Header-Blossom-Snap Peas
Pennypack Pickings

March 30, 2014

Volume 12, Issue 5

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If you are on Facebook, please visit our page.  This is where you will find up to date information on what is going on at each of the farms.  What are we planting and harvesting, working up in the fields and so on.  We'll also be posting farm events, related news and topics.  See you there.

Spring Cleaning!

Are you looking to get rid of any of these items?

 

Compact Refrigerator:
No wider than 30"

 

Small Dresser:
30" and ~18" deep

 

DVD Player
(for the apprentice house)

 

Contact Katie@pennypackfarm.org if you would like to donate them to Pennypack Farm.

Sustainability

Film Series

Senator Daylin Leach, sponsor of SB 653 requiring GMO labeling, is on the panel!

 

GMO OMG

Tuesday, April 8

Ambler Theater

 6:00pm - Sponsor Expo

7:30pm - Film Starts

9:00pm - Panel Discussion

GMO OMG

 

GMO OMG director and concerned father Jeremy Seifert is in search of answers. How do GMOs affect our children, the health of our planet, and our freedom of choice? And perhaps the ultimate question, which Seifert tests himself: is it even possible to reject the food system currently in place, or have we lost something we can't gain back? These and other questions take Seifert on a journey from his family's table to Haiti, Paris, Norway, and the lobby of agra-giant Monsanto, from which he is unceremoniously ejected. Along the way we gain insight into a question that is of growing concern to citizens the world over: what's on your plate?

 

 

Celebrate Spring

at The Highlands

Wine Tasting
at The HIghlands
Saturday, April 12
5-7 pm

Sample regional wines and delicacies

Featuring wines from:
Karamoor Estate
Grace Winery
Lieb Cellars

Open Bar, hors d'oeuvres
Valet parking, Live Music

Silent Auction including:
Pennypack Farm Highlands CSA Share
Tour for two of Karamoor Estate Winery

For more information
contact The Highlands
at 215-641-2556 or mbb@highlandshistorical.org

Spring is Here and the Vegetables are Planted!

Tell Your Friends, Neighbors and Co-Workers:
CSA shares are available NOW!

 

Once upon a time we sold out of CSA shares for the coming year way back in January... families had to wait 2-3 years on a waitlist.
No more... with 2 sites we have room for everyone... 

Send in an application and deposit now, we are extending the date for the 

final payment until May 15.

Bean Bed

Summer Squash  

 The Horsham Site Application

 

Refer a friend who purchases a CSA share by April 25th .. you get free admission to our Pesto Class on Tuesday April 29th from 7-9pm at Resurrection Lutheran Church. Email Margot to claim admission. 

 

 

For your choice of location and pickup days: please do not delay.

Sign up for your CSA share NOW!

What's for dinner tonight?

Did you have breakfast this morning?

 

In the U.S. more than 1 in 5 children don't know where their next meal is coming from. In the five-county Philadelphia region, over half a million people struggle to buy groceries for their families.
This is why Pennypack Farm is once again participating in the
Stroehmann's Walk Against Hunger.

 

April 12th will mark the 4th year that Pennypack Farm has participated in this event. The money our team raises through donations offsets the cost of providing locally grown, chemical-free produce to families throughout our growing area.

 

To date we have raised $725 in pledges.
Our goal is $3500 - so you can see that we have a ways to go.

 

Please help us by making a donation today - Click Here to Donate
(and don't forget you can double your money
if your company offers a match):

Walk for Hunger 2013

Devin Barto Horsham Update

by Farmer Devin Barto, Horsham Farm Manager

 

The heavy work load of the spring planting season is here. Onion plants are due to arrive this week, raspberry plants next week, transplanting kale and broccoli begins late this week. Carrots, beets, salad turnips, radishes, salad mixes, will all get direct seeded very soon. Spring fennel, celery, chard, and my favorite celeriac will be planted in the next few weeks as well.  We are all feeling well rested and ready for the workload.  This weekends rain will put our planting and field work back a few days but it looks like it will be a nice warm week.

Workshare Opportunity

 

We are looking for 3 workshare  helpers at the Clark Park Market this summer running from may to November. It is a 10 unit workshare opportunity. The market takes place on Saturdays and the day starts and 7 and ends at 4. It is a really fun and exciting market. Email Devin if you are interested or would like more information.

Eating Locally & Living Sustainably
for Today's Families 

Wednesday, April 9, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Upper Dublin Township Building, Fort Washington

 

Click here for printable flyer

   

Diane Diffenderfer Notes from the Edible Classroom

by Diane Diffenderfer, Education Director

 

I guess Ol' Phil was right with his prediction of 6 more weeks of Winter.  Does he ever predict an "early" Spring?  The peas are in and we are definitely ready for sandals, shorts and tee-shirts.  Here's what's been going on in the ECs:

 

Kitchen Knife Skills Class Gets Rave Reviews:  Kathy and Dick Daddario teach this class for us.  It is a perennial favorite and sells out every year. Here are few comments from the class evaluation form:

 

Knife Skills What did you enjoy most?

"Learning how wrong I was previously using these tools!"

"Correct hand positioning, how to cut onions & garlic paste!"

"Friendly atmosphere"

 

Testimonials --

"All CSA members should learn the right way to honor their veggies with the proper cuts!"

"Maximize your vegetables & minimize your work."

 

In addition to learning how to prepare a wide variety of veggies, attendees are treated to complimentary knife sharpening by Dick. If you've never taken this class, mark your calendars for next March!  You'll be glad you did.

 

Edible Classroom

Planting Peas with local kindergartners! On Friday I had the absolute pleasure of spending several hours at Groveland Elementary School, just north of Doylestown.  Despite the dreary weather, all 5 kindergarten classes (almost 100 kids) journeyed into the school's lovely garden, where each child planted his or her own pea.  In addition to planting, the kids had a grand time digging for worms and we had an impromptu conversation about roots, worm anatomy and why we love those little veggie recyclers!

 


Cob Oven -- Building Workshop!  Mark your calendars now!  Ambler resident, Sigi Koko, is going to lead a 2-day workshop for us the weekend of August 2 - 3 at The Highlands.  This is going to be great - we'll gather to mix the cob (sand, clay and straw), lay fire brick, and create our very own cob oven.  Following a 4 - 6 week cure period, we'll be able to make our own "brick oven pizzas" in the Edible Classroom!  Details to be announced soon.  Check out Sigi's blog for a step-by-step overview of what we'll be building.

 

Have a great week and I'll see you around the farms.

Spring Calendar - REGISTER ONLINE

  

Seeds & Sprouts Classes at the Highlands 

Thursdays in April - 3, 10, 17 & 24

Seeds (ages 3 & 4) 9:30 - 10:30am; Sprouts (ages 5 & 6) 11am - 12noon

$8.00 per child/per class - Click here for flyer

Children bring their favorite grownup and learn about vegetables and what makes the garden grow best. A themed story, craft, farm tour or hands on activity in the garden make this an enjoyable morning outdoors. Siblings 2 and under are welcome to tag along free of charge.  

  

 

basil Herb & Pesto Night with Beth Miller, Master Food Preserver

Tuesday, April 29, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

$15.00 plus $5.00 collected at class for materials

Does the smell of fresh basil bring joy to your senses?  Do you salivate for the aroma of sage or tarragon? If so join us for Herb & Pesto Night, where we will learn tips on drying and storing herbs, and will make q jar of pesto to take home.  Bring an apron, a 6 - 8 oz jar with a lid (jelly jar or similar), and a sealable plastic bag to transport your jar of pesto safely home.

 

 

Cooking the CSA Way with Matt and Meredith Beck
New and Tasty Recipes for Your June Share!
Thursday, May 22, 7:00 - 9:00 pm; $15.00

Always a fun and interesting evening and this year we have new presentors!  Matt and Meredith Beck will create new and great tasting recipes with a typical, early summer veggie share.

Matt is a chef, trained at the restaurant School in Philadelphia and has more than 20 years experience in the food service industry ranging from country clubs to corporate dining.  Last year, Matt was one of our guest chefs at our Farm-to-Table Dinner.  Meredith is a Registered Dietician and she, Matt and their children are CSA members.  



Wildman Steve Brill Foraging Walks with Steve Brill

Sunday, June 1  -- Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust - 1 - 3pm

Sunday, August 10 -- Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust - 1 - 3pm

Sunday, October 5 -- Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust - 1 - 3pm

 

Horsham Site is hosted by the College Settlement of Philadelphia
Pennypack Farms