HARRISBURG, Pa. — While a trip to a farm in the fall might bring to mind recreational apple picking, Pasa Sustainable Agriculture’s educational on-farm events are geared towards farmers themselves. The Pennsylvania-based nonprofit kicked off its fall events season last week with a community potluck at Dickinson College Farm, a dairy grazing certifications roundtable, and a bilingual (English and Spanish) seed keeping and storytelling workshop with Truelove Seeds. If you’re sad you missed these, don’t fret. There are plenty more farmer-focused workshops and sustainable agriculture community events coming up all across the Commonwealth.
On-farm workshops will give attendees an opportunity for hands-on learning on practical topics like small engine repair, which is being offered at three locations in Eastern, Central, and Western Pennsylvania.
Farmers in the Pittsburgh area won’t want to miss a workshop on navigating grants and loans from federal organizations like the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
This orchard walk and apple tasting at Surges Orchard will focus on considerations for adding fruit trees to your production plan. A pasture walk at Wilson Land & Cattle Co. will include in-depth discussion of pastured grazing practices, including agroforestry.
There are also two grower-to-grower tours focused on high tunnels: one will tour three farms in Lancaster County with discussion centered around inconsistencies in how high tunnels are regulated; another at Harvest Valley Farms outside of Pittsburgh will explore topics including tunnel siting, design, and construction.
Later in the season, the Advanced Growers Intensive will be held at the Nurture Nature Center in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. This annual full-day gathering gives experienced farmers an opportunity to connect with one another while they dig deep into management strategies that contribute to vegetable farm profitability. Featured presenters include Ola Creston and George Brittenburg of Taproot Farm, who will discuss their approach to hiring, training, and retaining employees, including their experiences employing farmers through the H-2A program. Spencer Blackwell of Elmer Farm (Middlebury, Vermont) will share insights from his farm’s trials with low-till and no-till techniques.
Pasa’s fall calendar also includes regional community potlucks at locations across Pennsylvania. Attendees will have a chance to meet and (re)connect with other farmers, food system professionals, and changemakers in their area while sharing conversation and food.
View the full fall events lineup and register at pasafarming.org/events.
You can also call 814.349.9856 x714 to register.
Pasa Sustainable Agriculture Fall 2023 events:
OCTOBER
Pasa Community Potluck: Central Pennsylvania
October 3 @ 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Dickinson College Farm (Cumberland County)
What to Know About Dairy Grazing Certifications
October 4 • 9 – 11:30 am
Miller’s Natural Foods (Lancaster County)
Conservación de semillas con Truelove Seeds / Seed Keeping with Truelove Seeds
October 7 • 11 am – 3:30 pm
Sankofa Community Farm (Philadelphia)
Pasa Community Potluck: Eastern Pennsylvania
October 9 • 3: – 6 pm
Root Mass Farm (Montgomery County)
High Tunnel Tour & Regulation Discussion
October 13 • 9:30 am – 2 pm
Dan Stoltzfuz Farm (Lancaster County)
Sturges Orchard Walk & Tasting
October 16 • 4 – 6 pm
Sturges Orchard (Beaver County)
Harvesting Abundance: Sustainability in Our Grazing Havens
October 20 • 8 am – 5 pm
Wilson Land and Cattle Co. (Forest County)
Pasa Community Potluck: Southwestern Pennsylvania
October 30 • 5 pm – 7 pm
Chatham University (Pittsburgh)
NOVEMBER
Pasa Community Potluck: Northwestern Pennsylvania
November 4 • 2 – 5 pm
Fat Hawk Farm (Crawford County)
Navigating Grants & Loans from FSA & NRCS
November 9 • 6 – 7:30 pm
Garden Dreams Urban Farm & Nursery (Pittsburgh)
High Tunnel Tour at Harvest Valley Farm
November 14 • 3 – 4:30 pm
Harvest Valley Farms (Allegheny County)
Small Engine Repair & Maintenance (Eastern PA)
November 30– December 1 • 9 am – 4 pm
The Seed Farm (Lehigh County)
DECEMBER
Small Engine Repair and Maintenance (Central PA)
December 2 • 9 am – 4 pm
Baken Creek Farm (Perry County)
Small Engine Repair and Maintenance (Western PA)
December 4–5 • 9 am – 4 pm
Hilltop Urban Farm (Pittsburgh)
Advanced Grower Intensive
December 6 • 9 am – 4:15 pm
Nurture Nature Center (Northampton County)
SAVE THE DATE:
Pasa’s 2024 Sustainable Agriculture Conference
February 8–10 in Lancaster, PA
–Marie Hathaway, Pasa Sustainable Agriculture
