The Highlands 

Mansion & Gardens

presents

Tea & Symphony

Chamber Music Concert

Sunday, February 23

2PM-4PM

To reserve your space, please call The Highlands at 215-641-2687.

Highlands Members $20

Non-Members $25

After a week of icy, bleak, stressful conditions there was a light at the end of the tunnel for the farmers of Pennypack Farm and Education Center.

On Thursday, we journeyed to State College to attend PASA's 23rd annual Farming for The Future Conference. The conference is absolutely amazing in many different ways. First there are many different classes to choose from. Some of the classes Pennypack farmers attended were Animal-Powered Farming: The Path To Draft, Cold Hardy Winter Vegetables, Modifying/Making & Using Your Own Equipment, The Business of Farming: Farm Record Keeping 2.0, Successful Farm Internship Programs: A View From Both Sides, and Low-Cost Hacks: Mobile Pens, Hoophouse Rain Water Irrigation Systems & More. Another reason that the PASA Conference is amazing is because there are just so many different types of people there. Everyone has an idea in their heads of what a typical farmer looks like. The farmers at PASA are anything but that typical farmer idea. There are Amish, idealists, dreadlocks, conventional farmers, cowboy boots, commune farmers, flannel shirts, piercings, families, duct-tape shoes, hipsters, foodies, organic farmers, consumers, and administrators. Each of these groups come together in this place to learn, gain skills and knowledge.  The common thread between them all is ingenuity, honesty, perseverance, and mutual respect.

The conference definitely warmed the spirits of all the Pennypack Farmers. It's given us all a fire to get on the farm, accomplish our goals, and have an amazing 2014 season! 

There are still openings at both farms

 The Horsham Site Application

More berries at both sites, lots of improvements based on survey results!

North Star Orchards will be at both sites.

CSA add-ons to be picked up at The Highlands site...  What is this?

The first add-on share will be a cow cheese share... Margot and Ray met with Brian Futhey from Stone Meadow Farm and will be working with Brian to bring you his fantastic cheddar, havarti, colby and navarre... details coming soon. Check out this video about Brian and his cheeses.

Sign up for your CSA share NOW!

I've had a busy couple of weeks; here's what I've been doing:

Pruning the grapes:  A thorough winter pruning will almost always promote a heavier fruit set in the summer.  In mid-January, Steve Waxman, owner of Ambler's Trax Cafe and longtime PFEC supporter, met me at Horsham to lend a hand pruning the EC vines.  In just an hour, we had the vines trimmed, thinned and reattached to the arbor.  As the weather warms, I'll likely do some additional pruning and ground prep. Steve suggested I add some stones to the base of each primary vine because grapes prefer a rocky environment.  Next time you're in Ambler and have a few minutes to spare, stop by the Trax Cafe for a bite to eat and check out Steve's vines gracing the doorways.

Meeting with area teachers and school administrators:  Our new Farm-Based Education brochures are printed and I'm sending them to local school administrators and teachers.  Winter is a great time to get out into the schools and talk with folks about how PFEC can serve as an educational resource and destination.  A copy of the brochure is attached; please feel free to print and share it with your local school(s).  If you'd like additional copies, please send me an email at: education@pennypackfarm.org. 

Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) Conference: Last week I joined several of our farm staff and members 

of PFEC's Board of Directors at PASA's annual conference in State College. The workshops ran the spectrum from biodynamic agricultural practices to animal-powered farming to keys for successful intern- and apprenticeship programs.  The conference also offers time and opportunity for staff to talk with other farmers and trade ideas, experiences and recipes.  Yes, food is always front and center in many PASA conversations!  The farm foots the bill for all the farmers and it is truly money well spent and an investment in the farm's future.

Stay warm over the next several weeks - Spring in just around the corner!