ground and
looking for slow, steady rains.
A few things of note in a very notable
time since my last writing…PASA was
fortunate to host Ian Mitchell-Innes for a
series of Intensive Learning Programs
within our Farm-Based Education schedule in late May. Mitchell-Innes is a
rancher from South Africa who is one of
the gurus of holistic management (holisticmanagement.org) and mob grazing,
and who has been generous with his
knowledge and experience with farmers
and ranchers worldwide. While he
ranches on a scale foreign to most of us
— tens of thousands of acres and thousands of head of hoofed stock — his
experience can be translated to far more
modest venues.
Dianne & Kim Miller of Kananga
Farm in Westmoreland County hosted
the first series of mob grazing discussions,
which included over 70 people from 10
states, plus Canada. Ian discussed the
dynamics of how grassland ecologies and
biologies function, how to manage grazing to optimize the influence of mass animal impact, how to “build a haystack” in
front of the herd so that we can get out of
the rut that happens when we are “chasing grass” around a farm.
By both theory and observation, Ian
showed us how stock will, when given the
chance, select the forage in a manner that
fulfills their needs for performance, typically eating the energy dense top third of
the plant first, then — if forced or as
needed for some balance — coming back
to that plant to take another bite of the
more nitrogen rich parts of the plant. He
reminded us that it’s our responsibility to
manage for that animal performance too.
The Millers have made adjustments to
their grazing management, which offered
a lesson in action, looking at changes in
cattle fill and condition that happened,
literally in hours, after the seemingly
minor changes in how the pasture was
presented the herd.
We also spent some time at our desks,
doing some financial planning work and
concentrating on learning how to actually do some grazing plans. That way,
folks have a framework of how the rest
periods for their pastures will unfold and
will also be able to make adjustments and
retrospective analyses over time.
The entire Intensive Learning Program was a feast — for the mind, the
senses, the belly (special thanks to
Dianne & Kim for going the extra mile
to have all locally sourced food for the
meals) and it really provided some impetus and hope for the folks in the audience. Anytime one can be out in the
pasture with stock and grass is a good day
for sure — but this time with Ian and the
rest of the group at Kananga Farm was
stellar.
After the time at the Millers’, Ian traveled to another PASA member farm in
Lancaster County, Spring Wood Farm,
home of Lucy & Roman Stoltzfoos, for
the second mob grazing event. About
160 folks gathered for a day of Ian’s experience and ideas. We spent some time in
the barn then trundled out on the pasture
to check cattle, forage, and soils. It was
another marvelous day with lots of conversation, lots of information and lots of
good food and fellowship.
From the calls and emails I’ve been
getting, it seems to me that folks found
exceptional value in these sessions and
put their new knowledge right to work
the minute they got home. In fact, some
of the folks made calls during the meet8
ings to those back home to change the
old way to the new way…very exciting
stuff!
It is hard to put lessons learned during
these mob grazing events in a few words,
but some of the mantras are: “there is no
silver bullet”; “fast growth, fast moves”;
“slow growth, slow moves”; “animal performance, animal performance, animal
performance”; “likely the animals are not
hot — they are panting and have dripping noses because they have relatively
too much protein and not enough energy
(move them faster, give them more selection)”; “men are not smarter than animals — animals know their needs, be
that for food or mineral — our job is to
provide them that choice”; “for more
trampling, put cattle into a paddock from
the narrow end of a long paddock and for
more grazing, put them in a wider paddock”; “most importantly: figure out
how you want it to be and then make
sure all of your plans and actions work
toward that ultimate goal.”
Other activities where I have been
focusing my attention have been around
the funding PASA received from the Colcom Foundation for a series of workshops on Marcellus Shale in our Western
Region (see page 25). The first workshops
of the series were facilitated by Byron
Shelton and involved examining goals for
the farm and looking at a means by
which one can test decisions to ensure
that they resonate with, and are supportive of, those longer term goals. The second series in the slate of four happened in
July, which focused on environmental
monitoring training so citizens can help
keep track of potential changes that
might result from drilling, fracking and
development of the Marcellus Shale (or
other activities that might have environmental influence).
These workshops have not only
gained some attention locally and nationwide, but also internationally. Leah
Smith (PASA’s Western region member
services manager) and I met a few weeks
ago with a delegation of Quebecois farmers from the Quebec UPA (L’Union des
Producteurs Agricole) who had traveled
to PA with the specific desire to investigate how the deep gas development is
affecting farmers and the farming community. The Utica Shale, a formation
Continued on page 25
What is Buy Fresh Buy Local®?
PENNSYLVANIA BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL®
How to Plug In
Buy Fresh Buy Local chapters in Pennsylvania are coordinated by PASA, on behalf of our national partner, FoodRoutes
Network. To explore your region’s food system further, hear
about upcoming events and find more ways to get involved,
visit buylocalpa.org
The Pennsylvania Buy Fresh Buy Local® program has been celebrating the
abundance found in our Commonwealth since 2002, with the aim of making it easier for Pennsylvania consumers to find, choose and appreciate
great local foods…and to support the farmers and lands which produce
them. Currently there are 13 active chapters in Pennsylvania. We create
local food guides (both in print and online) and organize events (such as
farms tours or tastings), among other activities. To learn more about
what's going on in your region, contact one of the local chapter coordinators listed below. For information on Buy Fresh Buy Local® chapters and
activities outside of PA, visit FoodRoutes.org.
Be Sure You are Listed —
get on the map at www.buylocalpa.org
Thousands of eager eaters each month use the map-based
search tool on www.buylocalpa.org to find local foods near
them in markets, stores, restaurants and direct from local
growers. Shouldn’t they also find your business there?
Even if you have your own website or Internet listings elsewhere, you don’t want to turn down the additional free exposure you’ll get through a profile on our site — the online home
of the Pennsylvania Buy Fresh Buy Local program.
Signing up is quick and easy: visit www.buylocalpa.org/
getonthemap
n Fayette & Greene Counties
Fay-Penn Economic Development
Council
Chapter Coordinators
Bob Junk
[email protected]
724-437-7913 x227
or
Jessica Steimer
[email protected]
724-437-7913 x222
Already on buylocalpa.org? Be sure your listing is up to date!
If your business is already listed on www.buylocalpa.org,
check to be sure that your information has been updated and
you are using all the available tools. Consider uploading a picture of your business to further personalize your profile.
n Greater Lehigh Valley
Nurture Nature Center
Chapter Coordinator
Lynn Prior
[email protected]
610-703-6954 or
[email protected]
Serving Berks, Lehigh and
Northampton Counties
Chapter Updates
n Lancaster County
Local Steering Committee, with
the assistance of the Local Economy
Center, Franklin & Marshall College
Chapter Coordinator
Linda Aleci 717-291-4293
or 717-380-7280
[email protected]
CHESTER COUNTY
Bike Fresh Bike Local — Chester County
Like to ride? Love local food?
Sign up for a fabulous bike tour of the Chester County
countryside and a celebration of local foods. PASA’s 4th
Annual Bike Fresh Bike Local ride is set to take place on Sunday, September 25th, 2011. Choose from a 25, 50 or 75 mile
ride beginning and ending at Victory Brewing Co. in Downingtown, followed by a delicious meal of local food and 1 (one)
complementary, Award Winning Victory beer (for those 21
years or older). Guaranteed fun!
Cost: $40 advance registration, available until September
19th (includes ride souvenir) $45 day of event registration
includes ride and lunch. Space is limited, reserve at: www.pasafarming.org/bikefresh. All proceeds benefit PASA.
n Northeast Region
The University of Scranton
Small Business Development Center
Maria Montenegro
570-941-7588 or
[email protected]
or
Lisa Hall 570-941-7588 or
[email protected]
Serving Lackawanna, Monroe, Pike and
Wayne Counties
n Northern Tier
Chapter Coordinator
Northern Tier Cultural Alliance
[email protected]
570-265-7455
Serving Bradford, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming Counties
GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY CHAPTER
n Philadelphia
Fair Food
Christina Dowd
215-386-5211 x106
[email protected]
or
Annemarie Vaeni
215-386-5211 x111
[email protected]
Taste of the Lehigh Valley
September 25 • 12–5pm
Melt Restaurant, Center Valley, PA
$35 per person / $30 in advance; VIP $60 per person
Sample the freshest, tastiest farm-to-table cuisine from the
finest chefs of the Greater Lehigh Valley while visiting all three
floors of Melt Restaurant, including the rooftop lounge.
Twenty-five restaurants will present menu items including at
least two locally-grown ingredients, including main proteins.
Local beverage samples also provided (wine, beer, and cider).
There will be three “seatings”: a 12–1 pm VIP hour
followed by two regular seatings. Menu items will be judged
n South Central
Cheryl Burns
[email protected]
Chapter Coordinator
[email protected]
717-241-4361
Serving Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin,
Franklin, Lebanon, Juniata and Perry
Counties
continued on page 10
9
n Southeastern Pennsylvania
(including Chester County’s Chapter)
Chapter Coordinator
Marilyn Anthony
[email protected]
610-458-5700 x305
Serving Bucks, Chester, Delaware
and Montgomery Counties
n Valleys of the Susquehanna
(including Centre County’s Chapter)
Chapter Coordinator
Kristin Hoy
[email protected]
814-349-9856 x11
Serving Centre, Clinton, Columbia,
Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties
n Western Pennsylvania
PASA Chapter Coordinator
for Southwest PA:
[email protected]
for Northwest PA:
[email protected]
412-365-2985
Serving Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver,
Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest,
Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer,
Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington
and Westmoreland Counties
n York County
York County Agriculture Business
Council
Chapter Coordinator
Brandi Miller
[email protected]
717-858-8152
n Statewide Program
Coordination
Contact:
[email protected]
For website support contact:
[email protected]
Buy Fresh Buy Local® chapters in
Pennsylvania are coordinated by the
Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable
Agriculture, on behalf of their national
partner, FoodRoutes Network. To
explore your region's food system further, hear about upcoming events and
find more ways to get involved, please
visit our website — www.buylocapa.org
— or contact one of the folks listed
above.
Taste of the Lehigh Valley
during the VIP hour by five guest judges,
including cookbook author, Rita Calvert
(The Grassfed Gourmet Fires It Up). Vote
for your own favorite with the People’s
Choice Award.
Also come meet the farmers! Participating dining establishments will have
one of their farmers at their table, helping
consumers make the connection between
local farms and the food we eat.
BFBL–GLV and Melt are proud to use
biodegradable dishes, cups, and cutlery,
which will be composted along with any
food waste. Proceeds benefit the Greater
Lehigh Valley chapter of Buy Fresh Buy
Local.
For more information and to purchase
tickets, please visit www.BuyLocalGreaterLehighValley.org.
LANCASTER COUNTY
By Linda Aleci
Lancaster Buy Fresh Buy Local
(BFBL) launched our spring and early
summer season with events featuring the
grape, the hop, the release of the 20112012 Guide to Local Foods, a new food
security initiative and a flurry of press.
On March 26, BFBL Partner Waltz
Vineyards hosted a tour of their vineyards with Extension Services Viticulturalist Mark Chien, followed by wine
tastings and an all-local foods dinner prepared by Plum Street Gourmet, another
BFBL Partner. For afficionados of the
hop, The Candy Factory in downtown
Lancaster held the first annual Homebrewers Ball to a sell-out crowd: pairing
local homebrews with local foods, the
event was a benefit to help support the
work of Lancaster BFBL.
May included a launch party for the
release of the newest, expanded edition of
the chapter's Guide to Local Foods at
Fenz Restaurant and Latenight, one of
Lancaster's newest BFBL Restaurant
Partners.
In June, Lancaster BFBL and 5 of its
Partners--Harry Edwards (My Neighbor's Garden), Andrew Buckwalter
(Buckhill Farm CSA), Selina Mann (Café
Chocolate), Jay Nonnenmocher (Lititz
Farmers Market) and Betsey Stehrenfeld
(Essen) were also featured on current
events program "Behind the Lines" (Blue
Ridge Cable 11) and on Fox43 News,
while the work of neighborhood grocery
store Expressly Local Food got a 2-page
spread in the July/August issue of NetZero Magazine.
This summer, Lancaster Buy Fresh
Buy Local will focus on "Food for All,"
an initiative to get locally-grown foods
into households that are struggling to put
fresh foods on their tables. The chapter is
teaming up with the national organization Ample Harvest, the Lancaster
County Council of Churches, the Central Penn Food Bank, and Lancaster's
Hunger Coalition, to connect Lancaster's
extended network of household growers,
CSA subscribers, farms, restaurants, and
others with local food pantries.
NORTHEAST CHAPTER
The Northeast Region Chapter of
Buy Fresh Buy Local held its third annual
Local Harvest Dinner on July 23 at
Miller’s Orchards Farm Market. The
event included, dinner, a farm tour,
entertainment and vendors.
WESTERN CHAPTER
5th Annual Western PA Buy Fresh
Buy Local Farm Tour Announces
Two New Dates in September!
The 5th Annual Buy Fresh Buy Local
Farm Tour in Western Pennsylvania
showcases sustainable agriculture in the
region and invites consumers to take a
“behind the barn look” at where their
food comes from, who is growing it, and
how it is grown! Farm Tour is an opportunity for producers in the region to meet
new customers and local foods enthusiasts, demonstrate their sustainable growing practices to the public, and highlight
the diversity of agriculture in the region.
New this year, PASA and the Western
Buy Fresh Buy Local program are coordinating two regional tours in September
to celebrate Local Food Month! Mark
your calendars for the following dates.
n September 10, 2011:
Northwest PA Farm Tour
Butler, Beaver, Clarion, Crawford,
Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer,
Venango, and Warren Counties
10
n September 17, 2011:
Southwest PA Farm Tour
Allegheny, Armstrong, Fayette,
Greene, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties
For more information contact Alissa
Matthews at [email protected] or
412-365-2985
n Local Food Month
During September 2011, Western PA
Buy Fresh Buy Local Chapter’s 6th
Annual Local Food Month is a celebration of locally grown, seasonal foods and
the people who produce them. This is a
wonderful opportunity for increased
business exposure and we’d love to have
you involved this year!
Our members, partners, and friends
work with us to create a full calendar of
fun and educational events that highlight
local foods, farms, food businesses and
other awesome events in Western Pennsylvania. We create beautiful marketing
materials and print 1000 Local Food
Month calendars and a few hundred
posters advertising all of the events and
distribute them across the region, promoting all of the events from Erie down
to Greene County!
This year’s already scheduled highlights include two regional Farm Tours, a
Harvest Dinner at Eleven to benefit
PASA, local farm and restaurant partnerships for the Steel City Big Pour, a Sustainable September film series, farmers
market events, cooking classes, special
dinners, tours and other educational programs.
Get your farm, business or organization involved today!
• Host an event and help us fill up the
month-long calendar!
• Contribute! A variety of sponsorship
opportunities are available!
• Help us spread the word about all of the
exciting events!
For more information or if you are
interested in helping the Western
Regional Office celebrate Local Food
Month in your area this year, please contact the Western Pa Buy Fresh Buy Local
Chapter Coordinator, Alissa Matthews
by phone at 412-365-2987 or by e-mail
at [email protected].
Community Outreach
How Can You Help PASA Become the
People’s Association for Sustainable Agriculture?
By Hannah Smith
As you may be aware, PASA is opening its doors to the
broader community in all sorts of exciting ways. While the
organization will always be farmer driven and focused (reserving
voting privileges for our membership), growing PASA’s supporter base benefits the entire organization. We are doing this
by getting creative about how we welcome the rest of the community to support our work. Providing a wide variety of community outreach activities, not exclusively but primarily
directed at consumers, builds important relationships and
strengthens us. So, for example, providing programming and
services for consumers who, in turn, advocate for or support the
organization financially has myriad benefits. Consumers can
serve as a driving force in our communities for everything from
advocating for increased local food access to directing monies
toward strengthening our local food web. Of course, without
consumers, the market for local foods doesn’t exist.
Another promising initiative is partnering with likeminded
organizations to offer mutually beneficial programs and services
that are aimed at new membership growth for both organizations. In the works are partnerships with farm CSAs, environmental organizations, healthcare programs and educational
institutions. Please let me know if your farm or organization
would be a good fit for this opportunity.
Hannah Smith is heading
up PASA’s Community
Outreach efforts.
Two things you can do to broaden the PASA
supporter base and grow your farm/business:
1. Get on the buylocalpa.org map so consumers can find
you (see information on the Buy Fresh Buy Local® program
on page 9). There are currently over 4,000 registered users
on the site; make sure they know where you are.
2. Talk to your customers about PASA and encourage them
to support the organization. The more our local communities know about us and support our work, the more
resources we have available to offer our farmer/business
membership.
Contact me today with your ideas!
Hannah Smith, [email protected].
Community Outreach Programs and Services in the Works…
WORKSHOPS:
COMMUNICATIONS:
NETWORKING:
Homemaker & Homesteader:
l
l
l
Lacto-fermentation
l
Backyard Chickens
l
Beekeeping
l
Cheesemaking
l
Canning & Processing
l
Soapmaking
l
Herbal Remedies
l
Greater emphasis on social
media: Facebook, Twitter,
Podcasts, Google+, etc.
Personalized eNewsletters
with seasonal product updates
from local food providers, as
well as insider info on food &
beverage tastings, farm tours
and other local food events
Environmental/Sustainability:
l
Backyard Conservation
l
Home Energy Saving
l
In-person social networking
events such as book signings
& film showings, food access
fundraisers, and “get to know
your local farmer / local
business” socials
“Community Table” interview
series where we are intentional
about connecting people from
the same region
(see page 12)
And More!
For more information, contact Hannah Smith: [email protected]; PO Box 60576, Harrisburg, PA 17106-0576; 717-250-0725.
11
Community Outreach
A Sit Down at the Community Table:
An Interview Series Welcoming Our Newest PASA Supporters
Welcome, South Central PA Supporters:
Stef Mihalcik; Meghan Reedy & Chris Stamas
By Hannah Smith
Hannah: First, let me say, “welcome” and
thank you for your support of PASA and all
the farmers, businesses, and consumers
served by the organization. Before we get
started, will you each talk a bit about who
you are, your work, and in what ways you
are involved in your local communities?
Meghan: Chris and I live in Carlisle. I
teach in the classical studies (Latin and
Greek) department at Dickinson College
in Carlisle. My main involvement with
the local community at the moment is as
a board member for Carlisle’s Farmers on
the Square farmers market.
Chris: I am a freelance graphic designer
(www.68-east.com), illustrator, and
recently designed the interior of the Gaia
Fresh Food Cafe on Pomfret Street in
Carlisle. I’m behind the Farmers on the
Square farmers market logo and website
and most of my work with the market is
volunteer.
Stef: I live in Harrisburg and my work is
in contract oversight of state-funded drug
and alcohol treatment. My main community involvement has been volunteering at The Circle School in Harrisburg
for the past nine years — from fundraising to landscaping. I’ve also done community service work at Habitat for
Humanity, local food pantries, the
YWCA, and the Capital Area Greenbelt
Association. Picking up trash when I
walk my dog is probably my most frequent and longstanding service to my
community.
Hannah: Great. Let’s get started by talking
a bit about where you buy your local foods.
Stef: I love the Broad Street Market
(www.broadstreemarket.org). My mom
roller-skated to the Broad Street Market
in the 50’s to get fresh eggs for her mom.
The history and atmosphere there seeps
into your pores. Margaret Kocevar’s
stand is my favorite for plants and fruit
(Margaret started working at her parents’
stand at the market in 1935, when
she was 5). I also have a share with Jade
Family Farm (www.jadefamilyfarm.com/
share). I know they are PASA members
and grow organically. They have a CSA
and deliver to several locations in the
Harrisburg area as well as have a stand at
the Boalsburg Market near State College.
Joshua Farm (www.joshuagroup.org/
joshua_farm) is another great resource for
fresh, local, organic veggies in the City,
itself. It also involves city youth as part of
its mission.
Stef Mihalcik
Meghan (and Chris): We get our food
from a few main places: we have a small
CSA share from Dickinson College
Farm (www.dickinson.edu/about/sustainability/college-farm), which accounts
for over half of our vegetables throughout
the spring/summer/fall. Most other
things we need (vegetables, cheese, and
meat), we get from Farmers on the
Square (www.farmersonthesquare.com),
which is downtown in Carlisle on
Wednesday afternoons from spring
through late fall. And, then, for a few
things (milk, mostly) we visit a local
farm. The Appalachian Whole Foods
store in town is where we get most other
things — canned goods and so on.
Hannah: Tell me how your families came
to make buying locally a priority.
Stef: The more I became educated about
the sources of the food in the huge chain
grocery stores: the distance the food travels, the methods of growing and raising
food on a mass scale and the negative
effects on the earth (and lesser nutritional
value those methods have), the more I
became committed to seeking out local
and organic sources of food. I have been
a flower/ornamental gardening enthusiast
for years, and branching out into growing
more of my own food has made it abundantly clear that the taste and freshness of
locally sourced food just can’t be beat.
The first bite of a carrot, fresh from the
earth in my own backyard, convinced me
of that. And growing your own food is so
easy and inexpensive! I’ve grown pounds
of heirloom lettuce varieties (www.seedsavers.org is an excellent source for seeds)
12
Meghan Reedy & Chris Stamas
in pots throughout my limited yard space
this spring, at the cost of only a few dollars. Many townships also offer free composts and mulches made from the yard
waste/leaves they collect throughout the
year- amending the soil makes all the difference. Oh, and an investment in rain
barrels really pays off in the dry summer
months.
In about 500 sq feet of earth and pots,
I grow: carrots (my favorite this year is
“Paris Market”), radishes, about a dozen
varieties of heirloom greens and just
about as many heirloom tomatoes, peas,
cucumbers, watermelon, blackberries,
strawberries, basil and an untold number
of perennial flowers and herbs.
Meghan: We buy local food because it
seems like the best thing to do on so
many levels: first of all, because there is so
much really fantastic food near us —
buying local is the best way to get the best
quality ingredients. At the same time, I
really value being able to participate in
Food Alliance
Food Alliance Certification ‘Right Thing to Do’ for Fruit Farm
By Dave Lefever
When Ben Wenk graduated from Penn State in early
2007 with a degree in agroecology, he wanted to bring his
expertise back to his family’s seventh-generation fruit farm
in northern Adams County. He wanted to help turn the
farm into an enterprise of the future.
“I didn’t want to come back and just draw another paycheck,” he says. True to his word, in four years Ben has
taken a major hand in expanding Three Springs Fruit
Farm’s direct marketing operations. The farm’s wide variety of fruits now can be found not only at local farmers
market spots such as Carlisle, but also in major cities within
a two-hour radius, from Philadelphia to Baltimore and
Washington D.C.
With Ben’s initiative, the farm last year became one of
just a handful of farms east of the Mississippi River certified
by Food Alliance, a voluntary certification program based
on standards that define sustainable agriculture practices.
One afternoon this past June, Ben took some time out of
his busy day to explain exactly what that means. But first, a
little background.
Ben Wenk’s enthusiasm for sustainable fruit production and direct
marketing led him to apply for Food Alliance certification on Three
Springs Fruit Farm.
try out new IPM techniques, including beneficial organisms. “We were trying all kinds of new and exciting things,”
Ben says. IPM has been and continues to be an ongoing
practice on the farm. While Penn State has proven that it
is possible to grow tree fruit organically in the region, it
hasn’t shown that it can be consistently profitable on a
commercial scale.
At one point within the last couple of years, Ben’s
Getting Credit Where It’s Due
During his summers home from college, Ben worked for
the nearby Penn State fruit lab in Biglerville, where he
developed a strong interest in IPM, or integrated pest management. Scientists even used Three Spring Fruit Farm to
ADVERTISEMENT
13
Fundraising
Summer FARM START Embraces Growing
Season With Good Will & Enthusiasm
In its third year, the PASA Summer
FARM START became a season of its
own, with an inspired statewide series of
events. Starting mid-May and ending
mid-June, FARM START was PASA’s
opportunity to shine a light on the significance of family farms and local food systems in Pennsylvania, and give the public
a variety of ways to experience the beginning of farming season.
This year FARM START featured 48
events, “which felt like a big success”
stated Lauren Smith, Director of Development. “We were excited about the
quantity and quality of events that represented our 2011 FARM START, and
were honored to attract 10 Sponsors this
year. We plan to increase both next year,”
she added. “Most importantly, the series
was promoted on the PASA website and
the interactive map showcasing the
events received over 14,300 hits during
the season, which impressed us!”
This year’s Summer FARM START
events included tours of various farms,
presentations on a sustainable food system, and a statewide “Meet the Cheesemaker” tour featuring 10 farmstead
cheesemakers around the state. “People
are so ready for artisan and farmstead
cheese,” says Sue Miller of Birchrun Hills
Farm in Chester County. “There’s a huge
potential for growth.” To celebrate this
unique opportunity for dairy farmers and
eaters, Miller coordinated 10 cheesemaking farmsteads from across the state to
open up their farms to visitors. The tour
event was designed to draw attention to
these Pennsylvania farmers at the beginning of their high season.
Another featured FARM START
event was “Art on the Farm” held at
Dickinson College Farm, which married
food, farm and art. (See Ways to Give
page 15.)
The Summer FARM START Closing
Ceremony, or “the end of the beginning,” as PASA Executive Director Brian
PASA in connecting people and providing learning opportunities for sustainable
farmers. He also talked about how the
organization has been growing and makSnyder put it, took place on the first day ing a larger impact on the state’s agriculof summer at Meadowset Farm & Apiary ture since it began in the mid-1990s.
in southern Chester County.
“On a summer day, to have this kind
A highlight of the afternoon gathering of turnout and the secretary of ag
included a visit from Pennsylvania here…we’ve come a long way,” Ned told
Department of Agriculture (PDA) Secre- the group of about 60 people.
Other sponsors of the
FARM START included
Kimberton Whole Foods,
Fertrell Company, and
PNC Bank, a major event
supporter. Four Seasons
Produce was the Kick Off
Partner.
The beauty of the Summer FARM START series
is how it can bring people
Summer FARM START Sponsors enjoyed the afternoon closing together at a time when
ceremony at Meadowset Farm. Pictured (left to right): Jeff Matthey normally wouldn’t be
tocks of Fertrell, Terry Brett of Kimberton Whole Foods, Dave Mat- gathering, according to
tocks of Fertrell, PASA Executive Director Brian Snyder, Ned
Dave Mattocks of Fertrell.
MacArthur of Natural by Nature, and Kathy Cross of PNC Bank.
“It’s a good opportunity to
tary George Greig, who spoke about his get people out and mingling more than
background in dairy farming and how he once a year at the conference.”
Meadowset Farm & Apiary is a 28is working to bring “common sense” to
state regulations on farming.
acre grass-based sheep dairy run by BarHailing from Crawford County, bara and Thomas Schaer, two large
Greig drew a hearty round of applause animal veterinarians, along with their
with his positive take on raw milk, a daughters. The farm also includes 25product that has seen its share of contro- plus colonies of honeybees produce
versy in recent years. “I’ve been dairy honey, pollen, propolis and beeswax.
farming for 30 years and all I ever drank
In addition to Natural By Nature and
was raw milk,” Greig said.
Meadowset Farm, others donating food
Greig said he is in office “to serve all and beverages for the afternoon were PA
of agriculture” and praised PASA’s com- Mushroom Farmers, Pete’s Produce,
mitment to local food and marketing. Paradocx Vineyard and Tait Farm Foods.
While touting PDA’s activity in export- Birchrun Hills Farm, Calkins Creamery,
ing products such as cattle and hard- Doe Run Farm and Shellbark Hollow
woods to other countries, “we also need Farm contributed local artisan cheeses.
that local marketing,” he said. PDA is Chef Jay Totman and Dawn Fenstermafighting the “bureaucratic red tape that cher of Natural by Nature crafted these
farmers need to go through” to get vari- amazing local ingredients to culinary
ous permits, Greig said. “We have some excellence.
latitude we can work with to put some
“We plan on doing FARM START
common sense back into regulations.”
even bigger in years to come,” Brian SnyThe gathering was co-hosted by der remarked. “We are ideally situated to
Natural By Nature organic dairy prod- take advantage of the local food trend.”
ucts and featured a smorgasbord of local The FARM START, along with the rest
foods and beverages, including stuffed of PASA’s various educational events and
local mushrooms with Meadowset Farm initiatives throughout the year, helps
lamb, a variety of farmstead cheeses and carry out the PASA mission of promoting
local wines.
profitable farms that produce healthy
Ned MacArthur of Natural By Nature food for all people while respecting the
spoke about the immeasurable value of natural environment. n
14
Fundraising
Ways to Give 2011
Inspired by PASA members’ creativity in raising funds for the organization, the Ways to Give program is an opportunity for
members to contribute to PASA through their own unique event or promotion. Whether it’s a barn dance or a bake sale, members and supportive companies are designing fundraisers that fit their businesses and style. We will proudly list our Ways to
Give partners in this section of Passages. Hats off to these supportive businesses and individuals!
l MAY — Chef James Woltman of Harrisburg volunteered his
skills for an amazing 22-person Sunday Brunch featuring ingredients from over 25 regional producers. $2,000 was raised last summer at a live auction on this event.
and local craft brewers on hand to offer guided tastings to the
enjoyment of the guests. It was a delicious evening on the farm
and donations to PASA totaled $800. (See photo page 35.)
l JUNE — Paragon Foods hosted a Meet Your Farmer Happy
Hour, which was a toast to a season of fresh, local foods. The event
was held at Penn Brewery, whose chefs tempted guests with an
amazing spread of dishes featuring local ingredients being distributed by Paragon Foods. Additionally, several farmers who sell
to Paragon Foods shared samples of their products and visited
with guests. Ultimately, the evening showcased some of the best
foods of the Pittsburgh region and the farmers who produce
them, and of course beers from Penn Brewery. All proceeds from
ticket sales were donated to PASA, raising $503 for the organization. (See photo page 35.)
l JUNE — Art on the Farm was a food and art fundraiser for
PASA and the Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC) held on Dickinson College Farm. 13 local artists created original art “en plein aire”
as guests strolled about and looked on. A feast of in-season local
cuisine prepared by area chefs was served, and a 30-item silent
auction did well. The evening culminated with a live auction of the
art pieces completed in the fields, raising an estimated $2,000 for
PASA (at the time of press).
l JUNE — Birchrun Hills Farm held a Local Cheese + Beer Pairing. This deliciously unique event featured amazing hand crafted
cheeses and beers, complete with cheesemakers, cheesemongers
l JUNE — A Taste of York event was organized by Spoutwood
Farm and friends, and featured regional producers offering tastings, live music, and family activities. Donations were sought and
nearly $100 was raised for PASA.
l ONGOING — The Steel Fork is donating 5% of the sales of
their steel word signs made with recycled farm machinery to
PASA. Visit www.thesteelfork.com to see these delightful handcrafts.
l ONGOING — Compost Critter is offering a 5% discount on the
purchase of a greenhouse, and that 5% will be matched as a donation to PASA. Visit www.CompostCritter.com for complete information.
l ONGOING — Kimberton Whole Foods is selling the amazing
18 x 24 full-color Mother Nature poster (image at left) for $25 and
half of the purchase price is being donated to PASA’s Brownback
Memorial Scholarship Fund, which helps developing farmers
attend the Farming for the Future conference each year. Visit
www.kimbertonwholefoods.com for complete details.
Anyone can get involved in Ways to Give. If you have an idea or
want to learn more, please contact Lauren Smith at PASA headquarters at [email protected] or call 814-349-9856 x 22.
Development Dashboard Coming Soon
PASA entered its new fiscal year beginning July 1, and
we are keeping track of meaningful statistics to share with
our members. Visit the Fundraising Pages in the September/October issue for the state of our development work.
We will be reporting our growth in the Annual Fund,
our current number of donors, and our current sponsorship
revenue.
15
These PASA member farms, businesses and organizations are committed to working with
other progressive members of the business community in the struggles to protect & preserve
farmers and farmland. It is our pleasure to publish this full list of our Business Members on an annual basis. We encourage all members to
take advantage of the myriad of services offered by this diverse group of supporters!
BUSINESS RESOURCE LISTING
AGRICULTURAL SERVICES
(SUPPLIES, CONSULTANTS,
EQUIPMENT)
Advancing Eco-Agriculture
Middlefield, OH
www.manta.com/c/mtcfcmv/
advancing-eco-agriculture-llc
AgRecycle Inc
Pittsburgh, PA
www.agrecycle.com
Agri-Dynamics Inc
Martins Creek, PA
www.agri-dynamics.com
Permanent Business Partner
See page 19
Filtrexx
Grafton, OH
www.filtrexx.com
Nature’s Best Organic Feeds
Kreamer, PA
www.organicfeeds.com
Sugarbush Nursery
Mohnton, PA
www.sugarbushnursery.com
Four Season Tools
Kansas City, MO
www.fourseasontools.com
Organic Equipment Technologies
Byron, NY
716-984-7442
Sustainable Strategies
Boalsburg, PA
814-466-7032
Green Heron Tools LLC
New Tripoli, PA
www.greenherontools.com
The Organic Mechanics
Soil Company LLC
West Chester, PA
www.organicmechanicsoil.com
See page 21
Vermont Compost Company
Montpelier, VT
www.vermontcompost.com
See page 23
Griffis Lumber
Friendsville, PA
www.rtgriffislumber.com
H. Rockwell & Son Inc
Canton, PA
570-673-5148
Agri-Service LLC
Hagerstown, MD
www.dairyheritage.com
Harris Seeds
Rochester, NY
www.harrisseeds.com
AgriSystems International
Bangor, PA
www.agrisysintl.com
Helfter Feeds
Osco, IL
www.abcplus.biz
The Ahimsa Alternative Inc
Bloomington, MN
www.neemresource.com
See page 19
High Mowing Organic Seeds
Wolcott, VT
www.highmowingseeds.com
American Native Nursery
Quakertown, PA
www.americannativenursery.com
American Organic Seed Co
Warren, IL
www.american-organic.com
See page 19
Autrusa Enterprises
Perkiomenville, PA
www.autrusa.com
BCS America LLC
Factoryville, PA
www.bcsamerica.com
See page 20
Hiland Naturals
Millersburg, OH
www.hilandnaturals.com
Homestead Nutrition Inc
New Holland, PA
www.homesteadnutritioninc.com
IPM Laboratories Inc
Locke, NY
www.ipmlabs.com
J.M. Hatchery
New Holland, PA
www.jmhatchery.com
Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Winslow, ME
www.johnnyseeds.com
Better Harvest
Factoryville, PA
570-910-0006
Jumpstart Cheese Resource
LeRaysville, PA
[email protected]
Cornerstone Farm Ventures
Norwich, NY
www.cornerstone-farm.com
King’s AgriSeeds Inc
Ronks, PA
www.kingsagriseeds.com
Dairy Connection Inc
Madison, WI
www.dairyconnection.com
Lakeview Organic Grain
Pen Yan, NY
www.lakevieworganicgrain.com
Dairyland Sales and Service
Troy, PA
www.dairylandstore.com
Lancaster Ag Products
Ronks, PA
www.lancasterag.com
Earth Tools Inc
Owenton, KY
www.earthtoolsbcs.com
Land Stewards LLC
Ecological Landscape Design
Quakertown, PA
215-536-0454
Edge of the Woods
Native Plant Nursery LLC
Orefield, PA
www.edgeofthewoodsnursery.com
FarmStart
Guelph, Ontario
www.farmstart.ca
Featherman Equipment Co
Jamesport, MO
www.featherman.net
The Fertrell Company
Bainbridge, PA
www.fertrell.com
See page 20
LP BioAg Feed & Field Inc
Export, PA
www.lpbioag.com
MicroDairy Designs,
Old Springhouse Farm
Smithsburg, MD
www.microdairydesigns.com
Organic Unlimited Inc
Atglen, PA
www.organicunlimited.com
See page 22
Orion Industrial LLC
Okemos, MI
www.orion5000.com
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
/ PRODUCER GROUPS
American Pastured Poultry
Producers Association (APPPA)
Boyd, WI
www.apppa.org
Oxy-Blast
Reedsville, PA
www.progressivealternatives.com
Communities Alliance for
Responsible Eco-farming (CARE)
Carlisle, PA
717-249-5629
Pennsylvania Service & Supply Inc
Biglerville, PA
717-334-6129
Eggzy.net
New Hope, PA
www.eggzy.net
Perdue AgriRecycle LLC
Seaford, DE
www.perdueagrirecycle.com
Farmers Market Coalition
Charlottesville, VA
www.farmersmarketcoalition.org
Permacultivate
Reading, PA
www.permacultivate.org
Future Harvest – CASA
Fairplay, MD
www.futureharvestcasa.org
Powl Associates
Peach Bottom, PA
717-548-2376
Horn Farm Center for Ag Education
York, PA
www.hornfarmcenter.org
See page 21
Purple Mountain Organics
Takoma Park, MD
www.purplemountainorganics.com
See page 22
Innovative Farmers of Ohio
Richwood, OH
www.IFOH.org
Redmond Mineral Inc
Redmond, UT
www.redmondnatural.com
Lower Eastern Shore Sustainable
Organic Network (LESSON)
Quantico, MD
www.shorefood.org
Rotokawa® Cattle Company
Hardwick, MA
www.bakewellrepro.com
Schafer’s Fisheries Inc
Thomson, IL
www.schaferfish.com
Seed Savers Exchange
Decorah, IA
www.seedsavers.org
Seeds of Change
Sante Fe, NM
www.seedsofchange.com
Seedway LLC
Elizabethtown, PA
www.seedway.com
Smucker’s Quality Meats
Mount Joy, PA
www.smuckersmeats.com
Solair Energy Inc
Ralston, PA
www.solairenergy.com
See page 22
Midwestern Bio-Ag/Bio-Ag East
Purcellville, VA
www.midwesternbioag.com
The Son’s Power
Lewisburg, PA
www.thesonspower.com
See page 22
Moyer’s Chicks Inc
Quakertown, PA
www.moyerschicks.com
Stanley C. Bierly/Bierly Group Inc
Millheim, PA
www.bierlygroup.com
16
MESA Inc
Berkeley, CA
www.mesaprogram.org
See page 21
Mid-Atlantic Alpaca Association
(MAPACA)
Lititz, PA
www.mapaca.org
Milton Hershey School AEE
Hershey, PA
717-520-2257
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture
Working Group (NESAWG)
Belchertown, MA
www.nesawg.org
NY Farms!
Watkins Glen, NY
www.nyfarms.info
PA Association of
Environmental Educators
Beaver Falls, PA
www.paee.net
Pennsylvania Alpaca Owners &
Breeders Association
Bradford, PA
www.paoba.org
Penn Ag Industries
Harrisburg, PA
www.pennag.com
Penn State Cooperative Extension
Philadelphia, PA
http://philadelphia.extension.psu.edu
Penn State Extension
Allegheny County
Pittsburgh, PA
http://allegheny.extension.psu.edu
Pew Human Health & Farming
Campaign
Philadelphia, PA
215-735-6760
See page 22
PA Grazing/Forage Land
Conservation Coalition
(PA GFLCC)
Union City, PA
www.pagflcc.org
Pennypack Farm
Education Center
Horsham, PA
www.asustainablefuture.org
The Pfeiffer Center
Chestnut Ridge, NY
www.pfeiffercenter.org
Radnor Middle School
Watershed Program
Wayne, PA
www.rtsd.org/radnorms
The Rodale Institute
Kutztown, PA
www.rodaleinstitute.org
National Center for Appropriate
Technology (NCAT)
Shavertown, PA
www.ncat.org
SPIN Farming LLC
Philadelphia, PA
www.spinfarming.com
See page 22
National Farmers Union
Washington, DC
www.nfu.org
Sustainable Farming
Association of Minnesota
Princeton, MN
www.sfa-mn.org
Northeast Beginning Farmer
Program
Ithaca, NY
www.nebeginningfarmers.org
See page 21
Timber Framers Guild
Becket, MA
www.tfguild.org
Northeast Organic Farming
Association (NOFA–NY)
Rochester, NY
www.nofany.org
West Virginia University
Extension Service
Morgantown, WV
www.wvu.edu/~agexten/
farmman2/index.htm
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture
Research & Education (SARE)
Burlington, VT
www.uvm.edu/~nesare/
Westtown School
West Chester, PA
www.westtown.edu
BREWERIES, VINEYARDS,
SPIRITS
Appalachian Brewing Company
Harrisburg, PA
www.abcbrew.com
Bocktown Beer & Grill
Pittsburgh, PA
www.bocktown.com
See page 20
The Christian W. Klay Winery Inc
Chalk Hill, PA
www.cwklaywinery.com
Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks
Millheim, PA
www.elkcreekcafe.net
See page 20
Mt Nittany Vineyard & Winery
Centre Hall, PA
www.mtnittanywinery.com
Manatawny Creek Winery
Douglassville, PA
www.manatawnycreekwinery.com
North Country Brewing Co
Slippery Rock, PA
www.northcountrybrewing.com
Otto’s Pub & Brewery
State College, PA
www.ottospubandbrewery.com
Paradocx Vineyard
Landenberg, PA
www.paradocx.com
See page 22
Pittsburgh Distilling Company
Pittsburgh, PA
Stoudts Brewery /
Stoudts Family Farmers Market
Adamstown, PA
www.stoudts.com
Buckingham Twp. Civic
Association
Buckingham, PA
www.buckinghampacivic.org
Landis Valley Museum /
Heirloom Seed Project
Lancaster, PA
www.landisvalleymuseum.org
Westmoreland Conservation
District
Greensburg, PA
www.wcdpa.com
Whole Foods Cooperative
Erie, PA
www.wholefoodscoop.org
Capital RC&D Area Council
Carlisle, PA
www.capitalrcd.org
Lansdowne Economic
Development Corporation
Lansdowne, PA
www.lansdownesfuture.org
Willistown Conservation Trust
Newtown Square, PA
www.wctrust.org
FOUNDATIONS
Center for Rural Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA
www.rural.palegislature.us
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Harrisburg, PA
www.cbf.org
Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, PA
www.longwoodgardens.org
Mon Valley Initiative
Homestead, PA
www.monvalleyinitiative.com
Chester County Economic
Development Council
Exton, PA
www.cceconomicdevelopment.com
Mountain Watershed Association
Melcroft, PA
www.mtwatershed.com
City of Johnstown
Johnstown, PA
www.cityofjohnstown.org
Neighbors in the Strip Inc
Pittsburgh, PA
www.neighborsinthestrip.com
Clearwater Conservancy
State College, PA
www.clearwaterconservancy.org
Oakland Business Improvement
District
Pittsburgh, PA
www.onlyinoakland.org
Common Wealth Inc
Youngstown, OH
www.resettleyoungstown.org
Community Partnership RC & D
Lewistown, PA
www.cpartnerships.com
Concerned Citizens
of Nippenose Valley
Jersey Shore, PA
570-745-3644
Countryside Conservancy
Peninsula, OH
www.cvcountryside.org
Penn Environment
Philadelphia, PA
www.pennenvironment.org
PennFuture
Harrisburg, PA
www.pennfuture.org
Penns Valley Conservation
Association
Aaronsburg, PA
www.pennsvalley.net
Pennsylvania Resources Council
Pittsburgh, PA
www.prc.org
Environmental Fund
for Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
www.efpa.org
Phipps Conservatory
& Botanical Gardens Inc
Pittsburgh, PA
www.phipps.conservatory.org
Fay-Penn Development Council
Union Town, PA
www.faypenn.org
Redtail Land Co Inc
Stahlstown, PA
724-593-1900
Federation of Neighborhood
Centers
Philadelphia, PA
www.federationnc.org
SMD Agricultural Development
Commission
Hughesville, MD
www.somarylandsogood.com
Certified Naturally Grown
Stone Ridge, NY
www.naturallygrown.org
See page 20
French & Pickering Creeks
Conservation Trust
Phoenixville, PA
www.frenchandpickering.org
Souderton – Telford Main Streets
Telford, PA
www.stmainst.org
Food Alliance
Portland, OR
www.foodalliance.org
See page 20
Frick Art & Historical Society
Pittsburgh, PA
www.thefrickpittsburgh.org
Trappe Landing Farm
& Native Sanctuary
Trappe, MD
410-476-3366
The Garden Club
of Allegheny County
Pittsburgh, PA
www.gcacpgh.org
Ujamaa Collective
Pittsburgh, PA
www.ujamaacollective.org
Goodell Gardens & Homestead
Edinboro, PA
www.goodellgardens.org
Union County Industrial
Development Corporation
Lewisburg, PA
www.unioncoidc.org
Greensboro Elm Street Project
Greensboro, PA
724-943-3612
Upper Mt. Bethel EAC
Mt. Bethel, PA
www.uppermtbethel.org
Grow Youngstown
Youngstown, OH
www.growyoungstown.org
Wallace Roberts & Todd LLC
Philadelphia, PA
www.wrtdesign.com
Victory Brewing Company
Downingtown, PA
www.victorybeer.com
See page 23
CERTIFICATION AGENCIES
Animal Welfare Approved
Alexandria, VA
www.animalwelfareapproved.org
Organic Materials Review
Institute (OMRI)
Eugene, OR
www.omri.org
Pennsylvania Certified Organic
(PCO)
Spring Mills, PA
www.paorganic.org
CONSERVATION /
PRESERVATION /
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
American Farmland Trust
Washington, DC
www.farmland.org
American Livestock Breeds
Conservancy
Pittsboro, NC
www.albc-usa.org
Woman Wisdom
Kennett Square, PA
www.womanwisdom.com
CONSUMER EDUCATION
Foundations Inc
Philadelphia, PA
www.foundationsinc.org
The Food Trust
Philadelphia, PA
www.thefoodtrust.org
Weston A. Price Foundation
Washington, DC
www.westonaprice.org
GRACE Communications
Foundation / Eat Well Guide
New York, NY
www.eatwellguide.org
FARMS / FARMERS
MARKETS / CSA
Greener Partners
Malvern, PA
www.greenerpartners.org
Health by Choice Education &
Research Inc
New Enterprise, PA
www.hbcer.org
The Healthy Living Kitchen
Hummelstown, PA
www.healthylivingkitchenpa.com
Ardith Mae Farm
Hallstead, PA
570-967-0908
Ayrshire Farm
Upperville, PA
www.ayrshirefarm.com
See page 19
Bella Terra Farm
New Ringgold, PA
305-394-3107
Pennsylvania Natural Living
Association
Temple, PA
www.panla.org
Berkeley Springs Farmers Market
Berkeley Springs, WV
www.berkeleyspringsfarmersmarket.
com
Slow Food Harrisburg
Harrisburg, PA
www.slowfoodharrisburg.com
Bethlehem Farm
Pence Springs, WV
www.bethlehemfarm.net
Slow Food Philadelphia
Glenside, PA
www.slowfoodphilly.org
Blackberry Meadows Farm
Natrona Heights, PA
www.blackberrymeadows.com
See page 20
Slow Food Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
www.slowfoodpgh.com
COOPERATIVES /
FOOD CLUBS
Doylestown Food Club
Doylestown, PA
www.doylestownfoodclub.org
East End Food Cooperative
Pittsburgh, PA
www.eastendfood.coop
See page 20
Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative
Terre Hill, PA
www.lancasterfarmfresh.com
Boyertown Farmers Market
Boyertown, PA
www.boyertownpa.org/farmersmarket
Brandywine Valley Wine Trail
Lewisville, PA
www.bvwinetrail.com
Camphill Soltane
Glenmoore, PA
www.camphillsoltane.org
Camphill Village – Kimberton Hills
Kimberton, PA
www.camphillkimberton.org
Clarion River Organics
Sligo, PA
http://clarionriverorganics.com
Northwest PA Growers Cooperative Colchester Farm CSA
Georgetown, MD
Fredonia, PA
www.colchesterfarm.org
www.nwpagrowers.com
Penn’s Corner Farm Alliance
Shelocta, PA
www.pennscorner.com
See page 22
International Relief & Development Waterkeeper Alliance
Arlington, VA
Irvington, NY
www.ird-dc.org
www.waterkeeper.org
Lancaster Farmland Trust
Strasburg, PA
www.lancasterfarmlandtrust.org
Weaver’s Way Cooperative
Philadelphia, PA
www.weaversway.coop
17
The Foundation
for Pennsylvania Watersheds
Alexandria, PA
www.pawatersheds.org
Eat Well Guide (Sustainable Table)
New York, NY
www.eatwellguide.org
Tuscarora Organic Growers
Cooperative
Hustontown, PA
www.tog.coop
Watershed Agricultural Council
Walton, NY
www.nycwatershed.org
Alice Ferguson Foundation
Accokeek, MD
www.hardbargainfarm.org
Common Market Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
www.commonmarketphila.org
Deer Run Daylily Gardens LLC
Salford, PA
http://web.mac.com/deerrun/iWeb/
Site/Home%20page.html
Edge of the Woods Native Plant
Nursery LLC
Orefield, PA
www.edgeofthewoodsnursery.com
Erdenheim Farm LLC
Lafayette Hill, PA
www.erdenheimfarm.com
Milestone Centers Inc
Pittsburgh, PA
www.milestonecentersinc.org
AgSquared
Washington, DC
www.agsquared.com
Harrisburg Dairies Inc
Harrisburg, PA
www.harrisburgdairies.com
Sonnewald Natural Foods
Spring Grove, PA
www.sonnewald.org
Farm Fromage
Lancaster, PA
http://farmfromage.com
Mt. Lebanon Partnership
Farmers Market
Pittsburgh, PA
www.mtlebanonpartnership.org
/#farmer
Alba Advisors LLC
Glen Mills, PA
www.albaadvisors.com
Harvest Local Foods
Lansdowne, PA
www.harvestlocalfoods.com
Stonyfield Farm Yogurt
Londonderry, NH
www.stonyfield.com
Keystone Development Center
Flinton, PA
www.kdc.coop
Harvest Market
Hockessin, DE
www.harvestmarketnaturalfoods.com
See page 21
Sunny Bridge Natural Foods
McMurray, PA
www.sunnybridgenaturalfoods.com
Farmers Market Cooperative
of East Liberty
Pittsburgh, PA
http://agmap.psu.edu/
Businesses/1655
Natural Acres
Millersburg, PA
www.naturalacres.com
Farmers Market in Hershey
Hershey, PA
717-222-8856
Nobility Alpacas Ltd
Wernersville, PA
www.nobilityalpacas.com
FRESHFARM Markets
Washington, DC
www.freshfarmmarket.org
Oxford Mainstreet Inc’s
Oxford Village Market
Oxford, PA
www.oxfordmainstreet.org
Garden Dreams Urban
Farm & Nursery
Pittsburgh, PA
www.mygardendreams.com
Peace Tree Farm
Kintnersville, PA
www.peacetreefarm.com
Goodness Grows Ministry
North Lima, OH
www.goodnessgrows.net
Phillips Mushroom Farms, L.P.
Kennett Square, PA
www.phillipsmushroomfarms.com
Goodwill at Homefields Farm
Millersville, PA
www.yourgoodwill.org/farm
Pleasant Valley Organic Farm
Amity, PA
www.pleasantvalleyorganicfarm.com
Grace Growers,
Grace Tabernacle Church
Pottstown, PA
484-300-1410
Red Wiggler Community Farm
Clarksburg. MD
www.redwiggler.org
Greenmarket – NFDP
New York, NY
www.cenyc.org
Grow Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
www.growpittsburgh.org
The Hardler Farm
Honesdale, PA
570-251-7937
Haverford Twp.
Farmers Market Association
Havertown, PA
610-449-9278
Historic Lewes Farmers Market
Nassau, DE
www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org
Indian Valley Farmers Market
Telford, PA
www.ivfm.org
Inverbrook Farm/
Kennett Square Farmers Market
Kennett Square, PA
484-678-0093
ISKCON
Port Royal, PA
gitanagari.org
Lady Moon Farms
Chambersburg, PA
www.ladymoonfarms.com
Lansdowne Farmers Market
Lansdowne, PA
www.lansdownefarmersmarket.com
Ligonier Country Market
Latrobe, PA
www.ligoniercountrymarket.com
Local Pastures
Wallingford, PA
www.localpastures.com
Rushton Farm
Newtown Square, PA
www.wctrust.org
Sandbrook Meadow Farm
Wayne, PA
sandbrookmeadowfarm.com
Seven Stars Farm
Phoenixville, PA
www.sevenstarsfarm.com
Kitchen Incubator at CTTC
Carbondale, PA
www.4cttc.org
Local Food Marketplace
Eugene, OR
www.localfoodmarketplace.com
Ohio Employee Ownership Center
Kent, OH
www.oeockent.org
Heirloom Tomato Company
Avella, PA
www.heirloomtomatocompany.com
Indian Ridge Provisions
Telford, PA
www.indianridgeprovisions.com
SF & Company
State College, PA
www.sfc-cpa.com
Kimberton Whole Foods
Kimberton, PA
www.kimbertonwholefoods.com
See page 21
Small Farm Central
Pittsburgh, PA
www.smallfarmcentral.com
La Prima Espresso Company
Pittsburgh, PA
www.laprima.com
University of Scranton
Small Business Devlopment Center
(SBDC)
Scranton, PA
www.scrantonsbdc.com
Lancaster Trading House Inc
Lancaster, PA
www.lancastertradinghouse.com
See page 21
FOOD BANKS
Frey’s Commissary /
Meals on Wheels
Montoursville, PA
570-368-2377
Greater Pittsburgh Community
Food Bank
Duquesne, PA
www.pittsburghfoodbank.org
LeRaysville Cheese Factory
LeRaysville, PA
www.leraysvillecheese.com
Martindale’s Natural Market
Springfield, PA
www.martindalesnutrition.com
Tait Farm Foods
Centre Hall, PA
www.taitfarmfoods.com
Turner Dairy Farms
Pittsburgh, PA
www.turnerdairy.net
See page 23
Whole Foods Market – Devon
Wayne, PA
www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/
devon
Whole Foods Market – Jenkintown
Jenkintown, PA
www.wholefoodsmarket.com/
stores
jenkintown
Whole Foods Market – Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
www.wholefoodsmarket.com
Wild for Salmon
Bloomsburg, PA
www.wildforsalmon.com
Wiscoy for Animals
State College, PA
www.wiscoypet.com
FOOD SERVICE
McGeary Organics Inc
Lancaster, PA
www.mcgearyorganics.com
See page 21
Cura Hospitality Inc
Orefield, PA
www.curahospitality.com
Spiral Path Farm
Loysville, PA
www.spiralpathfarm.com
McGinnis Sisters Special
Food Stores
Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center
Pittsburgh, PA
Harrisburg, PA
www.mcginnis-sisters.com
www.pahunger.org
Natural By Nature
SHARE Food Program
West Grove, PA
Philadelphia, PA
www.natural-by-nature.com
www.sharefoodprogram.com
Nature’s Way Market
Greensburg, PA
FOOD BUSINESSES
natureswaymarket.net
Sycamore Bridge Farm
Versailles, OH
937-470-9153
Albert’s Organics
Bridgeport, NJ
www.albertsorganics.com
Nature’s Yoke
New Holland, PA
www.naturesyolk.com
Thanksgiving Farm /
Center for Discovery
Harris, NY
www.thecenterfordiscovery.org
Amsterdam Produce
Mechanicsburg , PA
717-691-3531
Nutiva
Sebastopol, CA
www.nutiva.com
PA Dept. of Conservation & Natural
Resources, Bureau of Forestry
(DCNR)
Harrisburg, PA
www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry
Cowgirl Creamery East
Washington, DC
www.cowgirlcreamery.com
Organic Valley Family of Farms
LaFarge, WI
www.organicvalley.coop
See page 22
USDA, National Agricultural
Statistics Service
Washington, DC
www.nass.usda.gov
Panache Foods
Berwyn, PA
www.panachefood.com
USDA, Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS)
Harrisburg, PA
www.nrcs.usda.gov
See page 23
Shenot Farm Inc
Wexford, PA
www.shenotfarm.com
Snipes Farm and Education Center
Morrisville, PA
www.snipesfarm.com
Thorncroft
Malvern, PA
www.thorncroft.org
Tierra Farm
Valatie, NY
www.tierrafarm.com
Tussock Sedge Farm
Blooming Glen, PA
www.tussocksedgefarm.com
Upper Merion Farmers Market
King of Prussia, PA
uppermerionfarmersmarket.org
Eberly Poultry Farms
Stevens, PA
www.eberlypoultry.com
Four Seasons Produce Inc
Ephrata, PA
www.fsproduce.com
Frankferd Farms Foods
Saxonburg, PA
www.frankferd.com
Lundale Farm
Pottstown, PA
FINANCIAL /
BUSINESS SERVICES
The FruitGuys
Sharon Hill, PA
www.fruitguys.com
See page 20
Main Street Farmers Market
Washington, PA
www.washpa.net/farmersmarket
AgChoice Farm Credit
Mechanicsburg, PA
www.agchoice.com
Green Organics & Health LLC
Carnegie, PA
412-200-2247
18
Pekin Paradise
Hamburg, PA
www.pekinparadise.com
Pure Sprouts Organic Delivery
Breinigsville, PA
www.puresprouts.com
Reading Terminal Market
Philadelphia, PA
www.readingterminalmarket.org
See page 22
Rodale Inc Food Center
Emmaus, PA
Paragon Foods
Pittsburgh, PA
www.pmfoods.com
Sysco Pittsburgh
Harmony, PA
www.sysco.com
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
PA Dept. of Agriculture
Harrisburg, PA
www.pda.state.pa.us
HIGHER EDUCATION
Center for Organic & Sustainable
Agriculture at Alfred State College
Alfred, NY
www.alfredstate.edu/cosa/
introduction
Chatham University
Pittsburgh, PA
www.chatham.edu
See page 20
David Berg Center
for Ethics & Leadership,
Katz Graduate School of Business,
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
www.bergcenter.pitt.edu
Delaware Valley College
Doylestown, PA
www.delval.edu
Dickinson College Farm
Boiling Springs, PA
www.dickinson.edu/story/sisa
Juniata College
Huntingdon, PA
www.juniata.edu
Messiah College
Community Garden
Grantham, PA
Penn State University,
College of Ag Sciences
University Park, PA
www.cas.psu.edu
Pennsylvania College
of Technology
Williamsport, PA
www.pct.edu
PUBLICATIONS
BioCycle Magazine, The JG Press
Emmaus, PA
www.jgpress.com/biocycle.htm
Eating Fresh Publications
Haverford, PA
www.eatingfresh.com
FrenchPress, TABLE Magazine
Pittsburgh, PA
http://tablemagazine.com
Penn State Press
University Park, PA
814-867-2220
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
Farmington, PA
www.nemacolin.com
See page 21
Eagles Mere Inn
Eagles Mere, PA
www.eaglesmereinn.com
Panache Foods
Berwyn, PA
www.panachefood.com
Eat’n Park Hospitality Group
Homestead, PA
www.eatnpark.com
Pennsylvania Restaurant
Association
Harrisburg, PA
www.parestaurant.org
Emma’s Food for Life Inc
Selinsgrove, PA
www.emmasfoodforlife.com
Pipers Pub
Pittsburgh, PA
www.piperspub.com
Glasbern Inn
Fogelsville, PA
www.glasbern.com
RESTAURANTS /
CATERING / LODGING
320 Market Cafe /
Sunshine Farms Inc
Swarthmore, PA
www.the320marketcafe.com
Green Gables Restaurant
Jennerstown, PA
www.greengablesrestaurant.com
The Supper Club at the
Greensburg Train Station
Greensburg, PA
www.supperclubgreensburg.com
The Whip Tavern
West Marlborough, PA
www.thewhiptavern.com
Wild Blue Creative Catering Inc
King of Prussia, PA
www.wildbluecatering.com
The Wildflower Cafe
Phoenixville, PA
www.thewildflowercafe.org
OTHER
The POD Café
Philadelphia, PA
www.thepodcafe.com
Beverly Hall Corporation
Quakertown, PA
267-221-3903
Restaurant Alba Inc
Malvern, PA
www.restaurantalba.com
Center for Eye Care /
Mifflin Co Community Surgery
Lewistown, PA
www.paeyes.com
Avenue B
Pittsburgh, PA
www.avenueb-pgh.com
Hen and Hog Restaurant
Quakertown, PA
www.henandhog.com
See page 21
Bella Sera & Greco’s Gourmet
Canonsburg, PA
www.grecos-bellasera.com
Hotel Hershey
Hershey, PA
www.thehotelhershey.com
Savoy Restaurant & Lounge
Pittsburgh, PA
www.savoypgh.com
The Inn at Turkey Hill
Bloomsburg, PA
www.innatturkeyhill.com
Smiling Chameleon Draft House
Lewisburg, PA
www.smilingchameleon.com
Jamison Publick House
Zionsville, PA
www.jamisonpublickhouse.com
Sonoma Grille
Pittsburgh, PA
www.thesonomagrille.com
Room Doctor Furniture Co
State College, PA
www.roomdoctor.com
Legume
Pittsburgh, PA
www.legumebistro.com
Station Taproom
Downingtown, PA
www.stationtaproom.com
Sewickley Heights Golf Club
Sewickley, PA
www.shgc.org
Benjamin’s Catering
Boalsburg, PA
Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator / http://benjaminscatering.com
Slippery Rock University
big Burrito Restaurant Group
www.sru.edu/academics/colleges/
Pittsburgh, PA
cbiss/sea/Pages/SEA.aspx
www.bigburrito.com
Wilson College, Fulton Farm
Chambersburg, PA
www.wilson.edu.wilson/asp/
content.asp?id=220
Dinette
Pittsburgh, PA
http://dinette-pgh.com
Curious Goods at the
Bake Oven Inn
Germansville, PA
www.eatcuriousgoods.com
The Rolling Rock Club
Ligonier, PA
Charles F. Patton Middle School
Kennett Square, PA
610-347-2000
Franciscan Friars, TOR
Minneapolis, MN
www.franciscanfriarstor.com
Pittsburgh Golf Club
Pittsburgh, PA
www.thepittsburghgolfclub.com
SPECIAL PAID ADVERTISING SECTION
www.AyrshireFarm.com
Shop Online
•
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•
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B EEF
V EAL
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T URKEY
P ORK
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19
FOOD ALLIANCE p7
20
Hen and Hog Restaurant
95 S. West End Boulevard
Quakertown, PA 18951
267.347.4236
BBQ , Fried Chicken, Country Cookin’
All our meats are cooked “low and slow”
Proud Members of PASA and Buy Fresh Buy Local
Open Monday–Saturday 11-8 • Sunday 12 –6 • Closed Tuesday
21
Garden, Grower, and
Green Living Supplies
Professional Gardening Tools
A Proud
Member
of PASA
877.538.9901
www.purplemountainorganics.com
Sustainable Energy for Home, Farm, Business
Purple Mountain Organics
www.solairenergy.com • 570-995-5747
Call us for a free
Solar Energy
Assessment!
570-523-7667
163 International Dr
Lewisburg, PA 17837
PA
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22
A Sit Down at the
Communty Table
the local economy for something as
important and delicious as food — I love
knowing that I am buying directly from
the person who grew/raised what I’m
about to eat, and knowing that every dollar I pay goes directly to that person.
Aside from the joy of getting to know
and be friends with the farmers in our
area, I also really value the other, less visible benefits that come along with buying
local food this way: knowing that as little
fossil fuel as possible was used in transporting food; knowing that keeping the
integrity of our local food economy
strong is a key aspect of keeping the rich
soil of the Cumberland Valley for farming instead of pavement; knowing that
the more small farms there are in our
area, the greater the agricultural biodiversity of our region will be — and thus the
more resilient when the weather or the
price of commodity products is temperamental. I suppose, in a nutshell, we buy
local food because it seems like the right
thing to do.
Hannah: Do you personally know any of
the farmers growing your food?
Stef: Yes, Jade Family Farm is run by
John and Dana Eisenstein, friends of
mine I met through our children’s
school. They bought a farm in Juniata
County a number of years ago and have
been valiant organic farmers since then.
Their commitment to growing and providing healthy food is an inspiration. I
have the a la carte share which gives me
flexibility to choose the contents of my
share each week. I encourage you to
check them out on Facebook and read
about John’s father who has started blogging for WPSU’s Local Food Journey
under the handle, “Unpaid Field Hand.”
Meghan: Several of the farmers who
come to sell at the Farmers on the Square
market in Carlisle have come to be good
friends or acquaintances. Participating in
that market as a board member has been
a really wonderful experience, and helped
to foster many of these relationships.
Farmers on the Square is a farmer-run,
producer-only market and currently
includes: Beechwood Orchards, Cool
Beans, Diane Beeman, Dickinson College Farm, Esh’s Produce, Everblossom
Farm, Keswick Creamery, Lark Rise
Farm, Otterbein Acres, Oyler’s Organic
Farms, Pecan Meadow Farm, Pipe
Dreams Fromage, Prescott’s Patch,
Pretty Meadow Farm, Roots, Sunnyside
Farm, Sunset Valley Farm, Three Springs
Fruit Farm and Torchbearer.
23
Hannah: How did each of you learn of
PASA? In what ways have you been
involved with PASA (if you have)?
Chris (and Meghan): We learned about
PASA…I can’t remember how…by
osmosis? Many of the farmers we have
come to know are PASA members and
both talk about their involvement occasionally in conversation and come back
from the annual conference energized
and full of new ideas.
Stef: I only recently learned of PASA and
am so excited to explore the buylocalpa.org website and connect with others in my area.
Hannah: Before we wrap this up, how
would you frame to your friends and family why you are a PASA supporter?
Stef: Connection to others in a commu-
nity that supports sustainable ways to
feed people.
Meghan: We have come to realize just
how important every help to the small
and sustainability-focused farms of Pennsylvania matters, and were delighted to
support that effort. It seems a natural fit
for us.
Hannah: Stef, Meghan, and Chris, we
offer you the warmest of welcomes to the
PASA community and thank you for taking your place at the Community Table.
Regional Marketing
WESTERN REGION
Join PASA at the Mother
Earth News Fair!
PASA will be participating in the 2nd
Annual Mother Earth News Fair to be held
at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in
Seven Springs, PA, on September 24th
and 25th.
The Mother Earth News Fair is a
hands-on, sustainable-living festival,
including two full days of workshops,
DIY demonstrations, and keynote
addresses from some of the nation’s leading experts on wiser living. This fun,
family-oriented event will feature something for everyone, from beginners to
experts — and even kids — on the topics
of organic gardening, small-scale agriculture, real food, renewable energy, green
building, green transportation and natural health. Exhibits and demonstrations
with heritage livestock and equipment
are also planned, and attendees will enjoy
an eco-friendly marketplace and local,
organic food and beverages. In 2010,
over 9,000 people interested in sustainable living attended the fair!
This year, the PASA Western
Regional Office has opportunities for
PASA members interested in getting
involved and attending the fair:
Volunteering to represent PASA at an
information table. Sign up for a two hour
shift at the PASA information table.
Attend a day at the Fair for free and promote your own farm or business at the
PASA table.
Be a speaker at the new PASA Stage.
Host a 45 minute presentation on a topic
related tosustainable farming, better food,
and a healthier environment. Possible topics may include, Composting, Season
Extension with High Tunnels, Soil Testing,
Value Added Entrepreneur, CSAs, Pasture
and Grazing Management, Organic Gardening and more! Attend a day at the Fair
for free and promote your farm or business.
If you are interested in the Mother
Earth News Fair, contact PASA Mother
Earth News Fair volunteer coordinator
Julia Gebhart at [email protected]
or call 412-365-2985.
Save the Dates — Opportunities for
Local Food System Entrepreneurs
n October 28
Penn State Cooperative Extension Food
for Profit Workshop
Cooperative Extension’s Food for
Profit workshop takes you step by step
through the information necessary to
start and run a small food product business, especially directed to individuals
who will be making and packing their
products for resale (through grocery
stores, farm markets, or restaurants). The
Food for Profit workshop consists of
61⁄2 hours that provide an overview of
how to start and successfully operate a
small food product business.
n October 29
PASA Shared Commercial Kitchen
Round Table: Developing Regional
Resources for Sustainable Food Processing and Value-Added Agriculture
A learning and networking opportunity for those involved in the development of shared commercial kitchens.
Through sharing presentations and facilitated discussion, participants will gain a
greater understanding of what shared
commercial kitchens are and best management practices for the sustainability of
shared commercial kitchens. Participants
continued next page
REGIONAL CONTACTS & DISCUSSION GROUP ADDRESSES
Discussion groups are open to PASA members only to join and discuss issues related to sustainable agriculture.
To join the group in your region, send an email to the appropriate address provided.
Western
[email protected]
Leah Smith
412-365-2985 • [email protected]
North Central
Eastern
[email protected]
Marilyn Anthony
Western
Eastern
Southern
South Central
[email protected]
Jenn Halpin
Marcellus Shale Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/PASAMarcellus
North Central
[email protected]
Leah Tewksbury
Out of State discussion group addresses:
Delmarva Region
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PASADelmarva
States South and West of Pennsylvania
[email protected]
States North and East of Pennsylvania
[email protected]
24
Regional Marketing
continued from previous page
will gain a broader perspective of the
development of shared commercial
kitchens and what is working in Western
Pennsylvania. Leaders in the development of these community resources have
the opportunity to connect with one
another and discover opportunities for
future coordination and collaboration.
For more information contact Leah
Smith at 412-365-2985 or [email protected]
Marcellus Shale Choices Workshop Series
For more information and to register visit
www.pasafarming.org/marcellusshalechoices or call 412-365-2985
These upcoming workshops are the third and fourth workshops in the Marcellus
Shale Choices workshop series. PASA, with funding from the Colcom Foundation, has
developed a series of action-oriented trainings throughout western Pennsylvania to
help farmers, rural land owners, and other citizens make informed, holistic decisions,
understand legal issues, and engage in environmental monitoring and local organizing efforts related to Marcellus Shale Gas issues within their communities. Read more
at www.pasafarming.org/marcellusshalechoices
Sue’s View…
that is deep to the Marcellus Shale, is
slated for development in Quebec, and
these folks want to be ahead of the curve,
not playing catch-up, as talks and plans
begin. As part of their proactive planning
process they wanted to talk to us about
the workshop series as well as how the
development might affect the community. It was a good meeting and we managed to handle the language barriers with
the help of a translator, our mutual abilities to understand the slowly spoken
words even if we could not reply in the
language of the speaker, the awakening of
my long-buried French — and, most
importantly, our collective background
experiences, concerns for the future and
the desire to work toward a thriving,
vital, sustainable future in agriculture.
As I headed out over the recent holiday weekend, I reminded myself to step
back and focus on the dynamic and exciting potential there is to be united by fundamental and common goals. Sometimes
that means looking up from the tasks that
appear all consuming, taking a few deep
breaths stepping away, standing on the
land with livestock and growth and asking ourselves “How do we want it to
be?,” and listening for the answer from
our hearts and acting in ways that clearly
serve to bring that to fruition. n
n Understanding Legal Issues Related to Marcellus Shale Gas
Allegheny County: August 10
Green County: August 22
Jefferson County: August 29
McKean County: August 30
6–8:30pm
Free and Open to the Public: Pre-registration Required.
Ross Pifer, the Director of the Penn State Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center at the Dickinson College of Law, will address the myriad of legal
aspects involved in deep gas drilling issues for those who choose to lease land,
for neighbors and citizens who don’t own land or gas rights but whose properties are leased for drilling, and for farmers, landowners, and citizens who may be
impacted by the drilling in other ways. This workshop will review leasing information for those with leases, an overview of oil and gas law concepts, address
surface owner issues, and share some recent case law.
n Marcellus Shale Choices:
Building Skills in Communication, Coordination, and Engagement on
Marcellus Shale Gas Issues
Allegheny County: October 20
Green County: October 21
Jefferson County: October 24
McKean County: October 25
6–8:30pm
This interactive, participatory training led by staff from Penn Environment will
build your skills to effectively communicate to the media and to law makers
about the issues that matter to you related to Marcellus Shale Gas drilling and
development. Learn what makes a good story, and how to share your message
with the media through strategies such as letters to the editor, or contacting a
reporter and being a source for a news piece. Also learn how to set up and prepare for meetings with your law makers, and practice communicating your message effectively.
Visit PASA at
www.pasafarming.org
Join us on Facebook at
pasafarming.org/facebook
25
Sprouting Grain For Small-Scale Livestock Production
By Anne & Eric Nordell
Editor’s Note: The idea behind this article
came from discussion at the annual North
Central region potluck, held this spring in
Williamsport. Part of the evening included
attendees sharing details about their operations, recent innovations or interest in local
foods. Eric shared his experience sprouting
grain and graciously detailed their insight
here for the PASA readership.
Sprouting grain has been a part of our
daily farmstead chores for more than
twenty years. We started out sprouting
oats for our small flock of layers to provide them with fresh, living food during
the winter. Then we experimented with
sprouting oats, barley and buckwheat for
our aging crew of workhorses to improve
digestion. We have also fed seven-day
corn sprouts to dairy heifers, and we routinely soak for 48 hours the corn and
grain peas we feed our composting pigs.
According to the literature on alterna-
tive livestock nutrition, sprouting
enhances the digestion of whole grains by
softening and cracking open the hard
kernels, transforming the starch into sugars, increasing the content of digestive
enzymes, and breaking down the phytic
acid and other natural germination
inhibitors which tie-up important minerals like calcium and phosphorus. The
proof is in the pudding — hardly any
undigested grain is evident in the animals’ manure.
We initially used 5-quart stovetop
steamers as sprout containers, then scaled
up to 3.5 and 4.25 gallon plastic buckets.
Buckets may be purchased at hardware
stores for $2–3 or use empty livestock
supplements containers. To strain the
soak water we made an oversized
“steamer” by drilling 1⁄ 8” holes, roughly
an inch apart, all over the bottom of one
of the 3.5 gallon buckets. We used this
perforated container as the “insert” in a
standard 5 or 6 gallon bucket.
Each day we start a new batch of grain
soaking. At the moment, we are soaking
a gallon a day of an oats and barley mix
(50/50 by weight) for our four workhorses and eighteen layers. After twelve
hours of soaking we dump the grain into
the oversized plastic steamer and thoroughly rinse the soaked oats and barley
with the hose. We return the rinsed
grains to a clean bucket and twice-a-day
give the swelling sprouts a thorough stirring and water.
By the third day, the sprouting grains
will begin to root together and require a
vigorous stirring, or, preferably, dumping
into another container to disentangle.
Tumbling the sprouts into a clean, dry
bucket every twelve hours also eliminates
the sticky buildup of sugars on the inside
of the containers and insures that the living grain remains uniformly aerated and
moistened.
By the end of the fourth day this
continued next page
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
26
PASA Staff and Board Would Like to Thank
the Following Volunteers Since July 11, 2011
Sprouting Grain
Dawn Fenstermacher • Brigid Ferkett • Mary Finke • Julia Gebhart •
Kelly Hatton • Maggie Robertson • Barbara & Tom Schaer • Jay
Totman • Chef James Woltman
homegrown sweet feed has increased in volume by two and half
times and is ready to feed the horses and chickens — 2–3 quarts
per horse and a quart or more as scratch for the layers. Mixing a
little cod liver oil and finely pulverized lime into the hens’
sprouts results in almost the same improvement in egg flavor,
yolk color, shell quality and feed reduction as summer pasture.
Sprouting is a simple way to add value to whole foods on the
farm. However, producing living feed in this way adds ten minutes to our daily chores. Consistent sprouting also requires room
temperature conditions (air, water and grain) and viable seed
with a high germination rate. Furthermore, it is important to
prevent the sprouts from fermenting, molding or overheating,
especially if they will be fed to equines.
For more details on sprouting senior horse feed, see “The
Costs of Farming with Horses vs. Tractors” in the Winter 2010
Small Farmers Journal. And definitely check out the supplement
on “Alternative Organic Animal Feeds” in the Spring 2010 Natural Farmer for innovative ideas on producing homegrown
nutrition for poultry and swine.
Anne and Eric Nordell have been growing organic produce and
herbs for 29 years at Beech Grove Farm in Trout Run, Pennsylvania. They also write for the Small Farmers Journal about their bioextensive approach to vegetable production which relies on cover
crops and horse-drawn tillage for weed control, soil quality and
moisture conservation. Their produce is marketed in the Lycoming
county area.
PASA Staff Update
By Lisa Diefenbach, HR Manager
n Megan Epler joined the PASA staff as Business Outreach Coordinator in May. Megan is responsible for recruitment and retention of our business members and coordinating our statewide Buy
Fresh Buy Local® chapters.
n Billy Templeton joined the PASA staff as Member Services
Assistant in June to focus efforts in the northeast corner of the
state. He will be developing programming for members, focusing
on recruitment and retention of new members in the area, as well
as offering local Buy Fresh Buy Local chapter support.
n After 4 years with PASA, Carrie Gillespie has resigned as of
June 24. Carrie has been a steadfast presence as we have gone
through many changes over the past several years. We wish Carrie
the best and look forward to her new role as a PASA volunteer!
n Denise Sheehan resigned from the PASA staff effective July 8.
Denise’s family circumstances preclude her from working for PASA
at this time. Our sincere thanks go to Denise for her commitment
to PASA and her work in the Southeast Region.
ADVERTISEMENT
For More Research About Sprouting Grain
Jerry Brunetti, PASA board member and owner of
Agri-Dynamics Inc, has researched benefits of sprouting
grain. Further details can be found on their website
(www.agri-dynamics.com) in “The Natural & Holistic Product Line for Livestock” animal health/product catalog. The
basic benefits of sprouting grain are below.
Sprouting Grains Make Cereals More Nutritious
• Converts Starch to Sugar
(better rumen energy, less acidosis)
• Increases Enzyme Levels (for better digestion and
absorption)
• Converts Soluble Protein to “by pass” Protein
(less rumen ammonia, BUN, MUN)
• Increases Vitamin Levels
• Neutralizes Phytates (aka phytic acid, which inhibits
mineral absorption)
• Increases Amino Acids (quality protein)
• Destroys Enzyme Inhibitors (which compromises
digestion)
• Increases Fatty Acids (quality energy)
27
Book Review
Tomatoland
How Modern Industrial Agriculture
Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit
By Barry Estabrook
By Sandra Miller
s the summer season begins to heat
up, tomato lovers will be turning to
their backyards and farmers markets for a
rainbow of colors, shapes, sizes and flavors of what, for many years, had routinely been little more than a tasteless
rubber ball grown for durable transport
and shelf life. It’s no secret that tomatoes
have been in the spotlight in the growing
sustainable foods movement in regards to
flavor and variety, but just as with shocking industrial agricultural practices often
associated with meat production, the
truth about commercial tomatoes that
have become ubiquitous in large scale
grocery chains and the fast food industry
are finally coming to light.
When Barry Estabrook’s column in
Gourmet Magazine, Politics of the Plate:
The Price of Tomatoes, first appeared in
March 2009, I knew that it would signal
yet another yardstick for those striving
toward sustainability could measure
themselves against.
While there’s no doubting the difference between a real vine-ripened tomato
and the pale, tasteless cardboard gobs,
which are passed off as tomatoes to most
American consumers, few realized the
ugly truth about how this particular fruit
(yes, it’s technically a fruit) gets from the
fields to the plate.
In his book, Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our
Most Alluring Fruit, Estabrook digs
deeper to expose the human misery
including slavery, poisoning, abject
squalor and even death which has
become pervasive through commercial
tomato operations.
Laying the foundation with a history
of the domestication and cultivation of
Solanum lycopersicum, Estabrook takes
the reader on a journey from the Andean
mountains to the beginning of modern
industrial tomato production in southern
Florida in the 1880’s to present day legal
battles attempting to squeeze an extra
A
“While there’s no doubting the difference
between a real vine-ripened tomato
and the pale, tasteless cardboard gobs,
which are passed off as tomatoes to most
American consumers, few realized the
ugly truth about how this particular
fruit (yes, it’s technically a fruit) gets
from the fields to the plate.”
penny a pound for already underpaid
pickers out of mega food conglomerates
including Wal-Mart, Burger King and
Taco Bell.
Also chronicled in the book are heartbreaking stories of human misery from
such egregious farming practices including women pickers whose exposure to
some of the 8 million pounds of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides that were
28
sprayed in Florida tomato
crop production alone in
2006 — one of the many
shocking figures Estabrook
references — which resulted
in horrendous birth defects
and death in their infants.
In keeping with his journalistic professionalism,
Estabrook also presents
commentaries from legal
advocates, growers and
researchers in an effort to
create balance within the
book.
PASA readers will immediately recognize founding
member and supporter,
Tom Beddard of Lady
Moon Farms, who makes
an appearance in the book
as a shining example of
proof that tomatoes can be
produced on a commercial
scale using organic and
socially responsible practices. Estabrook, who
quotes Beddard describing himself as “a
renegade with a hippie philosophy,”
delivers a clear message that Lady Moon
Farms is not a utopian dream, but a
multi-million dollar commercial operation producing tomatoes (and other produce) with environmental and social
responsibility — truly sustainable.
This book definitely deserves a spot
the shelf alongside Fast Food Nation,
Omnivore’s Dilemma and Food Inc. n
ADVERTISEMENT
29
Food Alliance
father, David Wenk, (a majority partner
in the farm along with Ben’s uncle, John
Wenk) said, “I understand that this
(IPM) in and of itself is a good thing, but
how do we get some credit for it?” This
was around the time Ben first heard of
the Portland, Oregon-based Food
Alliance, when program director Scott
Exo spoke at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and
Vegetable and PASA conventions. Ben
went home and told his father and uncle,
“This is exactly what we’re talking
about.”
IPM is not the only sustainable ag
practice on Three Springs Fruit Farm.
The Wenks also use best practices for
water and nutrient management. They
strive to treat their workers fairly. And
increasingly, they are working to protect
wildlife habitat. Together, those four
components make up the Food Alliance
certification.
Even though the Wenks were already
doing many of the things required for
Food Alliance certification, it is the documentation Ben finds most challenging,
especially when it comes to having a written plan for things such as the farm’s
non-discrimination policy for workers.
The Wenks have long made a priority of
treating their workers fairly through practices such as negotiating wages and allowing employees to move up the
management chain based on their merits,
ADVERTISEMENT
Food Alliance certification requires that
these be detailed in a written plan. Same
goes for IPM practices, water and nutrient management, and measures to foster
wildlife habitat such as leaving certain
deadwood standing on the farm, building
bat boxes and planting wildflowers.
In many of these areas, the farm must
commit to “continual improvement of
practices” — it’s not a once and done
deal. In August of last year, Three
Springs Fruit Farm completed the first
big leap when their application was
accepted and they became one of just a
handful of certified farms in the MidAtlantic region. However, “It’s not just a
matter of getting your chin over the bar
every three years,” Ben says. “Food
Alliance requires a written plan for ongoing improvement.”
Taking It to the People
Now that the farm is certified, Ben is
faced with the added challenge of
explaining to his customers and other
continued next page
ADVERTISEMENT
30
Food Alliance
farmers exactly what it means. Lucky for
Ben, he enjoys talking (writing too —
you can read his blog at www.threespringsfruitfarm.com/blog) and he has a
knack for explaining things.
“People at market say, ‘we’re glad
you’re Food Alliance certified, but what
does it mean, and why isn’t it organic?’”
That gives Ben the opportunity to talk
about the farm’s commitment to sustainable farming and to establish further rapport and trust with his customers. He is
also eager to share with farmers his experience with Food Alliance. “We want to
help other people get certified,” he says.
In the case of Three Springs Fruit
Farm, certification is crop-specific for
apples, peaches, pears and cherries — the
crops that take up the most acreage on
the farm. As direct marketing became a
central focus in the last several years, the
Wenks began growing a host of other
crops, from berries to heirloom tomatoes
and other specialty vegetables, catering to
the widest possible spectrum of consumer
tastes. Even though they grow a total of
about 450 acres of crops on owned and
rented land, “we kind of feel like a small
farm in a big farm’s body,” Ben says.
“We’re actually trying to get smaller as
diversity grows.”
With the farm’s focus on retail sales,
along with eaters’ growing interest in
how and where their food is raised, Food
Alliance certification seemed like a perfect fit for Three Springs Fruit Farm. “In
a lot of ways, we just felt it was the right
thing to do,” says Ben.
Food Alliance certification is available
for any type of farm that meets the organization’s standards for sustainable practices
and continual improvement. It is also
ADVERTISEMENT
offered to processors and distributors; commercial food buyers and consumers can also
join as affiliated members. For more information, see http://foodalliance.org/.
FOOD ALLIANCE CERTIFICATION
STANDARDS INCLUDE:
• Protect and improve soil resources
• Protect and conserve water resources
• Protect and enhance biodiversity
• Conserve energy, reduce & recycle waste
• Reduce use of pesticides, and other toxic
and hazardous materials
• Maintain transparent and sustainable
food supply chains
• Support safe and fair working conditions
• No GMOs or artificial ingredients
• Ensure healthy, humane animal
treatment, with no growth hormones or
non-therapeutic antibiotics
• Continually improve practices
ADVERTISEMENT
Special Offer
Save 10% Now Through August 31
31
Classified Ads
A full list of classified ad & job opportunities
is available at pasafarming.org.
FOR RENT
FOR SALE — Mulch Layer Rainbird model 500 mulch
layer. This is a 4 foot layer that is in pretty rough condition, but it does the job! The drip line guide tube needs
a few tack welds, and it would do a better job of covering the plastic with a new disc, but I have been using it
successfully for 5 years in it’s current condition. Asking
$200. Feel free to call with questions: 814-312-3316
FOR RENT — Home to share in Union County. 20 mins
to PASA & Elk Creek. $550+ utilities. Garage & storage
unit included. All organic grounds. Wooded setting.
[email protected], 570-523-8452. Employed only
please. No pets.
FOR SALE — Pastured poultry equipment. Package
includes (2) sections of electric netting 30” x 164 feet
long, 3 quill waterers (1 is missing the valve mechanism) and a movable ground rod for your solar charger.
If you purchased the items listed new the value is over
$500! Asking $275 for the package. Call 814-312-3316
ROOM FOR RENT — Looking to rent a room in an
urban farming oriented house in the east end of Pittsburgh area. Access to several urban farms in local community. If you are interesting in working in the urban
farming movement in Western PA, this is a great place
to be. Contact Iris 412-554-4198.
FOR SALE — Tomato, Pepper and Eggplant Seedling
Sale! Garden Dreams Urban Farm and Nursery in Pittsburgh, PA s offering our tomato, pepper, and eggplant
seedlings at a discount. We have many varieties of heirlooms and hybrids. Please contact us for details and to
arrange pickup: [email protected]
FOR RENT — Mobile Processing Unit. Moblie chicken
processing done on farm, we come to you. We do cut
up and ice is available. Denver, PA 717-989-1492.
FOR SALE
FOR SALE - Heifer calves high percent Normande PCO
Certified. Loren Weaver 717-445-0281. 1543 Union
Grove Rd. East Earl, PA 17519
FOR SALE — Mixed breed cow herd. Ten, mostly
medium-framed cows that have lots of capacity for
outstanding production on forage. Cows are in excellent condition and are soon to be weaned. Cows are
bred to a Red Devon bull for fall calving. Calves will be
1/2 Red Devon from Rotokawa 688 and are ideal for
grass-finishing. Asking $900 each. Contact Philip Landis at [email protected].
FOR SALE — 2 Jersey Heifers, 3 Jersey Cows, and 1 Ayrshire Cow for sale. All would make good family cows
for a small farm. All are open now and will be breed for
April-May of 2012. We need to downsize our herd and
we would like to sell these animals this fall. Serious
inquires only please contact Kris @ 570-441-3002 or at
[email protected]
FOR SALE — Lard, Stewing Hens & Organ Meats. USDA
inspected and processed lard for sale from small farm
raised pigs, $3.50/lbs, some beef fat available, great to
use for suet or pet food supplement also from USDA
inspected plant $2.50/lbs. Ground organ meats from
pastured pigs, chickens, beef and lambs for use as pet
food $3.50/lbs. Heritage breed stewing hens from a
pastured poultry farm available for $3.50/lbs. All of
these items are frozen. Call 570-854-4621 or email me
FOR SALE — Milking Devon cattle herd reduction.
Registered American Milking Devon Cattle. Proven
herd sire, yearling heifers, and heifer calves. Solid,
diverse, bloodlines. You haul from Central Pennsylvania. Call Dave at 570-769-7344 or email
[email protected].
FOR SALE — Rototiller, New Holland 105A. 60”
rototiller. All tines are in good shape, it’s just a little
dusty from sitting for the past year. I have moved up to
a 7’ tiller, so it’s time to sell the 5 footer! Asking $1500.
Call 814-312-3316.
FOR SALE — chicken butchering equipment including
Poultry man Plucker $1,300, Poultry man rotary scalder
$2,000, stainless chicken cones (5@$45 each) and
turkey cones (2@$75each). Stainless table - $150, plastic poultry crates - $20/each or $200 for all 12 – buy
individually or pay $3500 for all. Contact Dave, 814371-1033.
FOR SALE — Farmette located in West Marlborough
Township, Southern Chester County. This gorgeous
property is situated on 3.5 level acres, and borders over
60 acres of open space that is in conservation. Contact
us with questions or for more detailed information,
Rob at 610-910-6210 or [email protected]
AVAILABLE
FARMING OPPORTUNITIES — Experience intensive
farming on a two-acre spread. We are empty-nesters
willing to share our farming adventures with one adult
or two. We can provide year-around housing rent-free
if you can help us with our gardens, orchard, chickens,
sheep, composting, and building maintenance. For a
look at our place, go to guineahengarden.com. Contact me with thoughts and questions at
[email protected].
FREE FILL SOIL — Havertown, PA. We have a bunch of
free fill soil that we are looking to get rid of from putting in a patio. A lot of it is already bagged up so transporting would be relatively easy without a pickup
truck, etc. Feel free to contact us at 610-574-4552.
FREE DISTILLERS WET GRAIN — Pittsburgh Distilling
Company, a new, artisan distillery in Pittsburgh’s Strip
District, will start production in late summer or early
fall. We will be distilling whiskey from wheat, rye and
barley. We will have available spent, wet distiller grains
that historically have been used to supplement feed
for cattle or pigs. We will need a person who has the
need for spent grains on a weekly basis and can pick up
the wet grains at our distillery in the Strip District.
Unlike dried grains, the wet grains have a short shelf
life and must be used rather quickly. We can discuss
the logistics of pickup and transportation if you have
an interest. There will be no charge for the grains. In a
short time, we hope to be using only organic grains,
which should add to the value of the wet grains as a
feed supplement. Contact Mark Meyer, phone: 412721-1104 and/or [email protected].
HOUSING AVAILABLE — Looking for an individual
interested in living in a rural area and try small scale
agriculture. I have a 4 bedroom house and 2.2 acres in
Catawissa Township, Columbia County. I am going to
Japan so need someone of quality. 2 friendly male
graduate students currently renting rooms. Contact:
LuAn Keller, [email protected], 570-784-2262,
Catawissa, PA
WANTED
WANTED — I’m looking to rent a dairy farm from
someone. I’m looking for a 70 or 80 acers of land. I have
my own farm equipment to use. E-mail me at
[email protected] if you have a dairy farm available from Lenhartsville, Pa to south of Pottsville, PA.
WANTED — Intern, Yellow Springs Farm Native Plant
Nursery and Artisanal Goat Cheese Dairy is looking for
a farm intern to assist in management of the Nubian
goat herd, milking, cheesemaking, Cheese CSA,
Farmer’s Markets, Nursery Management and Bee Hive
Management. Position can start Aug/September
through December. Housing is a possiblity if needed.
Monthly stipend. Call Al Renzi at 610-827-2014 or email
32
WANTED — business partner. Looking for partner in
herbal and wellness business in Southern York County.
Need expertise in gardening, mowing, growing herbs
in organic environment. Housing available upon
request and negotiable. Please call 443-956-7227, if
interested.
WANTED — house with land. We are looking to rent a
3-4 brm house with an acre or so of land in Chester,
Montgomery or Delaware County. We are in the
process of transitioning out of our current careers and
into farming. This package also comes with two great
kids, a dog, 3 cats, 8 chickens and a dedicated, determined, strong family with a great sense of humor. If
you think you might have something that would be a
fit, we would love to hear from you. Lisa & Tom, [email protected]
WANTED — help at USDA slaughter & processing
plant. We are looking for a worker for our USDA slaughter and processing plant near Latrobe, PA. M-F 73:30pm Will train for meat cutting, packaging & clean
up. Salary based on experience. Email: [email protected]
EMPLOYMENT
PASA EASTERN REGION PROGRAM ASSISTANT —
position available in our Exton office. Visit pasafarming.org/resources/pasa-employment for a full job
description.
ORGANIC MARKET GARDEN & PERMACULTURE
INTERNSHIP — Live and work on our beautiful 5-acre
organic market garden, bioshelter, and permaculture
demonstration and education facility. We will provide
fun, customized learning opportunities, fresh healthy
food, camping, and gorgeous Pennsylvania scenery.
Interns are expected to work 30–40 hours a week. We
typically work in the morning, take a long afternoon
break (to cool off in the creek), then work again in the
early evening. Three Sisters is an educational facility,
and we are planning to host a permaculture design
course in the late summer and other workshops
throughout the season. Intern participation can be
worked out. Email: [email protected]
INTERNSHIP — on sustainable produce & pastured
poultry farm. Live and work on our beautiful 83-acre
Wayne County farm. We raise, row crops, berries, and
pastured chicken. We specialize in potatoes, onions,
and berries, but grow over 30 types of row crops. We
sell them thru local markets, restaurants, and CSA
shares locally and in Philadelphia. Duties include:
planting, harvesting, weeding, and marketing &
chicken care. Living quarters on or off farm available.
www.greenpasturefarms.com. Location: Starucca, PA
18462. Email: [email protected]
INTERNSHIP — Pennsylvania Certified Organic internship available! Handle correspondence, provide information to clients, perform office duties, prepare for
events, and support the certification team. Visit our
website: www.paorganic.org/job_openings.htm or call
814-422-0251.
FARMER WANTED — in Hudson NY. Pleroma Farm is
looking for someone to help us run our small livestock
business. Pleroma Farm (www.pleromafarm.com), a
small biodynamic livestock operation and therapeutic
retreat center in Hudson, NY. Applicants must have a
minimum of one year experience with livestock, farm
machinery, and organic or biodynamic methods. Most
importantly, we desire someone with real initiative.
Contact [email protected]
LIVE & WORK ON LICKING CREEK BEND FARM —
organic fruit and vegetable farm (Needmore, PA). Great
opportunity to learn the basics of raising and selling
sustainably grown produce. Located in Pennsylvania’s
Allegheny Mountains, north of Berkley Springs, West
Virginia just under two hours from the
Washington/Baltimore Beltway. Visit lickingcreekbendfarm.com to learn more or contact [email protected]
Calendar
*PASA Field Day
For more details regarding PASA Field
Days visit pasafarming.org/
farmbasededucation or contact Rebecca,
814-349-9856 x20 or
[email protected]
Below are listed PASA events, in addition to
several hosted by like-minded organizations/individuals we thought our membership would like to know more about.
Editor’s Note:
PASA’s Grassfed Beef Cook Off
PASA wanted to inform members & others who
may have had interest in participating in our
annual Grassfed Geef Cook Off that we will be
not be hosting this event in 2011. A group of
staff, volunteers and food industry folks will be
meeting over the coming months — so stay
tuned in the coming year for more information
regarding an improved Cook Off program.
August
n August 17–19
Penn State University’s Ag Progress Days.
To learn more visit
http://agsci.psu.edu/apd/about
n August 22
*PASA Field Day — Hands-on Specialized
Equipment for Vegetable Production
The Seed Farm, Lehigh Co.
In partnership with the Seed Farm; funds provided by EPA, region III
n August 26
*PASA Field Day — Niche Farming in Diverse
Times: The Role of Kunekune Pigs on a New
Farm
Black Valley Farm, Bedford Co.
n August 31
*PASA Intensive Learning Program —
On-Farm Poultry Processing: From Hands-On
Processing to Planning & Exemptions
Poultry Man LLC, Union Co.
In collaboration with Penn State Cooperative
Extension; sponsored by The Fertrell Company
September
n September 8
*PASA Field Day — Sheep: Nutrition, Handling
& Health Concerns
Owens Farm, Northumberland Co.
n September 10
*PASA Field Day — Growing, Harvesting &
Marketing Ginseng
Western PA, Location TBA
In partnership with Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center
n September 10
PASA’s Northwest PA Farm Tour: Butler,
Beaver, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, and Warren
Counties. Contact Alissa Matthews at
[email protected] or 412-365-2985.
n September 13
*PASA Field Day — Late Season Care for Bees
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33
Two Gander Farm, Berks Co.
Funds provided by EPA, region III
n September 17
PASA’s Southwest PA Farm Tour: Allegheny,
Armstrong, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties. Contact
Alissa Matthews at [email protected] or
412-365-2985.
n September 24–25
Mother Earth News Fair, Seven Springs Resort,
Somerset Co. PASA is sponsoring this event,
so come by & see us. For tickets & details visit
www.motherearthnews.com/fair/home.aspx
n September 25
PASA’s Bike Fresh Bike Local – Chester County;
registration available at pasafarming.org/bikefresh
n September 25
Greater Lehigh Valley Buy Fresh Buy Local
Chapter — Taste of Lehigh Valley, Melt
Restaurant, Center Valley, PA. Visit buylocalgreaterlehighvalley.org for details & tickets.
n September 28
*PASA Field Day — Briars to Bovines: Reclaiming Abandoned Farmland
Provident Farms, Tioga Co.
Sponsored by The Fertrell Company
Visit PASA online at
www.pasafarming.org
Membership
& Contribution Form
Please clip this application and return with payment to:
PASA Membership, PO Box 419, Millheim, PA 16854
or join online at pasafarming.org
Membership Contact Information Please list the main contact for the membership
Join Our Good Food Neighborhood™
Name
— a community of people who care about local
food & businesses
Company/Farm
Address
CONSUMER MEMBERSHIP
CONSUMER MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
City
State
ZIP+4
County
Home Phone
• Personalized seasonal product updates from local food providers
on buylocalpa.org.
Work Phone
E-mail
Web Address
• Insider info on food & beverage tastings, farm tours and other
local food events in your neck of the woods.
Are you farming:
• Weekly event & educational news from PASA.
How did you learn about PASA:
NO
YES — how many acres:
• A subscription to Eaters Digest, monthly e-newsletter on good
food news in Pennsylvania (and beyond).
• A seat at the Community Table, where neighbors connect around
local food shopping, cooking and learning. Our Community Table
Program helps you make LOCAL connections. Reach out to your
Good Food Neighbors to form or join a group to either discuss a
local food topic or organize a local foods activity.
CONSUMER MEMBERSHIP
Individual
$ 30
FULL PASA MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
• Discounts on apparel and other goods purchased from the buylocalpa.org marketplace.
• The satisfaction of knowing that you are helping to sustain agriculture in your region
Individual
Individual — Two Year RENEWAL Membership (Save $10)
$ 45
Note: Two year membership options are for current members RENEWING only!
$ 80
Family/Farm Please complete field below
Family/Farm — Two Year RENEWAL Membership (Save $10)
$ 70
Note: Two year membership options are for current members RENEWING only!
$ 130
Sustaining Lifetime Member
$ 1,400
Please complete the Family/Farm Membership field below
FULL PASA MEMBERSHIP
Nonprofit Please complete field below
$ 100
FULL PASA MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
Business Please complete field below
$ 150
• A subscription to our bimonthly, Passages newsletter
Business Patron
PASA will contact you for the 12 names of those to receive individual
membership benefits.
• Discounted admission to our annual conference, field day &
intensive learning programs
$ 500
Please complete the Nonprofit/Business Membership field below
• Invitations to other special events, such as membership potlucks
& Harvest Celebration dinners
$ 3,000
Family/Farm or Sustaining Lifetime Membership
• Event promotion via our website & newsletter
Please list all names for this Family/Farm membership. You may include children between the ages
of 14–22, and also multiple generations directly involved in the farm.
• Free classified ad and discounted display advertising in Passages
• Voting privileges for board of director elections & bylaws
• Membership networking opportunities regionally & via PASA
discussion groups
• Discounts on Buy Fresh Buy Local® partner fees (coordinated
through local chapters)
Nonprofit / Business / Permanent Business Partner Membership
Please list up to two additional people associated with your business to receive individual
membership privileges.
• Assistance with Food Alliance sustainable certification
• The satisfaction of knowing that you are helping to sustain
agriculture in your region
DONATIONS
PAYMENT
Consider lending extra support to these two PASA funds.
The Annual Fund supports PASA’s basic
operations.
Total amount due
Card No.
$
VISA
$
The Arias M. Brownback Scholarship
Fund helps those wishing to learn about
$
sustainable agriculture attend the annual
conference regardless of financial position.
Check Payable to PASA
MasterCard
Discover
Exp. Date
Cardholder Name
Credit Card Complete at
Signature
right
PASA is a registered 501 (C) 3 organization and contributions are tax exempt. The official registration and financial information of Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of
State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
34
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Vietnam and Food Sovereignty
See cover story
3
1. A friendly smile from a resident of
Hanoi, who would also remember what
happened there during the war.
2. The busy meat counter at the Bac Ha
(Vietnam) market, one of the largest in
Southeast Asia, provides new perspective on issues of food safety.
1
3. Typical vendors along a busy street in
Hanoi, Vietnam. Note the variety of
herbs, fruits and vegetables, and fresh
meats sitting out on table for buyers to
see and choose.
2
0$< -81(
ANNUAL
3rd
PASA Summer
FARM START
www.pasafarming.org/farmstart
, QVSLUHG(YHQWV $QQRXQFHPHQWV
6KRZFDVLQJ)DPLO\)DUPV /RFDO)RRG6\VWHPV
1
2
1. At the Meet Your Farmer Happy Hour,
Abbe Turner and John McElhattan of Lucky
Penny Farm and Creamery are pleased to
have PASA Board Member Jamie Moore
sample their farmstead cheese (see page 15).
2. Secretary of Agriculture George Greig
expressed his commitment to raw milk and
local foods at the FARM START closing
ceremony (see page 14).
3. Paul Lawler of Fair Food Philly (right) provided candied bacon to be paired with PASA
Board Member Sue Miller’s (left) Birchrun
Hills Farm cheeses at the fundraiser held for
PASA (see page 15).
3
5
4. Oil artist Patricia Walach Keough was one
of 13 artists working en plein aire at the Art on the Farm event at Dickinson College Farm (see page 15).
5. Pictured (left to right) are Closing Ceremony speakers: Ned MacArthur of Natural by Nature, Hannah Smith
and Brian Snyder of PASA, Board Member Sue Miller, Secretary Greig of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture,
and Thomas & Barbara Schaer of Meadowset Farm. Joining the speakers is FARM START sponsor Terry Brett of
Kimberton Whole Foods (see page 14).
35
4
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
State College, PA
Permit No. 213
Pennsylvania
Association for
Sustainable Agriculture
PO Box 419 • Millheim, PA 16854-0419
We Are the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture
For almost 20 years, the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) has worked to
transform agriculture and food systems in Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic so that our farmers are
more successful, our lands are replenished and improved, and our food and
farm practices support the health and
wellbeing of all of our citizens.
PASA continues working to bring
farmers together to learn from each
other, and to build relationships
between those farmers and consumers looking for fresh, wholesome,
locally and sustainably produced food.
www.pasafarming.org
Our Programs & Services
© JAMES TUTOR, ISTOCKPHOTO
Membership
As a PASA member, you’ll be plugged into a community of people working hard to ensure access
to a safe and healthy local food system.
Education
Each year over 2,000 people come together for
our Farming for the Future Conference, one of the
largest and most respected gatherings on this
topic anywhere in the U.S. The conference is followed by a full season of Field Days and Intensive
Learning Programs, as well as regionalized Master
Classes, delivering practical information on sustainable farming methods.
Advocacy
In coalition with other organizations, we monitor
legislative activities on statewide and national levels, making recommendations for policies that
promote farmland preservation, farmer retention,
protection of natural resources, and increased
access to healthy food.
Community Building
Our member potlucks, websites, workshops, listservs, meetings and programs have created a
growing network of farmers, entrepreneurs and
informed consumers who provide mutual support
for our shared vision: Promoting profitable farms
that produce healthy food for all people while
respecting the natural environment.
Pennsylvania Buy Fresh Buy Local®
Buy Fresh Buy Local chapters in Pennsylvania are
coordinated by PASA, on behalf of our national
partner, FoodRoutes Network.
Food Alliance
PASA has partnered with Food Alliance to deliver
a trusted, third-party certification to our region’s
farms, processors, food buyers and consumers.
The Food Alliance Certified seal ensures safe and
fair working conditions, humane treatment of animals, and careful stewardship of ecosystems.

Vietnam and Food Sovereignty Vietnam and Food Sovereignty

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