2024 Grant Recipient: PennyPack Farm and Education Center

THE GRANT

$1,200 to Pennypack Farm and Education Center (PFEC) to support their youth and educational programs and construct newly designed raised garden beds in their Edible Garden. This garden is part of the Little Sprouts and Little Explorers programs. Children plant seeds then return to the Farm to enjoy the taste of their own harvest.

On one of the newly designed raised garden beds is a memorial plaque honoring the grant to PFEC and our shared mission in memory of Carol.

WHY DID WE GIVE TO PENNYPACK FARMS?

PFEC holds a special place in our hearts. PennyPack is just a short 5 minutes away from where Carol and Bill raised their family in Upper Dublin. Carol alayws had a passion for health eating from organic and sustainable farms and gardens. A few years after PFEC opened in 2003, Carol and a teaching colleague became members of PFEC's Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. She loved visiting the farm to pick up her weekly share of PFEC's harvest and to pick freshly ripe vegetables and berries right off the vine.

We, Carol’s family, soon became aware that PFEC had in place an education center for local youth in collaboration with the College Settlement of Philadelphia. The educational program of PFEC provides hands-on learning about organic farming, healthy eating and sustainability. These programs called “Little Sprouts” and “Little Explorers” are offered in the Edible Garden.

ABOUT PENNYPACK FARM AND EDUCATION CENTER

PFEC is a non-profit community organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of the health, economic, ecological, and social issues involved in sustainable food systems. Their mission is summarized as GROW-GIVE-TEACH. PFEC grows organic seasonal for their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and gives thousands of pounds of fresh produce to local food cupboards. Most importantly, related to The Carol Lusignea Memorial Fund, PFEC teaches youth about the value of sustainable farming, where their food comes from and how to improve family health through cooking and eating well.