Pennypack Farm Education Center For Sustainable Food Systems

PENNYPACK FARM & EDUCATION CENTER IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO INCREASING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE HEALTH, ECONOMIC, ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES INVOLVED IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS. OUR MISSION CAN BEST BE SUMMARIZED AS "GROW-GIVE-TEACH". WE GROW ORGANIC, SEASONAL VEGETABLES YEAR-ROUND IN EASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. WE GIVE THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE TO LOCAL FOOD CUPBOARDS, HELPING TO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE. WE TEACH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE VALUE OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM, HOW TO GROW FOOD ORGANICALLY AND SUSTAINABLY AND HOW TO IMPROVE FAMILY HEALTH THROUGH COOKING AND EATING WELL.

WE GROW: PFEC USES SUSTAINABLE, ORGANIC FARMING TECHNIQUES TO GROW FOOD THAT SERVES THE 400+ HOUSEHOLDS WHO PURCHASE HARVEST SHARES OF THE YEAR-ROUND GROWING SEASON AND TO DONATE TO OUR FOUR PARTNERING FOOD CUPBOARDS. THE PURPOSE OF OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA) PROGRAM IS TO BRING ORGANICALLY GROWN PRODUCE TO THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMUNITY THROUGH PAID MEMBERSHIPS (CSA MEMBERS) AS WELL AS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE. WE GIVE: OUR PRODUCE DONATION PROGRAM HAS THE CORE GOAL OF GETTING FRESH, NUTRITIOUS PRODUCE TO THOSE FACING FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE GIVE WEEKLY DONATIONS OF A PORTION OF OUR HARVEST TO REGIONAL FOOD CUPBOARDS WHOSE CLIENTS WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE. WE OFFER A SLIDING SCALE FEE STRUCTURE TO COMMUNITY HOUSEHOLDS WITH LOW INCOMES WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE COST OF A TYPICAL CSA SHARE. THIS PROVIDES CRITICAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES THAT ARE CLEARLY COMMITTED TO GOOD NUTRITION BUT ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD THE FULL COST OF PURCHASING A TYPICAL SHARE OR OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE.

WE TEACH: THE EDUCATION PROGRAM BRINGS INFORMATION ABOUT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND LIFESTYLE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH OUR ANNUAL SUSTAINABILITY FILM SERIES, CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS, OUR ANNUAL FARM HARVEST FEST, TOURS, TALKS, AND WALKS. OUR COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM WITH THE COLLEGE SETTLEMENT TEACHES OVER 3,000 YOUNG CAMPERS / STUDENTS ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF FOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ORGANIC FARMING. WE OFFER A COMPREHENSIVE FARM APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS, AS WELL AS OFFERING FARMING INTERNSHIPS.