May-June 2004 Passages Newsletter, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture

8/9/2019 May-June 2004 Passages Newsletter, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture

1/24

Serving the Community of Sustainable Farmers, Consumers and Businesses Throughout Pennsylvania and Beyond

From May through October, PASA will be offering an array of educational events

designed to instruct and inspire both farmers and consumers. Just as the name indi-

cates, Farm-Based Educational (FBE) programs take place on farms and are geared

toward farmers and consumers seeking instruction about specific farm-related prac-

tices. PASAs 2004 FBE program is made up of seventeen field days and three intensive-

learning programs all aspiring to the standards of excellence long expected from PASA.

A full calendar listing with detailed descriptions of scheduled FBE events was mailed to

members and is available on our website, www.pasafarming.org.

The primary purpose of PASA field days is to facilitate farmer-to-farmer exchange

By Eric Burkhart & Mike Jacobson,School of Forest Resources, the Pennsylvania

State UniversityWe live in Pennsylvania which, as many

of us were taught in grade school, literallymeans Penns Woods. Yet, while we may beaware of this namesake, how many of ushave actually considered the important rolesthat trees play as part of our regional ecosys-tem? Covering 60 percent of the Common-wealths land area, forests serve a variety ofessential functions in sustaining our landsand waters. However, conversion of forest-land over the past three centuries has alterednutrient cycling, soil and water quality andbiological and landscape diversity. To cor-rect some of the more undesirable conse-quences brought about by land conversionin what was once a largely forested land-scape; consider what might be gained fromworking with trees and other woody vegeta-tion.

Trees and shrubs can be tended for fruit,nut and timber production; creation andmaintenance of wildlife and pollinators;

water quality, soil erosion and pollutioncontrol; or just for appreciation. Today, theterm agroforestry is being used to describethe deliberate integration of woody plantsinto croplands or pastures. It is true thattrees improperly introduced onto farmlandsand pastures can impair crop and livestockproduction and performance. For this rea-son, it is always important to carefully con-sider and plan agroforestry practices beforeimplementation. With forethought, howev-er, the possible beneficial arrangements andapplications of these practices are limited

Continued on page 3

Number 48 May/June 2004

Newsletter of the

Pennsylvania

Association

for Sustainable

Agriculture

PassagesSustainable Food and Farming Systems

only by ones imagination, com-mitment, patience and someconsideration.

Types of agroforestry prac-tices that are being used and pro-moted include windbreaks,riparian forest buffers, silvopas-tures, and alley cropping. Theselargely focus on the introductionof trees into non-forested land-scapes and efforts to increaselandowner adoption are represented inPennsylvania by programs such as PA

Stream ReLeaf, which encourages the use ofriparian forest buffer practices. Anotheragroforestry practice, called forest farming,however, is different in that it is an arrange-ment where economically viable plants areintroduced or encouraged in the understoryof existing woodlands. This is done in amanner that is ecologically sensitive and

should be considered as part of an overalforest management plan. The principal goa

in forest farming is to identify and managea forested area for habitat favorable to thegrowth of desired plants or fungi. Exampleof forest farming candidates in Pennsylvaniinclude edible plants (ramps), specialtymushrooms (e.g., morel, chanterellebolete) and ornamental plants (ladys-slip

FARM-BASED EDUCATION 2004:

Its Time for Field Days!By Heather House

For many Pennsylvania forest owners, American ginseng

husbandry is an excellent opportunity to diversify income.

Innovative opportunities for Pennsylvania

farmers and landowners: agroforestry,

forest farming andAmerican ginseng.

Continued on page 14


2/24

3 Farm-Based Education

4 Directors Corner

5 Presidents Corner

6 Regional Marketing

8 Sugar, Sugar

9 Consumer News

10 Educational Outreach

12 Business Member Profile

13 On the Passing of a Dear Friend:Christine Beddard

16 Junior PASA Page

17 Board of Directors AnnounceAnnual Fund Goal

19 Hosting A Farm Tour my experience

20 Calendar

21 Editors Corner: The Grapevine

22 Classified Ads & Opportunities

23 Membership Contribution Form

May/June 2004

10

Passages STAFF & OFFICE

Staff Editor: Michele Gauger

Layout: C Factor

Advertising Sales: Michele Gauger,PASA office, [email protected]

Pennsylvania Association

for Sustainable Agriculture

114 West Main StreetP.O. Box 419

Millheim PA 16854Phone: (814) 349-9856 Fax: (814) 349-9840

Website:www.pasafarming.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President: Kim Miller,Westmoreland County

Vice President: Kim Tait, Centre County

Secretary: Lyn Garling,Centre County

Treasurer: Chris Fullerton, Huntingdon County

Mary Barbercheck, Centre County

David Bingaman,Dauphin County

George DeVault,Lehigh County

Mena Hautau,Berks County

John Hopkins,Columbia County

John Jamison,Westmoreland County

Dave Johnson,Tioga County

Don Kretschmann,Beaver County

Brian Moyer, Berks County

Anthony Rodale, Berks County

Kim Seeley, Bradford County

PASA STAFF

Headquarters

Brian SnyderExecutive Director

[email protected]

Lauren SmithDirector of Development& Membership Programs

[email protected]

Heather HouseDirector of Educational Outreach

[email protected]

Michele GaugerMembership & Research Assistant

[email protected]

Brandi MarksOffice Coordinator/Bookkeeper

[email protected]

Regional Office

David EsonDirector of Southwest Programs

Phone:[email protected]

PASAs Mission is

Promoting profitable farms which produce healthy

food for all people while respecting the natural envi-

ronment.

PASA is an organization as diverse as the Pennsylvania

landscape. We are seasoned farmers who know that

sustainability is not only a concept, but a way of life.

We are new farmers looking for the fulfillment of land

stewardship. We are students and other consumers,

anxious to understand our food systems and the

choices that must be made.We are families and chil-

dren,who hold the future of farming in our hands.This

is an organization that is growing in its voice on behalf

of farmers in Pennsylvania and beyond.Our mission is

achieved,one voice,one farm, one strengthened com-

munity at a time.

PASA is an Equal Opportunity Service Provider,and Employer. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to:

USDA Office of Civil Rights Washington, DC 20250-9410.

Passages March/April 2004 Contributors

CONTRIBUTORS:Phylleri Ball, Eric Burkhart, George DeVault, David Eson, Michele Gauger, Ron Hoover,Heather House, Michael Jacobson, Kim Miller, Gayle Morrow, Brian Moyer, Eric Nordell, Virginia

Phillips,Sally Roe,Phyllis Rubin, Lauren Smith, Brian Snyder, Leah Tewksbury, and Mary Whittam.

PASA in the NewsHave you seen articles about PASA in your local news-

papers or other media? PASA is active across the state,

and wed love to know what coverage we are getting

in your area. Please clip any articles you see on PASAand mail them to our Millheim headquarters to the

attention of Office Coordinator Brandi Marks.

Do you have a greatarticle idea for Passages?

Want to share a farming practice with members? Wed

love to hear from you. Please contact the newsletter

staff at newsletter@ pasafarming.org.

Deadline for May/June Issue:June 25, 2004.

Passages is printed with soy inks on recycled,chlorine-free paper

2

13

12


3/243

around sustainable agriculture produc-

tion practices that provide alternatives to

conventional methods. Creation of the

2004 schedule relied on feedback from

evaluations filled out by attendees at the

2003 field days and the 2004 Farming for

the Future conference. Participants cited

three important characteristics of field

days: 1) an opportunity to learn directly

from farmers, 2) a chance to participate in

hands-on activities or witness in-field

demonstrations, and 3) the occasion to

work in small, focused learning groups.

The schedule this year covers topics

from organic crop production to post-har-

vest handling, as PASA strives to cater to

many interests,while covering Pennsylva-nias geographic regions. Other highlights

include whole farm design and herb pro-

duction, hi-tunnels and flower produc-

tion, and organic soy, corn and milk

production.

Intensive-Learning Programs

PASA is pleased to offer three intensive

applied-learning clinics: Raw-Milk Cheese-

making, Farming with Draft Horses, and

Care and Breeding of Heritage Turkeys.

These clinics are longer, allowing ample

time for thorough coverage of important

information. Limited registration ensures

participants will have plenty of hands-on

opportunities, one-to-one contact with

the instructor,and plenty of time for ques-

tions. Register for these clinics as you

would other field days, either by calling

the PASA office (814-349-9856) or online

at our website www.pasafarming.org.

Costs associated with offering FBE

events vary, depending on the topic and

the sources of funding for the event

Therefore, registration fees also vary. B

charging a registration fee, PASA can

ensure that the host farmer(s) receive fai

compensation for their time spent prepar

ing and presenting the days activities

Registration fees also cover basic PASA

operating expenses, such as postage

printing, materials, and staff time. PASA is

committed to providing workshops for al

financial circumstances, so please call us i

youd like to discuss alternative payment

arrangements.

Thanks to a generous grant from the

Environmental Protection Agency, PASA is

able to offer at a reduced rate five field

days related to reducing the use of pesti

cides. Likewise, weve received supporfrom the Department of Environmenta

Protections Growing Greener grant pro

gram to offer a field day about alternative

energy systems for farms. The remaining

field days are offered in direct response to

members requests for information on

specific topics.I

Farm-BasedEducation2004

FARM-BASED EDUCATION 2004

Continued from page 1

See Field Day Calendar on back cover

ATTENTION EDUCATORS: Over the

years we have had a number of

requests to offer PASA events for Act 48

credit, which is a mandatory program

of professional development for teach-

ers.We are pleased to announce that allof our educational programs now qual-

ify for Act 48 credit, including field days,

intensive learning programs, and the

Farming for the Future conference.

Teachers should contact Heather

House at PASA headquarters prior to

the event they would like to attend for

Act 48 credit.

I Conference Planning Committee

The conference planning committee is

responsible for developing the workshop

program, coordinating the Thursday pre-

conference, identifying and contacting

qualified presenters, and approaching

potential sponsors for the conference.

This volunteer group meets three times

beginning mid-June, and finalizes details

by early October. PASA Board Members

Mary Barbercheck and Brian Moyer will

co-chair the committee

this year.Those interest-

ed in serving on the

committee should con-

tact Heather House at

PASA Headquarters.

I Youth Program Volunteers are

being sought to help organize the youth

program for the 2005.This group has

only one face-to-face meeting early sum-

mer, then communicates via email and

telephone. Teens and parents are encour-

aged to apply.This is a fun activity for

anyone interested in children and organ-

ized youth activities.Those interested

should contact Dianne Miller at 724-668-

8600 or [email protected].

I Teen Track The teen track commit-

tee is responsible for coordinating pre-

senters to deliver educational &

entertaining programs that will keep our

PASA teens engaged and learning.

George Vahoviak of Shavers Creek Envi-

ronmental Education Center and Claire

Orner of Quiet Creek Herb Farm will

serve as the 2005 co-chairs.Those inter-

ested in serving on the committee

should contact Heather House at PASA

Headquarters.

I Food! Food! Food! As many know,

the fabulous meals served at Farming for

the Future are organized around contri-

butions from the membership and other

regional friends.Dreaming has already

commenced for the meals to be served

in February 2005! PASA farmers we

welcome your involvement! When plant-

ing, raising and brewing this summer

2005 season and your thoughts turn to

sharing your bounty with an appreciative

audience,contact Lauren Smith at PASA

Headquarters to chat about how you

might participate in the conference food

program. Over forty-eight farms and

companies were involved in the 2004

conference meals!

PASA CONFERENCE NEWS

Stay tuned to this

column year-round

for the latest news

and facts on the

PASA Conference.

14th AnnualFARMING FOR THE FUTURE ConferenceFebruary 3, 4 & 5, 2005 Penn Stater Conference Center, State College, PA


4/24

By Brian SnyderRecently I joined PASA Treasurer

Chris Fullerton and David Eson, ourSouthwest Program Director, in attend-ing the Nonprofit Summit 2004 in Pitts-burgh, where the theme was SocialEntrepreneurs: Driving Social and Eco-nomic Change. The keynote speakerwas Bill Shore, who is the founder anddirector of Share Our Strength in Wash-

ington, D.C., and author ofThe Cathe-dral Within and Revolution of the Heart.

I will never forget one of Mr. Shoresopening points, he said Dont settle forthe idea that your organization is leanand mean, that for you a little bit goes along way. Instead, he insisted that we allare facing some very big problems thesedays, and in reality, the only thing thatgoes a long way is a LOT of resources.

One of the very big problems we allface together is the need to have reliableinformation in front of us. This is not a

problem of quantity of information, butof quality. Witness a column thatappeared in the March 2004 issue ofAmerican Agriculturalistmagazine, enti-tled Profit Planners. In the column, aquestion is posed to a panel of expertsthat represent various regions of theNortheast, and their individual respons-es are recorded. The question in Marchwas Will a CSA pay its way? followedby a few clarifying questions, includingIs there still potential for CommunitySupported Agriculture businesses wherefarmers sell shares of farm-grown foodsdirectly to consumers?

The first panel member to addressthe question of CSA viability was a busi-ness services manager from the Pennsyl-vania Farm Bureau, whose answer Iquote in its entirety below as an illustra-tion of my point:

In more than 26 years, Ive never evenspoken with a farmer involved with aCommunity Supported Agriculture (CSA)contract. In my experience, theyre very rare

or simply dont exist in Pennsylvania.Its easy, however, to address their poten-

tial. For many years, all the state hospitalsoperated farms (a form of CSA). Whileprofitable or nearly profitable, things wentalong great. But once the inefficiencies of small size and the cost of labor changed theprofit picture, they were shut down ratherquickly.

Thats exactly what I would expect

would be the fate of a CSA. Few commu-nities would be willing to subsidize a farmoperation for very long.

Niche market farming many times car-ries with it the dream of a return to a sim-pler (and more profitable) time. This neverhas been true.

Farms must be profitable on their ownto survive, and not rely on government orother payments.

Im not sure where to even start inanalyzing this answer, and perhaps Ineednt say much at all. As a person who

has been associated with CSAs in thepast, as well as being a former intern at astate hospital in my home state of Indi-ana, I am appalled at the misconceptionsportrayed here of both types of businessactivities. The information given here isnot only bad, it is damaging.

A more carefully reasoned andresearched answer would have revealedthat one of the earliest CSAs in thecountry was started in the 80s by PASAmembers Barbara and Kerry Sullivan inKimberton. And the CSA model contin-ues to flourish here in Pennsylvania andelsewhere, usually as part of a diversifiedapproach to revenue generation. One ofthe more successful operations today,also run by a PASA farmer, maintainsover 600 members who are willing topay $500 or more upfront for an entireseason of fresh produce.

You do the math, thats seriousmoney that in no way should be consid-ered a subsidy, but payment inadvance for goods delivered. The most

common complaint heard from CSAmembers these days is I got more foodthan I expected.

Even a cursory effort at researchingan answer would have found that Pennsylvania is host to a national center fo

promotion of CSAs, the Robyn Van EnCenter at Wilson College in Chambers-burg (www.csacenter.org), and thainnovative CSA models now includemeat and dairy products, as well as winter harvest options in northern climes.

I think we can forgive the designatedexpert for not knowing as much as anyPASA member would about CSAs, andfor perhaps being short of time to do theproper research. But I am really troubledby the more subtle messages that comethrough his answer, indicating an almos

willful effort to misinform his readership. Such familiar themes as inefficiencies of small size and dream of a returnto a simpler time indicate his desire toactually discredit any effort to discusthe value of CSAs or other farmingmethods not consistent with the industrial status quo.

We run into this attitude all the timethese days. In fact, there seems to be anaggressive effort right now, backed bysignificant industry funding, to establishlarger and more concentrated farming

operations as the norm. The big corpo-rations have their hired guns, peoplewho profit by going about the countrto speak and write about the inevitability of industrializationyou know whothey are, I neednt even name them.

This is why all of us at PASA mustthink bigger than we ever have beforetoward building an organization that canrise to meet the challenge of providingreliable and high quality information tothose who need it, and to answer those

who would love to see the vast majorityof this nations farmers fail in fulfillmenof the industrial maxim, get big or geout.

To be more precise, as an organiza-tion we must bet bigger, not for the sakeof getting big itself, which is part othe problem we face, but so that we canthink about and act on longer-term solutions for our farmers, our rural communities and our food systems. In the endsustainability is nothing if it is not al

DirectorsCorner

In for the Long Haul


4


5/24

till farming, but to point out that thecurrent methodology is as flawed atillage farming. We are all a little righand a whole lot wrong in our approachIn all humility we need, throughhybridization of the perennial specie

that are now extant, to develop a newagricultural system that can last forever.Frankly, the fact that the Prophe

does not give the Sustainable Community a pat on the back does not much concern me. After all, prophets are nogenerally known for dispensing attaboys. Nor are they known for theirpracticality. But it does point out for methe need to keep the larger picture in

front of us. This movement is not jusabout getting better access to marketsproviding cleaner and more nutritioufood to eaters, lessening off farm inputsand making a better living. All of thesethings matter for now, but we dare noget bogged down in the day-to-dayproblems at hand. We need to keep in

mind, on a daily basis, that our system oagriculture is fundamentally flawedOtherwise we will fail to change the system before we use up all of the availablecredit. We must feed ourselves today while reinventing our agricultural system for the generations to come. To doless is just not sustainable. I

PresidentsCorner

By Kim MillerSpring is in the air and there is much

to feel good about. Warmer days,drenching rains and greening grassremind me of the wonder of the naturalcycle; also of how much work there is todo and how little time. So it is with sus-tainable agriculture; much to feel goodabout, but so much work to do. The sea-son of conferencing is over and I find

myself motivated to do better. And dobetter we must.

As the demand for sustainably-raisedfood grows, as we learn about and imple-ment better farming practices, and as thenumbers of producers and eatersinvolved in this grassroots movementincrease (as evidenced by the increase inPASA membership) it is easy to takesome satisfaction in the job we aredoing. And so I was feeling a bit smugwhen I attended a recent conference atWilson College in Chambersburg. That

is until I heard Wes Jackson speak. Everthe prophetic voice, Wes really takes theSustainability Movement to task for itsshortcomings. The thing of it is, it ishard to disagree with him.

The gist of Jacksons case against theSustainability Movement is that we arespending our energy trying to do better,a way of producing food that is funda-mentally flawed. In his opinion it doesnot help very much if we raise wheat, forexample, organically rather than conven-tionally. We are still plowing the soil andexposing the earth to erosion while usingup the finite reserve of trace elementsthat have been providentially suppliedover millennia. At best we are just usingour finite supply more judiciously. Noworganic wheat may be safer for immedi-ate consumption and provide morenutrition for todays eater, but the kindof agriculture that is based on annualgrasses rather than perennials cannotlast. We need thinking for the longesthaul and the biggest picture.

Now I do take some solace in myfarming practices since I do no tillage,but raise only grass for cattle and chick-en feed. I have, however, been known toeat a slice of bread from time to time andeven use it as a pusher to get those veg-etables onto my fork. So there is land

tilled on my behalf. The larger point that Wes makes is that only nature can berelied upon to show us the way of sus-tainability. And in nature there is notillage. The most fertile land on thisplanet, the Midwestern United States, was covered with perennial grasses. Ifthis perennial grass model is not the one

upon which we base our system of agri-culture then we will never achieve sus-tainability, but continue to use up theavailable credit on the credit card oftrace elements. When the available cred-it is gone so will we all be. At the recentPennsylvania Land Conservation Con-ference I heard Randall Arendt make astatement about zoning that might applyto farming. He said, A thing that is not worth doing is not worth doing well.Maybe we just cant do tillage wellenough to overcome the fact that it isnot worth doing.

I believe that is the point that Wesmakes so well. It does not matter howwell we till the soil. We should not do itat all. Of course the no till contingent will jump in with a big Thats whatwere talking about! But nature does notshow us a model that is dependent onherbicides nor does nature give us anexample of any organism that containsgenetic material from an unrelatedorganism. This is not meant to bash no-

The Challengeof Sustainability

5

We must feed ourselves today while

reinventing our agricultural system forthe generations to come

Stay

connected!

Visit PASA online at

www.pasafarming.org


6/24

In-The-WorksI Western Regional Meetings: With the help of PASA volunteers,

we have begun to plan for the first PASA sectional meeting in the west-

ern region.The north section (everybody living north of PA Rt. 422) will

have its first meeting on Saturday, July 10 at 5:00 p.m. We will be look-

ing into meeting sites and will let everyone know the committees deci-

sion. PASA members in the north section of the western region,get that

date on your calendar!

News about the sectional meeting for the south section (everybody

living south of PA Rt. 422) will be coming shortly.

I Buy Fresh Buy Local:The logo for the PASAs Western Region Buy

Fresh Buy Local campaign is in its final draft. Thanks to all of you who

provided input on the first draft of the label. If you are interested in

using the label as part of your farms, businesss, or farmers markets

advertising, please contact David Eson at (412) 997-2343.

I Farm to Chef: In early March we held our second annual Farm-to-

Chef meeting at Lidias Pittsburgh.The meeting was a success with over

100 people in attendance.There were over 40 farms and 20 restaurants

represented. If your business would like to start using or expand your

current use of local farm products, please contact David Eson at (412)

997-2343.

R

egionalMa

rketing

Growers and Chefs

Plan for Those Twenty

Wonderful Weeks

By Virginia Phillips With the growing season approach-ing, more than 100 food professionals 45 farmers, 22 chefs and othersincluding purveyors and specialty mar-ket owners put their heads together atLidias on a recent Monday for a businessdialogue. It was the second such annualmeeting hosted by PASA, the Pennsylva-nia Association for Sustainable Agricul-ture.

Participants were there to streamlinethe way homegrown bounty gets from

area fields to Pittsburgh kitchens, PASAregional coordinator David Eson said.

Participants heard Boston chef ChrisMoore, owner of Icarus restaurant andfounding member with Alice Waters ofChefs Collaborative, tell how thenational chef network promotes sustain-able cuisine by helping restaurants devel-op smooth supply relationships withlocal producers.

Panel discussions focused on Pitts-burghs learning curve in building farm

to restaurant business. Fielding ques-tions were Lidia Executive Chef CraigRichards, big Burrito Executive ChefBill Fuller, Moore and Thomas Culick ofBackdoor Caf, Johnstown, along withMargie Dagnal of Penns Corner Farm Alliance growers co-op, Art King ofHarvest Valley Farms, John Jamison of Jamison Farms, Latrobe, and MindySchwartz of Garden Dreams, Wilkins-burg.

A question to the panel, How organ-

ic do the products have to be? received

this answer from Richards:

Whether organic or not, Richards

said, Pittsburgh chefs would rather

have it from here and in season, rather

than from California. Local is the most

important word to me.

Specialty market owner Noreen

McGinnis Campbell of McGinnis Sis-

ters said her store would sponsor PASAs

Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign, a

statewide effort to get local produce

into home kitchens. McGinnis$10,000 gift, with matching funds fromthe Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, will fund two area projects, aconsumer directory, Farm Fresh Products, and advertising aid for individua

farm stands.Our stores will have more local vendors this year, Campbell said, including organic beef supplier Ron Gargaszand pork from Wil-Den Farms. For us itis Grow me more. How can I helpyou?

Fuller saw this years parley as morepeople, more chefs involved, with a whole different chemistry. Farmers argetting better at selling, chefs are betteat using the products. Its no longer chefsaying, Oh, I love the farmers. Its Let

talk details: sizing, cleaning, delivery.More people are able to make it

work in a business sense.Reprinted with permission b y th

author and the Pittsburgh Post-GazetteOriginal article appeared in the March 82004 edition of the Post-Gazette.

6

SOUTHWEST REGION

Western

Northcentral/Eastern

SouthcentralSoutheastern


7/24

R

egionalMa

rketing

Southeastern Happenings

By Brian Moyer

I New Listserv for Southeast mem-bers. Keep up on all the lastest progressand news in the Southeast region. Tojoin the list send a blank message to:[email protected].

I PASA potluck. Thanks to Emily &George McNulty for hosting our secondannual Berks County PASA Potluck onApril 27. This year we are encouragingmembers to bring a friend as a way ofgrowing our membership.

I PASA surveys. We recently fin-ished a survey for the Southeast regionfarmers. We received about 125 surveysout of the 200 that were sent. Thanks toall for taking the time to fill them out.We are currently entering the data andwill let you what we find. We hope touse this information to better surve thefarmers who surve the region. A veryspecial thank you to Claire Murray forhandling the survey returns.

I Food For Thought. Brian

Moyer has been giving his SARE grantpresentation intitled Food ForThought to many organizations inChester, Montgomery and LehighCounties. The presentation is a discus-sion about our conventional food sys-tem, what the alternatives are and thebenefits to a community that has a localfood system. The presentation is intend-ed to be an outreach to everyday con-

The Board and Staff Wishto Thank These Recent Volunteers

7

sumers who dont usually think twiceabout the food they purchase.

I Chester County Farmers MarkeAlliance. Claire Murray has been sacrificing some valuable farming time tohelp create a Farmers Market Alliance in

Chester County to unite producer-onlyFarmers Markets in Chester County fortheir common benefit.

Southeast Region PotluckBy Phyllis Rubin

PASAs Southeast Region held apotluck dinner meeting on March 30hosted by Chester county volunteeMary G. Whittam. Pre-dinner sociatime was enjoyed in the Whittams comfortable home while the dinner andmeeting were held next door in the oldCopeland Schoolhouse, a townshiplandmark near West Chester.

Executive director Brian Snyderarrived with ample time to peel applesfor the apple crisp dessert. Later, 13PASA members arrived; a few with theirentire family. Farmers ranged from newfarms beginning their second season tomulti-generational operations. Productincluded vegetables, poultry, eggs, specialty fruits, and goat cheese, sold via onfarm markets, remote farmer markets

CSAs, and restaurants. Also present weremembers who are marketers and sup-portive eaters, all from Chester, BerksLancaster and Montgomery countiesenjoying the wide variety of dishes punctuated with a delicate Chester Countywine. After sharing the good food, Brianupdated the group about recent stateand regional developments, whichsparked lively discussions.

Northcentral/Eastern Region Potluck

By Leah TewksburyPASA members and friends from the

Northcentral/Eastern tiers gatheredtogether in March for a delightfulevening of potluck, fellowship, andlearning. This was the third potluck forthe region, as nearly 80 people attendedthe evening hosted at Jeremiahs indowntown Williamsport. Being allabout food, PASA members and friendsbrought so many delectable choices thatwe had to add a couple of tables to thebuffet line!

Brian Snyder was our special guest forthe evening, presenting to the audiencehis educational slide show on Cubanagriculture. The show enlightened manyattendees to the possibilities of urban agendeavors, by highlighting how urbandwellers have returned farming plots tothe city of Havana. This new systempromotes a healthy ag model by creatingabundant local, sustainable food-grow-ing operations.

Everyone enjoyed a wonderful

evening of networking, interesting con-versation and adventure-telling, anddivine food. With such turnout, ourpotluck is slated to be an annual event.

SOUTHEAST REGIONNORTHCENTRAL/EASTERN

REGION

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

I Clip articles in your local

newspaper that feature PASA or

sustainable ag. Send them to

Michele Gauger at PASA.

I Volunteer to work at the

PASA booth at AgProgress Days,

August 1719 in State College.

Contact Michele Gauger at PASA.

I Be a Field Day reporter

and receive a free field day registra-

tion in return for writing a full

report on the field day you attend.

Limit one reporter per event, one

event per reporter. Offer does not

apply to special events or inten-

sive-learning programs. Contact

Heather House at PASA.

Bob Ambrose

Kathy Bell

Georgia Berner

Noreen Campbell

Eileen Clark

Jack Duff

Bill Fuller

Ron Gargasz

Mike Koch

Suzy Meyer

Virginia Phillips

Craig Richards

Paul Sarver

Ian Smith

Tom Streble

Martin Thomas

Nancy Thompson

Karin Welzel

William Wise

Eric Van

Rebecca Vines


8/24

thing from public health to foreign poli-cy. Pollan says, The U.S. possibly with-

out realizing it, is a nation saturated incorn. Who benefits from this seemingly

endless, cheap supply of corn? Foodprocessors and agricultural corporationssuch as Cargill and Archer Daniels Mid-

land. The corporations get access to cornsurpluses that create lucrative exportopportunities. Some farmers do gain,but most corn subsidies end up in thepockets of agribusinesses.

U.S. corn exports have increased,especially to Mexico thanks to the North American Free Trade Agreement

(NAFTA), by three timessince the 1990s. In 2000,government payments forcorn subsidies were $10 bil-lion, which is ten timesgreater than the total Mexi-can agricultural budget. Evenafter exports, tons of surpluscorn remain that is turnedinto everything frombiodegradable plastic, vita-min C, ethanol, livestockfeed and of course sweet-ener.

Today Americans con-sume nearly 3 times morecorn in the form of cornsweeteners than they do inevery other form. This trans-lates into 62.6 pounds ofHFCS. This cheap ingredientallows larger portions for lowcosts, which is why fast-foodchains can offer super-sizemeals for pennies. Health

By Michele GaugerLow carb, no carb these are the

slogans heard more and more these daysas the newest diet frenzy. As Americasstruggle with obesity continues, the foodindustry during the past 20 years hasincreased size and number of processedfood products. During that timeframeover 2,800 new candies,desserts and snacks haveentered the market, as com-pared to just 230 fruits andvegetables.

One of the most notoriouscarbohydrates is sugar. Back

in 1966 sucrose (table sugar)was the number one sweeten-er, derived from a costly refin-ing process from sugar caneand sugar beets. Then as busi-nesses generally do, there was interest infinding a cheaper alternative to tablesugar. During the 1970s, sugar derivedfrom corn high fructose corn syrup(HFCS), fructose, dextrose, dextrine andcorn syrup all gained popularity as alow-cost alternative.

At about a 20% difference in cost

compared to table sugar, food manufac-turers love HFCS, not only for cost butincreased shelf life and transportationease. The difference in price is correlatedin part to federal corn subsidies andtrade policies that entice U.S. farmers togrow more corn. In a recent broadcast by ABCnews (Obesity in America: How toGet Fat Without Really Tryingwww.abc-news.com) Marion Nestle, a professor ofnutrition, food studies and public healthat New York University says, We havegovernment subsidies that promoteovereating from the beginning to theend of the food chain.

Corn subsidies enhance overproduc-tion, driving prices lower, while encour-aging farmers to grow more for the sameprice. Farmers plant nearly 80 millionacres of corn each year and in the last 5years, they got an average of $5.5 billionin federal subsidies. Author Michael Pol-lan in a 10/31/2002 article in the Chris-tian Science Monitor accused the cornindustry of wreaking havoc on every-

Sugar, Sugar journalist Greg Critser, author ofFaLand: How Americans Became the FattestPeople in the World, says, HFCS is thecommercially preferred taxpayer supported sugar of choice.

As Pollan puts it, We are subsidizingobesity. We are subsidizing food safety

problems associated with feedlot bee[10 million bushels of corn feed livestock annually] its an irrational sys-tem. The people who worry aboupublic health dont have control ovesubsidies. The USDA isnt thinking

about public health, they areconcerned with getting rid ocorn.

Nutritionists and other scientists have begun to targeHFCS as a factor in increasedobesity and health related ill

nesses. Its increased use in manyproducts accounts for $4.5 billion in annual sales. HFCS ishowing up in everything frombreads to soft drinks, even so

called health products like protein barand natural sodas.

It is the chemical composition oHFCS that is generating concern. TheDouble Danger of High Fructose CornSyrup, by Bill Sanda of the Westin APrice Foundation www.westonaprice.org

ConsumerNews

8

Junk Food Out of SchoolsOrganic Bytes #30 3/29/2004

With the Bush Administrations reduced

funding for education, many school districts

have been forced to seek other sources of

income, including widespread installation of

junk-food vending machines. School districts

can make up to $100,000 per year under these

contracts, but as a result of increased access to

unhealthy foods, the childhood obesity and dia-betes epidemics are on the increase.In response,

two dozen states are now considering banning

junk food vending machines in schools. The

National Soft Drink Association is contesting this

ban, claiming that high levels of junk food con-

sumption are okay, and placing the blame on

schools for not teaching the kids to exercise

more. www.organicconsumers.org/school/obesi-

ty031904.cfm

Continued next page

Today Americans consume

nearly 3 times more corn

in the form of corn sweet-

eners than they do in everyother form.


9/24

details it can be manipulated to containequal amounts of glucose and fructose orup to 80 percent fructose and 20 percentglucose. Greater fructose composition isa red flag to many researchers who sayfructose is metabolized differently by thebody.

Fructose is also found in healthyfruits, but the additional presence offiber slows metabolic breakdown. How-ever fructose in HFCS, without the pres-ence of fiber, heads straight to the liver.Enzymes in the liver then send signals tostore it as fat. This direct process doesnot trigger a sensation of being full,increasing tendency to overeat.

Research has also indicated elevatedamounts of fructose in the form ofHFCS to interfere with mineral absorp-tion of magnesium, copper and chromi-um. Fructose consumption has also beenlinked to increased triglyceride levels inmen and decreased chromium levels

low cost of corn sweeteners enable thefood industry to create larger portion

sizes, which is not only feeding overeating but the pockets of large agribusinessBillions of dollars spent on corn subsi-

dies are not only robbing farmers andother countries of fair prices for theirproducts but produce unhealthy, cheapfood. Cheap food can be costly in so

many ways, which is enough to leave asour taste in your mouth. I

Sources:Sweet but Not So Innocent?By Sally Squires

Washington PostMarch 11, 2003www.washingtonpost.com

The Double Danger of High FructoseCorn SyrupBy Bill Sanda/The Westin A. PriceFoundation

www.westonaprice.org

9

ConsumerNews

EASY ELEGANT ASPARAGUSMoosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home

1 pound asparagus

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 12 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

Wash asparagus; break off and discard tough ends.

Steam or cook in small amount of boiling water 3-6

minutes,until bright green and just tender. Meanwhile,

toast nuts in dry skillet or hot oven several minutes,

tossing often. Mix melted butter and vinegar in small

bowl. When asparagus is ready, drain, drizzle butter

sauce on top and sprinkle with nuts.

Makes 34 servings.

Seasonal Recipe

which is linked to Type 2 (adult onset)diabetes.

However, other researchers and foodindustry representatives call HFCS justanother sweetener and blame increasedobesity on lack of exercise, not only calo-ries in foods. And obesity starts young, which has prompted the food industryto begin blaming schools (see: Junk FoodOut of Schools).

In a statement from the Corn Refin-ers Association, Inc. (CRA) (www.corn.org/web/). We oppose any ban onfoods in schools or other public places.Prohibiting food choices, even throughthe sale of vending machines could havean adverse effect on making such fooditems more attractive. If children do notface real world choices in school, theyare less likely to make intelligent choicesoutside of school and into adulthood.

One must begin to see the intercon-nectedness of food/farm subsidies andimpacts on public health. The relative

Recipe reprinted with permis-sion from From Asparagus to

Zucchini: A Guide to Farm-Fresh

Seasonal Produce, from theMadison Area Community

Supported Agriculture

Coalition, www.macsac.org

Seasonal Fruits& Vegetables Available Now

Asparagus ......................................................................April to June

Tomatoes greenhouse...................April to July,Oct. to Dec.

Lettuce..............................................................................May to Oct.

Peas...................................................................................May to June

Rhubarb.......................................................................May and June

Spinach.................................................May and June, Aug.to Nov

Cauliflower..............................................June to July/Sept to Nov.

Celery................................................................................June to Feb.

Greens,Collards,Kale, Mustard................................June to Oct.

Squash-summer............................................................June to Oct.

Tomatoes.........................................................................June to Oct.

Tomatoes cherry .....................................................June to Oct.

Strawberries.................................................................................June

Raspberries/Blueberries .............................................June to July

Continued from previous page


10/24

By Heather HousePASAs Farm to College program

recently launched a campaign to encour-age college dining service directors andstudent groups to host an event featur-ing locally grown food. Farm to College(F2C) aims to increase the amount offood purchased directly from farmers bycollege dining services. Ideally, farmersand dining services will form mutuallybeneficial, long-term relationships.However, there is a tremendous amountof education that must take place beforelocal food initiatives become common-place among colleges and universities.Students and dining service directors arelargely ignorant of the implications of

Ed

ucationalO

utreach

10

ON-FARM RESEARCH:

Weed Control in Small Grains

By Ron Hoover, Penn State On-FarmResearch Coordinator

Options for controlling weeds inorganic small grains are limited. Farmershave relied on crop rotation, tillagebefore planting, and the ability of thesmall grain to establish quickly and growvigorously to create a competitive advan-tage over weeds. Recent reports of favor-able results from growers who haveexperimented with shallow broadcastcultivation with flexible tine weeders insmall grains has spurred the initiation ofa replicated experiment designed tocompare the frequency of weeder usageon weed control in oats.

PASA members Tim and Anne Bock(Wills Daal Farm, Kutztown, PA) areconducting the experiment in consulta-tion with PSU Extensions On-FarmResearch and PASAs Farm-Based Educa-tion programs. The study is comparingthe weed control and oat grain yieldsafter single, double, or triple cultivationswith a flexible tine weeder. These weed-

ers are designed to disturb the root zonesof weed seedlings while they are in thevery delicate white thread root stage,which often results in seedling desicca-tion and death. Twelve plots were drilledinto a conventionally tilled field on April16. Cultivations with the weeder wereconducted on April 19, 25, and 30. Thisstudy will be presented and discussedduring the June 3 PASA field day.

The weeder tines penetrated the soil

approximately one inch during the ini-tial cultivation, but were reset to be shallower during the second and third

passes. Oats were not emerged prior tothe first cultivation, but were about 1.5and 4 inches tall during the later operations. Damage from the weeder to theoats during the second cultivation waminimal, but was much greater whenthe oats were taller. Weed and crop density and biomass will be measured twiceprior to crop maturation, and oat grainyields will be measured from the combine. I

Pigs Really

Do Fly

PASA PREMIERES NEW CAMPAIGN

Tim Bock cultivating with a flexible tine weeder.

Continued next page

Pigs Really Do Flyand train,

ship, and truck.In fact, most food

travels an average of 1500 miles

from the farm to your table.


11/2411

Stewart O.Deland says,Get Vocal. Ask for Local.

our globalized food system. The firstobjective for F2C is to make more con-sumers aware of the economic and envi-ronmental implications of long-distancetransportation of food before presenting

local purchasing as a solution.Hosting a local food dinner is a great way to 1) educate diners about the

nature of modern food production anddistribution, 2) introduce diners to theidea of supporting local farmers, 3)begin the process of relationship build-ing between food service directors andfarmers, 4) highlight the array of prod-

ucts from area local farmers, and 5)build support for a long-term farm-to-college project. While organizing local

Slippery Rock University (SRU) hosted the Good Food Lunch on March 25.The lunch, featured local-ly produced dairy,hydroponic tomatoes and lettuce,and pastured pork and chicken,was the sixthevent of its kind on SRU campus.About 250 students,staff and faculty turned out for the lunch.

Ed

ucationalO

utreach

food dinners can be an extremelyrewarding process for students and dining service directors, it can also be a loof work. To save organizers time andenergy, F2C has made available onlineready-to-use advertising and information tents to promote local food eventsThe themed materials feature a funkyrooster, Stewart O. Deland, who encour-ages students to Get Vocal. Ask for

Local. Students and dining servicedirectors can customize these table tentsposters, and a cookbook for use at theirlocal food event, saving their valuabletime and energy for connecting withlocal farmers. Check out the new materials on our website at www.pasafarming.org! I

Continued from previous page


12/24

Busin

essMemberProfile

12

What is unique about your businessI guess one is the size we are by no

means the largest and are still independent. It is a challenge in that werevulnerable because we dont contractSome of the other hatcheries of our sizeare filled with lots of local commitments

We are at the beck and call of Canadianhatcheries. But we generally try to sayyes to anything, and then we may haveto scramble to get it done! Then we mayhave to contract with someone else tohatch.

Because of our heavy reliance on theCanadian connection we have a narrowniche available to us, but we appreciatethe smaller markets, too. We can have1.75 million eggs under incubation at atime, and so rely heavily on the largeorders.

Why did you join PASA?I believe in what they stand for, and

Im excited about what theyre doing John Ikerd (a PASAFarming for theFuture conference speaker) was a biginspiration. He knew a lot about the lia-bilities of what large-scale farmingstands for. PASA members want to dothings in a healthy, regenerative way intrying to make a living. They have anintegration of the ethical and the practi-cal. I get inspired when we all get together.

How has your membership been abenefit to your business?

I certainly feel that through our presence at the conference and our ads thait gets the word out were available toprovide service and product. I feel thathe Lord has blessed us, and so we wantto give of our time and intellectuaresources.

What does the term sustainablemean to you, and how do you incorporate that into your business?

By Gayle MorrowLike many businesses on PASAs membership roster, Moyers Chicks is a

family-owned operation with its beginnings, and success, stemming from

someones desire to do things a little differently than everyone else (we call it

niche marketing today).

Leon Moyer explains that his father started the hatchery in 1946. He had

grown up in a farm family, was a conscientious objector during the war, and

had been doing what Leon terms public service in some impoverished areas

of the world. He ultimately felt a calling to be involved in a church in the

Quakertown area, and served there as a lay pastor for a Mennonite. It was

rural and quite backwoods then, says Leon, with most of the folks earning

a living off the land. His father decided he wanted a small business and

thought a hatchery would serve the purpose. The other hatcheries around

him were seasonal; he opted for a year-round operation and in the first year

of business hatched 60,000 chicks.

Year-round evidently was the ticket. By 1976 the business had been

expanded 15 times. Leon says that in the late 70s they were hatching 10 mil-

lion chicks a year; in 2002 that number was 16 million.

Today Moyers Chicks is owned and operated by Leon and his siblings.They have 25 employees, and regular customers from as far away as Canada,

Long Island, Rhode Island and Virginia. The majority of their market is for

broiler-type, but they do offer layer hens as a niche market.

Well sell only pullets that have been grown on the floor, says Leon,

explaining that they have natural immunities not found in caged birds.

The majority of their market

is Canadian. The poultry indus-

try there is tightly controlled and

there is seldom the problem of

overproduction. Rather, growers

consciously slightly underpro-

duce, so when they need morethey come to us.

Moyers does its own ship-

ping in sophisticated, climate-

controlled trucks, but customers

can also receive their orders via

the mail, or come right to the

hatchery to pick up chicks. For

more information, call Moyers

Chicks at 215-536-3155 or 800-

669-3772.



13/2413

By Lauren SmithThis past March, as winter

stubbornly persisted in the mid

Atlantic region, Christine Bed-dard, wife and partner of TomBeddard of Lady Moon Farmsin Chambersburg, was tragical-ly killed on an icy highway while going about her regularafternoon business. Manypainfully miss her and Id liketo pay tribute to this specialfriend.

The steadfast support, com-mitment and love the Beddardshave shown PASA, and sustain-

able & organic agriculture inPennsylvania and beyond, hasbeen significant. This passion has beenaround since PASAs inception, as Tom& Chris were at the first ever meeting toform PASA. Chris was in fact the firstBoard Secretary, serving on the Execu-tive Committee for several years. It wasa privilege and great fun to have worked with her. She brought tremendousinsight and a delightful wit to the Board.It is hard to imagine a world withouther, commented Tim Bowser, former

executive director of PASA.Leslie Zuck, executive director of

Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO),said Chris participated in our first orga-nizational meeting when we chose ournew name, wrote our mission statement,drafted Articles of Incorporation andappointed officers. Personally, it is atouching memory for me because Chrisoffered to grow all my vegetableseedlings for me (free of charge) so Icould concentrate on getting PCO upand running that spring. As if she didnthave enough to do. Super mom, super wife, super businesswoman, super per-son. I am thankful to have had even asmall part of Christine Beddards lifetouch mine. We miss her.

Tom & Chris continued to give gen-erously to PASA in recent years LadyMoon Farms was the sole sponsor of ourfirst annual Harvest Celebration in Williamsport last summer. All of youwho attended that dinner may recall theBeddards were unable to attend that

can be so nurturing.I had the pleasure of meet

ing Tom & Chris at my career

previous to PASA, when I wasselling certified organic produce in Pittsburghs Strip District. Getting some of theigreatly sought after produceinto my inventory more thanmade my day; getting to knowthem as people was equallyrewarding. One quickly realized that Tom & Chris weremore than soul mates and part-ners building an organicempire east of the Mississippi

They were, in a word oneIn recent years, when I phoned

the farm I would always allow an extra10 minutes for the call. Because I knewI would learn not only the latest LadyMoon news, but also news of their lifetogether. And I ALWAYS got loads onews about the kids, the youngest now16 and the oldest in Iraq.

Tom & Chris cherished their growing business not only for the successpride and promise it brought them, bumostly for the fact that it gave their fam

ily an idyllic life together. When I spokewith Tom after the 13th annual conference this past February, teasing himabout not being there, Tom replied Youknow Lauren, you need to schedule theconference on a different weekendbecause it always overlaps with our kidsspring break. And what can I say theywant to go to the beach.

Friends and acquaintances say besidesher successful business, Chris Beddardsmain focus was on her family, includingthree children: Ellis, 21, who is serving inIraq with the U.S. Army Intelligence;Carla, 20, a sophomore at American Uni-versity and Anais, 16, living at home andattending High School. Also part of the family are daughter-in-law Mariannand granddaughter Madeleine. Memorialcontributions may be sent to Planned Par-enthood of Central Pa., Hanover CenterSquare, Center Building, Hanover, Pa17331, or the Cumberland Valley AnimalShelter Inc., 2325 Country Road, Cham-bersburg, Pa. 17201.

On the Passing of a Dear Friend

Christine Beddard and husband Tom.

evening (due to farm commitments youknow), but they greatly facilitated all ofus attending! They have also giventremendous support to the Farming forthe FutureConference, first as Gold KeySponsors, and recently Patron of Sus-tainability Sponsors for the past twoyears.

Tom Beddard said he and Chris builttheir farming business starting with oneacre. We were two city kids who loved

the country, drawn to the countrythrough the idealistics of the 1960s.Chris was vivacious, vibrant, full of lifeand full of love, he said. Were devas-tated. She was the heart and soul of thewhole deal. Well miss her forever.

Christine Beddard was an energeticbusiness partner to Tom, as togetherthey grew a 22-acre farmette in theSelinsgrove area into a major certifiedorganic vegetable operation, which hasreached new levels on the east coast andis making an impact nationwide. LadyMoon Farms now encompasses 900acres in Pennsylvania and Florida com-bined, and Tom is in the process ofadding an operation in Georgia onethat Chris helped with the planning andhiring for this past winter.

Tom said his wife was an amazinghuman being. After 19 years of mar-riage, I stood in awe of her he said. Ilearned how selfless someone can be,how absolutely loving someone can betoward other people and how someone


14/2414

per orchids, trilliums). Native medicinalplants traditionally collected for market

perhaps represent some of the mostattractive candidates for forest farming.The best example of these is Americanginseng (Panax quinquefolius), a nativeplant with international appeal.

Collection and cultivation of Ameri-can ginseng from forestlands are activi-ties with a long and rich history in theCommonwealth. Wild ginseng is col-lected and/or reported from every coun-ty in the state and was almost certainlymuch more numerous three centuriesago, prior to the start of international

trade, than it is today. Agricultural bul-letins from 100 years ago represent someof the first efforts to encourage variousforms of ginseng planting and hus-bandry on private lands. This was doneboth to alleviate pressure on wild plantpopulations and to provide landownerswith alternative sources of income. Overthe past century very little has changed,establishment and encouragement ofginseng on forestlands is still necessaryto produce marketable quantities of rootand seed while simultaneously conserv-

ing the resource. Similarly, ginseng con-tinues to be an excellent alternative cropfor landowners interested in diversifyingincome and operations.

Today, most commercial ginseng rootis produced intensively in fields undershade created by lath or shade-cloth.However, among East Asian consumers,

who import an estimated 95% of theginseng root from North America, forestgrown ginseng is most esteemed.Though it is difficult for those unfamil-

iar with the plant and its root to appre-ciate, forest cultured ginseng is quitedifferent in appearance (and perhapsother qualities) from field-grown root.Thus, although ginseng may be grownefficiently and successfully under fieldconditions, there nevertheless is greatervalue and appreciation for ginseng rootthat originates from forestlands-wherefluctuating conditions produce a distinc-tive, as opposed to a more uniform,product. This difference in productquality translates to a substantial pricingdisparity with field-grown root fetching$1525 per pound and forest grownroot garnering anywhere from $100-650per pound in the wholesale marketplace.

The fondness for forest grown gin-seng root by the East Asian consumer,coupled with a growing market for suchroot by Americans and others aroundthe world, provides a unique opportuni-ty for small-scale production of ginsengon forestlands. Many farmers have some woodland on which cultivation of gin-

seng might be feasible. Similarly, privateforestland owners also have goodprospects for success. The demand forwoods-grown ginseng actually favors lessintensive production methods overintensive ones. Consequently, for manyPennsylvania forest owners, Americanginseng husbandry represents an excel-

lent opportunity to diversify income,maintain the integrity of forest ecosys-tems, and increase appreciation forPennsylvanias wild resources.

If all of this sounds too good to betrue, it must be said that there are manychallenges to growing ginseng. An indi-vidual plant may take ten or more yearsto attain marketable size and quality inthe forest understory and many difficul-ties are certainly possible during such along period of time. One of the princi-ple difficulties is that ginseng does nottake well to crowded conditions; thereare many fungal diseases that emergeunder intensive production, requiringthe frequent application of fungicides.Consequently, low intensity, so-calledwild-simulatedarrangements are best, inwhich natural conditions are mimickedto the greatest extent possible. Otherchallenges to ginseng culture, however,include herbivory by deer, seed preda-tion by turkey, and poaching by man.Such challenges, however, continue toensure that only a certain variety offarmer or landowner will becomeinvolved in forest farming and ginseng.This, in turn, supports a strong future

market.For further information about agroforestry, forest farming, and ginseng, youcan visit the Penn States School of ForestResources web page (www.sfr.cas.psu.edu/)the USDA National Agroforestry Center(www.unl.edu/nac) and the PennsylvaniaDepartment of Conservation and NaturalResources (DCNR) (www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/wildplant/ginseng.aspx).

On July 24, PASA will be co-sponsor-ing a field-day at Pennsylvania MountainGinseng (PMG), a privately owned and

operated forest farming operation locatedin Cambria County. Participants of thisworkshop will be introduced to American ginseng biology, ecology and horticulturethrough observation and discussion inPMGs forest classroom. Also covered willbe marketing, regulatory, and conservationconsiderations. Our guest speaker will beEric Burkhart from the Penn State Schoolof Forest Resources. He will be joined byDavid Thompson and Bud Bollinger of PMG.

Innovative opportunities for Pennsylvania farmers andlandowners: agroforestry, forest farming andAmerican ginseng.

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)



15/2415

Business Member Profile: Moyers Chicks

Superior Performance from Superior Products

Compare quality & experience!

DEALERS & DISTRIBUTORS WANTED!!!

You make the effort to feed youranimals organically. Shouldnt yoube feeding them an organic productthat works for your farm too?Increased egg production, healthieranimals, better balanced feeds.Weve got over 50 years of animalnutrition experience. Compare ourCERTIFIED ORGANIC FEEDS

to the others. Youll know whatyouve been missing.

Manufactured by Kreamer Feed, Inc., Kreamer PACALL Toll Free 1-800-767-4537 for a Dealer near you or visitwww.organicfeeds.com

Corn, Soybean Meal, Oats, Barley, Hay andCompost, Started Pullets available!

Is your feed missing something?Quality: Consistent feed mixes usingquality proven ingredients.Service: Custom blends, prompt bag orbulk delivery.Expertise: We are organic farmers withexperience in dairy, beef, lamb, goat, hogand poultry production; marketing andprocessing.

Products: Full line of feeds. From broilersto horses, game birds to calves. Completefeeds or concentrates.

To me, it is something that is continual-ly renewable and can be kept alive becauseof good, sound practices rather than beingexhausted because of poor stewardship. Wetry to follow those practices and be con-

scious of being good stewards of our com-munity and land and the resources we useto make our product.

What do you see as some of the criticalissues facing ag and ag-related businessestoday?

I think it is critical to connect with theconsumer. We have seen, because of [verti-cal] integration, a lot more decision-makingbeing made by fewer and fewer people. I amappalled at the emphasis on consumption. We have a moral obligation as producersand marketers to help build strong families

and communities. I think a lot of what getssold is driven by the dollar.

What do you see as the connectionbetween sustainable agriculture and theconsumer?

The assumption has been that the con-sumer doesnt care, but some do. The newgeneration of farmers seems to be moreinvolved with all aspects [of farming].Theyre paying attention to all these details like marketing. The word has to get out,

thats for sure. Each sustainable agriculturefamily has to be doing their part. We needto make consumers aware of superior nutri-tion, that there are things you should becritically aware of when youre buying pro-duce or meat. You hear producers talk

about how much people enjoy coming tothe farm if you go to someones farm andthere is a real, live person out there doingthings, it makes the whole picture cometogether.I

Carolyn Knapp and Doyle Freeman

To Become Rural Leaders

Carolyn Knapp of Ulster, PA and Doyle Free

man of Cherry Tree, PA are two of 27 Com

monwealth participants who are striving to

enhance their leadership skills and improve

their communities through enrollment in the

Pennsylvania Rural Leadership (RULE) Pro

gram. RULE is dedicated to developing com

munity leaders who have the skills andresources to meet the challenges of the

changing rural communities of Pennsylvania

Participants admitted to the two-year leader

ship development course attend ten study

institutes. Graduation is planned for May

2005 in State College, PA.

USDA-ARS Looking for

National Garlic Survey Participants

Gayle Volk at the USDA-ARS is looking fo

participants for a national garlic survey. "We

are conducting a survey to determine which

characteristics of garlic types tend to be consistent at various locations throughout the

U.S. If you grow garlic,you are urged to join in

this study.The packet is available for the ask

ing by e-mailing Dr. Volk at the addres

below: Gayle Volk, Plant Physiologist USDA

ARS National Center for Genetic Resources

Preservation

1111 S. Mason St.

Ft. Collins, CO 80521

[email protected]


PASA WELCOMES OUR

NEWEST BUSINESS MEMBERS

CURA Hospitality, Inc. Orefield, PA

Gryphon Caf Wayne,PA

JG Press, Inc. Emmaus,PA

Paragon Monteverde

Pittsburgh, PA

Pennsylvania Culinary Institute Pittsburgh, PA

Stone Soup Market State College, PA

Urban Nutrition Initiative Philadelphia, PA

Weavers Way Cooperative Assoc. Philadelphia, PA


16/24

JuniorPASAPage

By Sally Roe

Spring has arrived and as you spend more time out-

doors, you might enjoy exploring your yard and neighbor-

hood for signs of new life returning. Take a walk with yourparents and look for your returning neighbors. You might

want to make a list of places (ecologists and naturalists

call these habitats) and the creatures you find living

there. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1.Around ponds and marshy areas Look for tunnels

in the grass around the pond. We have found quite a

few of these around our own pond. After talking with my

father and using my Audubon Field Guide, I found out that

the makers of these trails are probably field mice more

correctly known as:

M V .

2.Also around ponds, listen for peepers, properly

called S Peepers. These littlefellows are hard to find but theyre wonderful to listen to

as they peep their high-pitched song through the spring

evenings. Soon, if youre near a wet area with trees and

brush nearby, you should be able to hear them.

3.As you walk about the pond, look in the water alongthe edges. Soon, if you look carefully, you should be

able to see something unusual at the bottom. Smooth,

dish-shaped depressions, which may have a fish swimming

nearby look, like nests and in a sense that is what they

are. As fish get ready to lay their eggs, they sweep an area

clean to receive the eggs. In our pond, we often see sun-

nies doing this. The correct names for the two kinds in our

pond are P andB .

4.Looking out my kitchen window, at the flower borderwith some birdseed left on the ground, I saw some

common feathered friends cleaning up one plump tan

and cream colored bird sings a soft low coo-ing song.

She is known as a M D . The aggressive blue and white bird witha crest on its head is a B J .Nearby a small sparrow sized bird, grey and white, is a

J . In the middle of our lawn, are myfavorites, R . Their grey backs and brick-red tummies make them easy to recognize.

5.You may also be able to find some birds nests.

R (see above) build their nestsin trees, of mud, twigs, and grass. The blue-green eggshells

are sometimes found on the ground beneath the nest.

We often find M D (see above) nests on deep among thebranches of the evergreen trees on our lawn. The nest is

made of sticks and twigs and the eggs are white. In our

barn, another bird likes to make its nest on a ledge. She

has forked tail, is blue above and creamy tan below, and

makes a lot of noise when you come near her nest, which is

made of mud, grass and feathers. She lays white eggs with

brown spots and is known as the B S .

6.In the spring, snakes awake from their winter

hibernation. One of the most common around here

is a slender, small snake with brown, yellow, and greenish

stripes running along the length of him. He eats worms,

frogs and other small creatures. We know him as a

G S .W S live nearour pond. Sometimes we see these dark brown and grey

mottled snakes lying near the pond looking for lunch. He

enjoys small fish, frogs, and other small creatures. On cool

sunny days in the spring, you may find him baking on some

nice warm rocks.

7.Speaking of rocks, if you turn one over you may find

very small creatures living there. Ants, and other

insects make their home there. Be sure not to disturb

these animals and all the others you discover. They are

more likely to remain and provide lots more opportunities

for observation if you leave them alone!

An enjoyable spring project might be to create a note-

book with lists and drawings of each of the animals you

discover. Perhaps you could list your discoveries by type

a page for birds and another for fish and another for

insects and so on. If you are a good artist, you might enjoy

drawing the creature too!

In the next issue, Ill tell you the names of the animals

above. Here are the names of the birds from the last

Junior PASA Page (Passages #45): 1. Osprey 2. Peregrine

Falcon 3. Least Bittern.

Happy Spring and if youd like, write and let me know

about any of the interesting animals you find in your own

backyard!

Write: Sally Roe, c/o PASA 114 W. Main Street, PO Box

419, Millheim, PA 16854

1616


17/24

$1,000

$10,000

$20,000

$5,000

$30,000

$50,000

$70,000

$90,000$100,000

$80,000

$60,000

$40,000

$25,000

$15,000

$62,000

about thinking long term in making decisions.And believe me, the politicians, state bureaucrats and university

administrators are beginning to listen more carefully to us nowbecause we are growing, we are diversifying our resources and programs, and they figure we are here to stay its an accountabilitything. When as an organization, we live from one grant to the nexor depend too much on outside funding, it hurts out credibilityon the issues most important to us right here in Pennsylvania.

So, you will be noticing in the coming months and years thatPASA will be asking for money more often, sometimes chargingfees that will make our popular Farm-Based education field daymore viable, and looking for ways to improve the economics of ourlargest program activity, the annual conference. Every one of ouprograms will be run with the parallel goals of 1) building ourstrength as an organization, 2) increasing our influence over deci-sion making statewide and 3) improving services to our members.

Most importantly, in doing this it is not our intention to leaveany of our members behind or create financial difficulty for anyonewho wants to participate. As in the past, we will do everything pos-sible to make sure price is not a barrier for any of our members just let us know.

Of this you can be certainwith your help, we will ensure thatPASA is in for the long haul, bringing an earnest, informative andrational voice to the table in determining the food and farming systems of the future. I

In for the Long Haul

Board of DirectorsAnnounce Annual Fund Goal


1717

By Chris Fullerton,Treasurer

Over the past several years, PASAs

annual fundraising appeal to members

has raised thousands of dollars in

much-needed revenue an average

of about $20,000 per year. This year,PASAs board of directors established a

three-year plan for fundraising that

draws a link between unrestricted

monies raised and core expenses

involved with keeping the doors open

at PASA. The goal of the three-year

plan will be to provide necessary

resources to operate through 2006

and create a contingency fund for the

lean times that will occasionally come

to any organization.

The goal for the first year (2004),

has been set at $100,000 and will

include proceeds from all direct mail

and personal solicitations, the silent

auction and other fundraising activi-

ties occurring at our conference and

other special events.An ambitious and

necessary goal as PASA continues to

grow, while seeking financial inde-

pendence and revenue diversity. As

everyone in agriculture knows, greater

independence allows for more respon-

sible stewardship, while greater diver-sity leads to more stability and

resilience.

To reach our goal, we will need the

generous support of all our members.

The good news is we are more than

half way there based on generous

donations from Rodale, Inc. and the

Rodale family,totaling $50,000. Thanks

also to those who have already

responded to our direct mail appeal,

we have raised over $62,000.

To track our progress toward the

$100,000 goal for this year, we are

using the pole bean graph shown

here. We will show this graph in each

issue ofPassages to show you how we

are doing and serve as a reminder of

the need for your ongoing assistance.Graphic courtesy of Phyllis Kipp.

Certified by PCO


18/2418

POULTRY MANEli M. Reiff 570-966-0769

922 Conley Road Mifflinburg, PA 17844

Scalder (above center)42 gallon rotary, gas fired with auto con-

trol temp timer. 60,000 BTU, all stainless steel.

Mechanical Plucker (above right) 3 4 HP motor, motor totally

enclosed. 10:1 Gear reduction, 27 diameter, stainless steel with

shower.

ALSO AVAILABLE

Manual Scalder Hand dunk birds. 42 gallon, 45,000 btu.

GrowingOrganic Seedfor the Future Corn, Soybeans, Alfalfa,

Red Clover & Sorghum Independent GMO Testing Convenient Ordering and Delivery

207 18th St. NGrand Junction, IA 50107

www.ncorganics.com

for ordering info call: 1-800-370-7979


19/24

excellent teacher, kept visitors enchantedwith watching her hands while she madewool felt and explained the process. Sue

raises Shetland sheep and teaches thefiber arts through the Artist in ResidenceProgram.

Dianna Smith of Lawerencevillekept her spinning wheel whirling whilevisitors exclaimed over her exquisitelyhandspun, hand crocheted shawls andhats. Dianna makes one of a kind itemsusing her handspun yarn. Some of heryarn is spun from two Angora goats which she purchased from us. Thessupporting artists made the day a veryeducational event for people unfamilia

with the Fiber Arts.Considering the variety of people

that attended the Farm Tour on a lessthan perfect spring weather day, theTour was a success. Visitors certainlywent home with something new to talkabout.

Did you see the horns on that sheepor was it a goat? There were four othem!

Your goats look like sheep and yoursheep look like goats.

Why do they have spots on them

They look like a cow.What do you do with all that woo

and Mohair?If you would like an answer to tha

last question, we have summer workshops where we will gladly teach you (seecalendar). For more information visiwww.steamvalleyfiber.com.

Editors Note: Shepherdess, PhylleriBall will be discussing sustainable hus-bandry for small ruminants at a PASAField Day scheduled for August 25th.

By Phylleri Ball, PASA MemberHolding a Farm Tour is a wonderful

way to advertise your farm and products,

whether you are selling livestock andwool or flowers and produce. Besides thepublicity, the educational outreach of atour can inspire awareness of the con-nection between farm products and theconsumer. Does your warm woolysweater come from a lamb that livesdown the road? Did you know that aMohair sweater came from the fleece ofa goat and an Angora sweater came fromrabbits wool? Learning the origins oftheir clothing and food can give con-sumers greater awareness when deciding

to make a purchase. Perhaps their nextsweater will come from local yarn raisedon a sustainable farm.

It was a cool, damp day, but the rainheld off during Steam Valleys AnnualSpring Tour held back in April, at thefarm north of Trout Run, Pennsylvania.Visitors came to view Jacob lambs, Col-ored Angora and Nubian goat kids.What fun to watch a childs face light up when they petted a spotted lamb or awooly goat kid. Its so soft! they wouldexclaim. Laughter would erupt when my

eleven-year-old son would crouch on allfours so his pet Angora goat kid wouldjump on his back to go for a ride. Shar-ing our love for just watching these crit-ters play was one motivator for holdingour spring farm tour.

Educating others about our unusualfiber producing livestock was another. Asa group of visitors toured the goat barnor observed the sheep pen, history andcharacteristics of the breed wereexplained. Both the curious observers

and experienced fiber folk attended. Agroup of spinners from Bradford Coun-ty came with notepads, pencils and loadsof questions. I love to talk about my live-stock, so their inquiries could keep mechatting all day. If they gleaned a littlehusbandry information that helps themwith their stock, then it was a day wellspent by all.

Snacks were available to warm folksup on this chilly day. Neighbors broughtover a bowl of freshly baked cookies. Mysister Wendy was the hostess, guiding

people to sign the registry and fillingtheir bowl with hot stew. The food wasenjoyed by all and gave visitors time toshare with each other.

If your farm needs a little sprucing uparound the edges, hosting a Farm Tourcan motivate you to sweep the cobwebsout of the rafters. My youngest son even washed the barn windows! Signs for

parking and registration were posted,but they were ignored when it got busy.My neighbors knew the tour was sched-uled, so they were accommodating withthe traffic and roadside parking.

We also had demonstrations to showthe uses for wool from the sheep andMohair from the goats. PASA member,Sue Ripley of Wellsboro, shared herknowledge of felt making. Her beautifulfelted items and puppets were on displayas well as her work in progress. Sue, an

Hosting A Farm Tour my experience

19

Phylleri's son, Star Pais,shows off one of the

newborn lambs.

26110 Nanticoke Rd, Salisbury, MD 21801Ph/Fx: 410-546-8480 Cell: 410-430-8100

Connie & Pat Dolbey

Growers of quality vegetable & herb transplants for market gardeners

& large scale growers.

Ability to custom-grow your variety choice for your planting date.Ideally suited to start-up CSAs.

Certified organic by MD Dept. of AG.

Flying Mother Natures Silver Seed To A New Home In The Sun. Neil Young, after the goldrush


20/24

C

alendar

June JUNE 5 & JULY 30 | Beginning Spinning

Wheel Workshop,Steam Valley Fiber Farm,

Trout Run, PA. For more information con-

tact Phylleri Ball at 570-998-8197.

JUNE 6 & JULY 31 | Dyeing Wool Work-

shop, Steam Valley Fiber Farm, Trout Run,

PA. For more information contact Phylleri

Ball at 570-998-8197.

JUNE 8-10 | Farm Days, Lancaster, PA. Held

by Lancaster County Extension office and

Master Gardeners.

JUNE 9 | PASA Field Day: Patchwork Farm,

Aaronsburg, PA (Centre Co.). Compare,

contrast organic vs. nonorganic methods

in greenhouses.Contact PASA at 814-349-9856 or www.pasafarming.org for more

information.

JUNE 13 | Buy Local Season Kick off Cele-

bration at Yards Brewery (in the Kensing-

ton neighborhood in Philly), 1:005:00

pm. Join Fair Food and Farm to City for a

day of locally grown food, live bluegrass

music, a brewery tour, a raffle, and deli-

cious Yards Brewery beer. $10 adults/$5

kids includes food, drinks, tax and enter-

tainment; Please RSVP (215) 386-5211 or

[email protected].

JUNE 18 | PASA Field Day: Hidden Springs

Farm, (Bedford Co.). Elk farming with Clair

Rhoads. Contact PASA at 814-349-9856 or

www.pasafarming.org for more informa-

tion.

JUNE 2123 | 34th Annual BioCycle

National Conference. Composting, organ-

ics recycling & renewable energy: tapping

the profits and potential, Philadelphia,PA.

Register now at 610-967-4135 or visitwww.biocycle.net

JUNE 22 | Pasture Poultry Workshop, 6-8

pm Forks Farm in Orangeville, Columbia

Co. Sponsored by Project Grass with sup-

port of PASA and APPPA. For beginning to

experienced poultry graziers to discuss

hooding, pasturing, processing and mar-

keting, breeds and types of poultry (broil-

ers, egg layers, turkeys, ducks, and geese)

featuring an experienced panel of pro-

ducers:Bucky Ziegler: organic production,

feed and nutrition; Eli Reiff: producer and

marketer, broilers, egg layers and ducks;

John Hopkins: grass fed meat producer,

processor and marketer; Phil Glatfelter:

broiler and heritage turkey producer;

Brian Moyer: producer, marketer and APPA

board member. Contact John Hopkins at

570-683-5820.

JUNE 26JULY 3 | Natural Building Collo-

quium East. For: Designers, owner-

builders, architects,permaculturalists,

educators & everyone interested in creat-

ing natural buildings & sustainable living

practices. Workshops on Natural Build-

ing: Architecture & Design; Permaculture:

Natural Building as a Movement; Appro-

priate Technology Expo. Hosted by Peace-

Weavers Thunder Mountain, Bath, NY.Registration Forms & info. Visit: www.gaia-

tecture.com or www.peaceweavers.com.

JUNE 26 | Lancaster County Farm Tour &

Berry Picking 9:00 am4:00 pm. Meet at

the White Dog Caf for coffee and pastries

and board the bus for Lancaster County,

PA. $35 includes coffee,& pastries, box

lunch, transportation by school bus & tax.

Space limited. Call for Reservations (215)

386-5211 or email [email protected].

JUNE 29 | PASA Field Day: Harvest ValleyFarms, Butler Co. Learn post harvest han-

dling methods for CSAs, farm markets,

restaurants and grocers. Contact PASA at

814-349-9856 or www.pasafarming.org

for more information.

JUNE 30AUG 1 | Pennsylvania Natural

Living Association Conference at Albright

College in Reading, PA. For a brochure,

more information, becoming an exhibito

or to register, visit www.panla.org or con

tact Scott Martin at [email protected].

July JULY 7 | PASA Field Day: Appropriate

equipment for small vegetable opera

tions, New Morning Farm, in Huntington

Co. Contact PASA at 814-349-9856 o

www.pasafarming.org for more informa

tion.

JULY 24 | PASA Field Day: Ginseng pro

duction with Eric Burkhart, Pennsylvania

Mountain Ginseng, (Cambria Co.). Contac

PASA at 814-349-9856 or www.pasafarm

ing.org for more information.

JULY 30AUG 1 | 3-Day Workshop Dyeing Wool & Yarn and Advanced Spinning

Steam Valley Fiber Farm, Trout Run, PA

Weekend workshops on the farm include

fiber arts classes, organic meals & partici

pation in Steam Valley's farm life.For more

information contact Phylleri Ball at 570

998-8197.

SeptemberSEPT 2425 | Passive Solar Greenhouse

Workshop: design, construction and yearound production, Spring Grove, PA.Work

shop will be taught by Steve Moore, with

20+ years of farming and greenhouse

experience. Space is limited to 25,organic

lunches, breaks and free dormitory style

housing available at Sonnewald Natura

Foods. Contact Steve & Carol Moore fo

details, 717-225-2489 or e-mail sandc

[email protected].

20

Penn State, PDA Offering Help to Agriculture Innovators

Help is on the way for innovative Pennsylvania agricultural producers lookingbeyond the gates of their farms for increased revenue from value-added prod-ucts and community-based local sales and marketing. The Keystone Agricul-tural Innovation Center (KAIC) a joint program offered by Penn StatesCollege of Agricultural Sciences and the Penns

Documents

May-June 2004 Passages Newsletter, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture