News
The 5th Annual Charity Bike Ride & Fun Run
to benefit the Seed Farm
SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday, July 20th
The Seed Farm is proud to announce the annual FARM RIDE and RUN on Saturday, July 20th. The event, now in its fifth year is a great way for runners and cyclists to see Lehigh Valley's many working farms, and learn the importance of preserving open space and our farmers. You will also learn about the Seed Farm’s new farmer training and incubator program.
Cyclists can choose to participate in rides of 10, 20, or 40 miles, while runners and walkers can challenge themselves with a 5K held on the farm grounds.
Cyclists will enjoy rest stops at area farms that are stocked with local, farm fresh snacks, while all participants will receive a catered lunch following their walk, run, or ride. All proceeds go to benefit the Seed Farm. We hope that you will attend our event, and encourage your family and friends to do the same. We also have many volunteer and sponsor opportunities available! For more information, please visit www.theseedfarm.org, or contact Erin at elf145@psu.edu or 610-391-9840.
It's not too late for you to make one of the healthiest 2012 tax deductions possible.
Farming is hard work and cultivating farmers is too. We could not do it without you. We know that in turn the new farmers that learn in our fields will serve our community well. These farmers will keep the Lehigh Valley’s farmland productive using sustainable practices and keep fresh, healthy food in our farmers markets, restaurants and on our tables. With more than 11,000 farmers in Pennsylvania planning to retire in the next 10 years, we need them.
With your support The Seed Farm will continue to provide aspiring farmers with training essential for their success and support new farmers with the resources they need to start and run a farm business.
This is how far your donation can go:
$25 supports an hour of training for five apprentices
$100 supports a day of training
$300 supports a week of training
$4,200 supports a half time scholarship for our nine month training
Every $ helps!
To donate go here.
Take a look at our Case for Giving here.
Take a look at our Annual Report here.
Thank you for all your support over the course of the year!! The Seed Farm is a 501 C3 non profit. All donations are tax deductible.
Don't worry. I don't plan to badger you with more donation emails. Stay on the list to hear about our events and achievements next year.
Sincerely,
Tianna DuPont
Secretary, The Seed Farm Board
Dear Friend,
As the year comes to a close The Seed Farm is busy preparing materials for the 2013 cohort of apprentices in our new farmer training program. We have accepted seven aspiring farmers this year. They are an exciting group with experience on other farms who are ready to buckle down and get the business, farm planning and equipment experience they need to start their own farms. With five times more farmers over 55 than under 35 we need these new farmers.
In 2012 five apprentices were trained at the Seed Farm. This training provides 500 hours of on farm and 100 hours of classroom instruction in essential areas from whole farm planning to safe equipment use and prepares participants to start their own farm business the following year. This year apprentices increased their knowledge and skills in an average of 70 key competency areas including soil fertility, greenhouse management, and marketing.
2012 was the second season for Good Work Farm run by former Seed Farm apprentices Anton Shannon and Sarah Edmonds. As farm stewards they manage their own farm enterprise at the Seed Farm with the land, infrastructure, and mentoring support of the program. This season they managed 4 acres and grew produce for 70 vegetable subscription (CSA) members.
The Seed Farm also hosted a number of field days and classes including Penn State Extension’s Introduction to Organic Vegetable Production course, a Tractor Safety class for farm apprentices, and a field day highlighting our demonstrations of specialized equipment for vegetable production. In all seventy seven farmers participated in workshops on the farm.
Farming is hard work and cultivating farmers is too. We could not do it without you. We know that in turn the new farmers that learn in our fields will serve our community well. These farmers will keep the Lehigh Valley’s farmland productive using sustainable practices and keep fresh, healthy food in our farmers markets, restaurants and on our tables. With more than 11,000 farmers in Pennsylvania planning to retire in the next 10 years, we need them.
Our end of year fundraising goal is $100,000. With your support The Seed Farm will continue to provide aspiring farmers with training essential for their success and support new farmers with the resources they need to start and run a farm business.
This is how far your donation can go:
$100 supports a day of training
$300 supports a week of training
$8,400 supports nine months of training
$250 keeps our greenhouse running for one month
$10,000 buys a new produce cooler
$90 provides new hand hoes and transplanters for six apprentices
$500 maintains our BCS tiller and other small equipment for one year
$1,500 keeps our tractor running
$30,000 provides an additional tractor
Every $20 helps!
Take a look at our Case for Giving here.
Take a look at our Annual Report here.
Thank you for all your support over the course of the year!!
Sincerely,
Sara Runkel, Executive Director
Tianna DuPont, Seed Farm Board Secretary
Jeff Zehr, Seed Farm Board Treasurer
Jeff Moyer, Seed Farm Board President
Listen to Sara Edmonds describe here experience at the Seed Farm on Greenhorns Radio http://tinyurl.com/crm9fu2
Eco-centric: a blog about food, water and energy covered the Seed Farm in their Heros section. Check it out at
http://www.ecocentricblog.org/2012/10/11/heroic-endeavor-the-seed-farm/
Farm to Table Dinner
Sunday October 14, 2012
4-8pm
Join us for the best in local food, wine, and friendship, while learning how training helps new farm entrepreneurs and our community.
A sumptuous feast of local fare will be prepared by Chef Lee Chizmar of Bolete with wine from Galen Glen and desert from Dolce Patisserie. Bolete has been featured in Conde Nast Traveler, Gourmet, the Philadelphia Inquirer and The Food Network. Chef Lee Chizmar will turn food fresh from the Seed Farms fields into a meal to remember. The event will be held at the Seed Farm in Emmaus PA on Sunday October 14th.
Imagine drinking a glass of wine overlooking rolling farm fields, with the sun setting over two shining ponds while you taste luxurious Hors d'oeuvres prepared with food harvested only yesterday from these very fields. As you sit down to an enchanting dinner you will know you are supporting training for one of the most important jobs in the world – training for those men and women who produce our food.
The Seed Farm's new farmer training and agricultural business incubator programs helps start and maintain new sustainable farms in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, facilitating the development of a vibrant, local food system. The Seed Farm, located on a 45 acre site in Emmaus, PA links new farmers with training, equipment and land through its Apprenticeship and Incubator P
rograms eliminating the top three barriers to farm entry, and opening doors for a new generation of farmers.
The Seed Farm hosted its 4th annual Sowing Seeds Charity Bike Ride and Fun Run on Saturday, August 25th. It was a gorgeous late summer day, and over 200 people came to ride their bike, run or walk through the fields, or volunteer. Cyclists hydrated and fueled up on food at “farm stops”: Pappy’s Orchard offered peach slushies, Lennilea Farm Nursery cut up a few melons, and Kraussdale Alpacas had their alpacas out and about. Ample baked goods were on hand (and quickly devoured) from Baked, Granny’s Schmidts Bakery, Maryann Donut Kitchen, and The Flour Shop. Lunch was kindly prepared by the Brew Works with fresh vegetables from the Seed Farm, chicken from Woodsong Hollow Farm, and beef from Breakaway Farms. Thanks to all who joined us, and we hope to see you next year!
The Seed Farm intensive training program includes 500 hours of on-farm training and 100 hours of formal workshops and classes in organic production. Participants will build skills and create their own production and business plans. Graduates of the training program qualify for the agricultural incubator program where they can farm on county-owned land with access to equipment, greenhouse/cooler space, and continued mentorship.
For more information and application materials go here or call Seed Farm Director Sara Runkel at 610-391-9583, ext.16. Applications are due October 15, 2012.
Join us for the best in local food, wine, and friendship, while learning how training helps new farm entrepreneurs and our community.
A sumptuous feast of local fare will be prepared by Chef Lee Chizmar of Bolete with wine from Galen Glen and desert from Dolce Patisserie.
Bolete has been featured in Conde Nast Traveler, Gourmet, the Philadelphia Inquirer and The Food Network. Chef Lee Chizmar will turn food fresh from the Seed Farms fields into a meal to remember. The event will be held at the Seed Farm in Emmaus PA on Sunday October 14th.
Imagine drinking a glass of wine overlooking rolling farm fields, with the sun setting over two shining ponds while you taste luxurious Hors d'oeuvres prepared with food harvested only yesterday from these very fields. As you sit down to an enchanting dinner you will know you are supporting training for one of the most important jobs in the world – training for those men and women who produce our food.
For ticket information go to the event page here.
The Seed Farm is holding its 4th Annual Sowing Seeds Charity Bike Ride and Fun Run on Saturday, August 25, at the Seed Farm. The event will give participants the chance to run or ride through some of the area's scenic, fertile farmland. Not just a fundraiser to support the Seed Farm's important work, the event will showcase area farms, as well as the men and women who own and operate them.
Routes of 10, 20 and 40 miles are available for cyclists, and there will be plenty of farm stops along the way to fuel up on farm fresh food. At the finish, participants will get the chance to patronize a farmers’ market set up by Seed Farm apprentices. New this year is the addition of a cross-county 5K fun run/walk that weaves through the scenic fields at the Seed Farm. Organizers are expecting more than 150 participants. Thanks to many generous donations, every entry fee will include a breakfast of baked goodies from local bakeries, along with fruit and coffee. Lunch, also included, will feature farm fresh foods, along with veggies, fruits and meats from The Seed Farm and other local farmers, prepared by the Brew Works. These tasty dishes will hopefully encourage participants to frequent the farms and bakeries that provided the food, after the event has ended. Register for the event by visiting www.bikereg.com and query “sowing seeds”.
Seed Farm Description: Growing New Farmers for the Future - The Seed Farm's new farmer training and agricultural business incubator programs helps start and maintain new sustainable farms in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, facilitating the development of a vibrant, local food system. The Seed Farm, located on a 45 acre site in Upper Milford Township, links new farmers with training, equipment and land through its Apprenticeship and Stewardship Programs eliminating the top three barriers to farm entry, and opening doors for a new generation of farmers.
Contact: Erin Frederick
efrederick@wildlandspa.org
610-965-4397 ext. 137
