Help PFEC Win a New Truck on July 12!

Like it or not, July is just around the corner and that means that it's getting close to the time to vote for Pennypack Farm on Toyota's 100 Cars for Good Facebook page. JULY 12 is the big day!

Please spread the word-ask your friends, co-workers, family to vote on JULY 12! If each of us asks 5 people to vote and they ask 5 people-just think of the chances! The organization with the most votes on July 12th wins!!

How to access the application to vote for our organization:

• Log into Facebook BEFORE attempting to vote
• Visit www.Facebook.com/Toyota and click on the 100 Cars for Good link on the left-hand side OR visit http://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/
• Note: Depending on individual security settings, it may be necessary to "allow" access to the voting app. You are not required to "like" the application in order to vote. In addition, it's important to use a modern, up to date browser.

Why would Pennypack Farm like a new truck? Our current truck is well used and is not road worthy. We will use a new truck to haul in the harvest from the fields, take our education programs on the road, to transport fresh veggies to area food pantries, and to haul materials. Watch the farm's video at www.Facebook.com/Toyota to hear our farmers explain why we need a new truck.

High School Volunteers at the Farm  

For three weeks in May and into early June this spring Farmer Jess and I had the pleasure of supervising eleven high school seniors. The students from Barrack Hebrew Academy, Abington Friends School, and Upper Dublin High School completed their Community Study Program at Pennypack Farm. I would like to convey my appreciation for their hard work by sharing some details their efforts.

We tried to structure each day in such a way that would address the necessary work needed to be done on the farm and fully engage the students. Due to rain, the first week was spent mostly indoor. The students scrubbed the cooler & kitchen floors, painted new signs, and gave the greenhouse a much needed deep cleaning. They also planted all of this season's potatoes. By the second and third weeks, the weather cleared and we were in the fields. They weeded over 2500 feet of bed space of crops including asparagus, tomatoes, rhubarb, peas, spinach, raspberries, blackberries, and carrots. We held a weeding race, which resulted in the boys winning and included the reward of ice cream. Undoubtedly the student's most favorable job was picking strawberries for the Community Appreciation Dinner.

While the lunch table is smaller and somewhat quiet again, I miss their exuberant, youthful, carefree energy. I extend my thanks to Adena, Payne, Kimmy, Shannon, Naiga, Matt, Carolyn, Ashley, David, Clayton, & Cidney for their dedicated work, the shared personal stories, and above all their time. Their combined efforts totaled over 800 hours of service.

Farmer Katie

News from the Edible Classroom  

The Seeds and Sprouts classes have been very busy planting and caring for crops in the Edible Classroom. These young students planted okra, beans, and cucumber directly from seed. They also transplanted sunflowers, nasturtiums, eggplant, and peppers, and even planted potatoes from... potatoes. Ask any one of these tiny tot farmers why worms are good for soil health, how seeds burst from their seed coats to germinate, or why bees are crucial for pollinating crops and they will blow you away with their answers. Have a few minutes to spare while picking up your produce? Grab a watering can, or send the kids in to water, and help the garden grow!