by Devin Barto, Farm Manager

Well spring has arrived at the farms! This time of year days begin early and end late while busily planting all of the crops for the season. Lots of crops have already sprouted and are well on their way. Next week we will start putting tomatoes, summer squash and cucumbers in the ground.  Most crops are looking good and we are expecting to have a strong season. I am personally looking forward to fresh carrots, beets and tomatoes. This time of year is always great in the mornings to walk the fields while the sun is still coming up sipping my coffee planning out the days. 

We have a really strong and amazing staff this season! Be sure when you are around the farms to stop and say hello to the farmers! They are all very pleasant and interesting people who work very hard to make sure you have great vegetables each week!

The CSA is almost full so if you want a share, you'd better sign up this week.

by Diane Diffenderfer, Education Director

We take a broad view of education at PFEC, casting a wide net to include a diverse set of opportunities to teach and be taught.  A quick look at the past several weeks provide several great examples the various roles we play.

Mary Liz Watson (far left) and Katelyn Melvin (far right) and other PFEC staff with the Cuban film crew

Most recently we had the absolute pleasure of hosting the touring crew of the Cuban film, Tierralismo: Stories from a Cooperative Farm. The film is a documentary showing the history and sustainability practices of a Cuban urban farm.  Tierralismo was screened at two Philadelphia locations after tours in Chicago and Detroit. Here's clip of the film: Tierralismo: Stories from a Cooperative Farm.

Ray discussing irrigation with the Cuban film crew

We toured both our farms and had a sumptuous, farmer-made, alfresco lunch.  Over the course of our 5 hours together, we learned how they use magnets to enhance plant growth.  Check out this link:  Agricultural Magnet Use.  We showed them how we create our own seeding mixture, cultivate our fields using a variety of machinery and discussed how we involve our communities in farm activities.

Our first year apprentices started their first off-site class (offered through the PSU Extension Service) - Intro to Organic Vegetable Production.  Ryan and Kirstie came to our apprenticeship with excellent skills and a working knowledge of farming; however, both are learning more by attending this class and talking with other farmers and educators.

I've met several times with small group of dedicated moms who are trying to get a school garden up and running at their local public school.  Together we are strategizing and taking baby steps, showing the school administration how having a school garden benefits everyone.

Finally, with the Spring we welcome new folks to our farming family.  Katelyn Melvin, the Assistant Manager at Horsham, is an herbalist and shares her knowledge through local workshops.  She's also been a judge for PHS's City Garden Program and makes great herb-flavored popcorn!

Mary Liz Watson is farming at The Highlands, having recently relocated from Santa Cruz where she worked at the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems.  Prior to that she was a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana.

We are first and foremost farmers; growing vegetables using organic and sustainable methods.  But look deeper and you'll see we are all educators, constantly challenging ourselves to ask and answer questions and casting an ever widening net.

Have a good week and I hope your peas are in the ground!