ABOUT US
As a program of Second Harvest Food Bank, The Seed Farm works to support food production at all levels, from home gardeners to community gardens to local farmers. Strong local food systems equal food security.
Situated on 42 acres of preserved farmland in Lehigh County, The Seed Farm offers new farmers access to land, equipment, infrastructure, and technical assistance to launch their agricultural ventures through our Farm Business Incubator program. We collaborate with regional agricultural organizations and local growers to host educational programming covering essential skills for farming success, including production planning, food safety, hands-on training in equipment operation, and beyond. Our Growing Partners program provides raised beds, organically grown transplants, and education at food pantry gardens to increase accessibility to and raise the visibility of growing vegetables. The Seed Farm increases access to fresh, nutrient-dense produce by growing thousands of pounds of vegetables directly for the emergency food system.
The Seed Farm is a program of Second Harvest Food Bank and Community Action Lehigh Valley.
The Seed Farm (TSF) was initially developed by Lehigh County and Penn State Cooperative Extension with the support of a three-year USDA grant.
A primary goal of the organization for Lehigh County was to support the farmland preservation program by cultivating the next generation of farmers to take over Lehigh County’s preserved farmland. Since 1989, Lehigh County has invested over $23 million (along with $55 million of state funds) to preserve over 26,000 acres of farmland. With its MOU with The Seed Farm, Lehigh County dedicated the use of the Seem Seed Farm to protecting that substantial investment by training new farmers to strengthen our food security and local economy while protecting our natural resources.
Since 2010, TSF has provided intensive, full-season training in production, marketing, business planning, and equipment operation to over 30 beginning farmers who are looking to start farms; and eight farm businesses have been launched in our agricultural incubator, which is located on the farm site in Upper Milford Township. Additional experiential and educational activities have enabled us to deliver valuable skills in sustainable agriculture practices to hundreds of farmers, gardeners, and community members.
The Seed Farm’s unique mission and impact have led to the ongoing support of the community. In addition to our programming, The Seed Farm’s annual Farm-to-Table Dinner and Spring Plant Sale are much-anticipated events that bring together foodies, farmers, and gardeners in support of a shared goal: ensuring the future of agriculture.
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In 2019, The Seed Farm took a big step to serve a wider audience and secure a more financially sustainable future by merging with Community Action Lehigh Valley. At that point, Lehigh County transferred the MOU for the site to Community Action, and the training and incubator programs became part of Second Harvest Food Bank. The Seed Farm, now invigorated with a dynamic and financially stable parent organization, is poised to protect Lehigh County’s preserved farmland, yield significant ongoing and additional economic benefits to the local agricultural community, and launch farm entrepreneurs while providing better access to fresh food in the Lehigh Valley.
OUR HISTORY
ABOUT
COMMUNITY ACTION LEHIGH VALLEY
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We offer programs and services in Food Access and Nutrition, Housing, Neighborhood Revitalization, Business Start-Up and Development, Youth, and Advocacy.
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To learn more about how you can get involved, follow us on Instagram at @CommunityActionLV or visit our website at CommunityActionLV.org.
ABOUT
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK
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As a food bank, our goal is to ensure that our community has access to food; greater than that, we strive to provide participants with nutritious food so that they can lead the healthiest lives possible. In addition to providing food to the community, we offer nutrition education, advocate to end food insecurity, and work to attain food justice.
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Second Harvest Food Bank has partnered with The Seed Farm to bring fresh, nutritious, and local produce to the Lehigh Valley and surrounding county pantries.
