When I moved back to Pennsylvania to start the farm at the end of 2012, I became a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture. Their work includes research in sustainability practices like soil health, food safety training, farm policy advocacy, farmer education, direct support for new farmers, climate smart initiatives, and financial benchmark studies. They’ve been a vital resource for bringing new and beginning farmers from all walks of life into the business of farming, and they continue to offer resources to continuing farmers based on years of data-driven research. Their conferences are a yearly opportunity for farmers to gather and share resources, and I have met and made so many industry friends there in the last 13 years who are committed to feeding the region. Crooked Row would not be what it is today without their resources, community, and mentorship over the years.

We were working with them on some programs heading into this season that may or may not exist now – and we are going to be okay – but there are other farmers in the region have been left without funds they were expecting for this season, and PASA is going on over 40 days without access to promised funds. They are going to have to start furloughing many of their staff. If you are involved in your local food footprint, this is affecting folks you know.

I know how uncomfortable it can be to voice a concern with a legislator – but I had a really earnest conversation with someone in Senator McCormick’s office a couple weeks back, someone who wanted to know how Pennsylvanians and local growers were being impacted by the “unintended consequences of some of these freezes,” – and it reminded me how essential it is to share this sort of direct news with the folks around us. It’s hard to pick up the pen or the phone, but it’s important.

The link here offers some guidance on who to call and what to say, if you are interested, and it also provides a link to donate directly to PASA if you are moved to do so.

I hope you all have a beautiful day.