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Pennypack Pickings
Special Edition
Community Dinner
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Click
above to donate now or mail a check made payable to Pennypack Farm.
All donations are
tax deductible.
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Thank You to Our Fabulous Event Committee
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Thank you to our fabulous event committee
Alice Berendzen
Janice Blades
Susan Curry
Susan DeMinico
Angela DiCarne (chair)
Marilyn Frazier
Stephen Forbus
Rosemary Mann
Julie McCabe McGarvey
Lavonne Reardon
Anthony Spangler
Jackee Swartz
Cheryl Wilks Scherbner
Mary Wilson
Our sponsors:
ColorFile VCS
Southwest Airlines
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
And our team of energetic volunteers
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Volunteers Wanted
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Do you love to plan events?
Want to join this dynamic team?
Plans are underway for our 2011 event.
To volunteer email Angela: adicarne@gmail.com
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Sustainable Living is
Locally Grown. . .
That was the theme at last week's first annual Community
Dinner at the Talamore Country Club. The purpose of the event was three
fold: to introduce our local
community to the farm and its diverse programs, to honor 'volunteer
extraordinaire', Joe Ingersoll, and to raise funds to support our programs.
Nearly 300 individuals, many who were not familiar with
Pennypack Farm were treated to a dinner of sustainably produced foods, a video
presentation about the history and future of the farm, and both a silent and
live auction. The funds raised that evening will support our 3 major programs:
education, food security, and sustainable living.
Many of the guests were surprised to learn that:
- Pennypack Farm educates more than 3000 children and adults annually with programs that
aim to demonstrate the connection between nature and food.
- Each week our fresh, organically grown produce is distributed to three area
food cupboards. With 20% of Montgomery County residents at risk for
hunger, we feel passionate about providing fresh produce to those who
might otherwise not have access to it. We also offer subsidized CSA shares
to needy families.
- When Pennypack Farm began farming in 2003, the land had been treated with
synthetic chemicals for years, and the soils were nearly void of the
necessary micro-organisms to sustain life. After 7 years of purposefully
building the soil, the property now supports hundreds of different crops.
Pennypack Farm works in harmony with the land.
If these items are important to you, please consider
supporting the farm, YOUR farm with a donation. It's easy, go to our website at
www.pennypackfarm.org and click on
the "make a donation" icon or, send a check to Pennypack Farm & Education
Center at 685 Mann Road, Horsham, PA 19044.
As we are wrapping up the details from this event, ideas are
already being generated for next year. We hope you'll join us in 2011. But
don't wait until next year to make a difference with a donation. Just like the
theme of the dinner indicates, sustainable living (including financial
sustainability) is locally grown - it begins with you, our members.
Kristy Gregory
President, PFEC
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View this presentation from the dinner and
learn more about all the programs offered at Pennypack Farm.
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Welcome Speech
by Margot Bradley
PFEC Administrative Director
In April 2000, a group of committed citizens, many of whom are here tonight, joined together to create a nonprofit farm. Our dream was to find a place and a farmer who would grow healthy food on suburban land;
- preserving our local farming heritage
- improving our soil
- protecting our watershed
- educating our children
- providing a tangible foundation for sustainable living in our community.
At the same time, The College Settlement of Philadelphia, a nonprofit camp, was creating a land stewardship plan for its 235 acres in Horsham. That plan included devoting 26 acres bordering Mann Road to community based farming. The Natural Lands Trust introduced us. The partnership grew. In 2003 we signed a lease that formalized our intent to farm this land using organic practices and provide farm-based programming for their summer camps and Outdoor School. Donors and volunteers, attracted by our joint vision, came forward.
Today the farm is a suburban oasis. Food for over 340 families and 3 food banks grows protected by deer fencing that was designed and erected by a volunteer who you will meet tonight. The tiny trees we planted so optimistically 8 years ago are bearing fruit.
Visitors to the farm find themselves slowing down. Every sense is engaged. Children learn that real food comes from the earth (not the supermarket) and is grown for them by farmers they know. They learn that fresh vegetables taste great! We all learn that the more we feed the soil, the better the soil will feed us. Our educational programs reach across generations, our food security programs reach across communities, our watershed is healthier.
In short, our community is more sustainable........ |
Event Highlights
 The evening started off with a silent auction
for items generously donated by members and local businesses. Margot Bradley and Kristy Gregory welcomed a
crowd of over 300 as they were treated to a fresh salad with produce harvested
from Pennypack Farm.
Guests enjoyed local, humanely-raised food while
celebrating recent and past successes of the farm.
 A video presentation followed, detailing what
Pennypack Farm does as an organic, community-based CSA. Pastor Jay Newlin of Loaves and Fishes Food
Cupboard reflected upon Pennypack's assistance with its food bank, while Frank
Gerome of The College Settlement of Philadelphia spoke about the value of
farm-based education for children. Harm Scherpbier introduced Joe Ingersoll to the
crowd. Joe was honored with
Pennypack's inaugural "Volunteer of the Year" award in recognition of the
outstanding contributions he has made over the past six years.
Susan Curry then welcomed Judy  Wicks to the
stage. Judy, founder of the White
Dog Café, is an international leader in the sustainable living movement. Her powerful words inspired a feeling
of environmental stewardship among those in attendance. A live auction was held to raise funds for the
nonprofit farm's educational and charitable food donation expenses.
   
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Hosted by the College Settlement of Philadelphia
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