Maysie's Farm Conservation Center

Vol. 2, No. 6	Maysie's Farm Conservation Center, Glenmoore, PA	October 2001
Community Supported Agriculture
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Helping the Hungry
by Colleen Cranney

"Agriculture is not a technical profession or merely an industry, but a civilization."
— Liberty Hyde Bailey

Remember those boxes and boxes of beautiful, ripe tomatoes, more than all the shareholders could possibly eat? Have you ever wondered what happens to the excess food produced at Maysie's Farm? And how about the "seconds," produce that doesn't quite meet Sam's standards for the shareholders? Generally this food is not sold elsewhere, nor does it go into the compost pile. Instead, Maysie's surplus helps feed the hungry.

With so many obvious signs of wealth in Chester County, it's hard to believe that hunger is a problem here. But the reality is that thousands of families need food assistance in Chester County each year. According to Patty Sobecki, Manager of Food Programs for the Community Service Council of Chester County, these are not just people in homeless shelters; there are many under-employed people in the county, the "working poor" who simply cannot afford to eat. These people, some of whom are on disability, social security, or welfare-to-work programs, find buying groceries a tremendous burden.

A 1994 study estimated that 14,000 people went hungry in Chester County. Alarmed by this statistic, County Commissioner Andrew Dinniman decided to tap into local farms for help. This led to the Chester County Gleaning Project, to which Maysie's Farm, along with 20-some other farms, contributes. Since the Project's inception, over 126 tons of produce have been gleaned throughout Chester County. Elmer Duckinfield, chairman of the Gleaning Project, explains that there are different ways a farm can contribute. Pete Flynn, of Pete's Produce in Westtown, plants 2 acres of produce every year for the exclusive use of the Gleaning Project. At harvest time, volunteers such as scouts and church groups come to harvest and donate the food. Other farms allow volunteers to come into their fields after the harvest to pick what's left. Finally, farms such as Maysie's donate vegetables that are already harvested. Every Friday evening a volunteer comes out to Maysie's Farm, picks up the surplus, and takes it to the designated food cupboard.

Surplus from Maysie's Farm goes to The Lord's Pantry, which is an emergency food cupboard in Downingtown. Located in St. James Church on Lancaster Avenue, this facility provides about 245 families per month a three- to five-day supply of food. All of these households qualify for food assistance, which means they earn no more than 150% of poverty level. Traditionally they have received canned goods and other non-perishables, and, according to Director Jan Leaf, they are thrilled with Maysie's produce. Fresh, organic vegetables are a luxury they simply cannot afford; and these foods add variety and nutrition to their diets.

On September 30, Sam received a recognition award on behalf of Maysie's Farm from the Chester County Gleaning Project. He also received a Chester County Gleaning Farm sign, which is posted on the refrigerator in the barn. In a small but vital way, Maysie's Farm is doing its part to help curb hunger and malnutrition in Chester County. And it's reassuring to know that all the beautiful surplus produce is being savored and appreciated.

Internview

Seth Bond

As you stroll around the corner of the barn on a lovely autumnal day, if you were to hear the roar of an engine it would not be unusual to see a tall dark man at the wheel or holding the handles of whatever racket-making instrument it is. Nor would it be strange to see him with pieces of the engine or carburetor or some other part, sitting in front of him as he methodically disassembles and fixes whatever ails it. You see, that's just the kind of guy Bond is. But this is not the fictional character at all, this is better yet--it's Bond, Seth Bond. Seth is from Ohio and I reckon to hear him speak, ya'll'd think he was from farther south. This talented addition to the intern team is not only attracted to machines and mechanically inclined; he is also a very fascinating person with wide and varied tastes.

Seth attends Antioch College, where he has spent the past four years. Antioch has an active co-op program where students spend one semester in co-op and one in class for five years. Seth's previous co-ops have been varied and interesting and have given him a wide knowledge base to work with. He spent one co-op working on the set of a documentary film, one doing raptor (large birds of prey) rehabilitation, one doing a plant inventory with a botanist in Oregon, one working at a nature preserve and now one at Maysie's Farm. In May, Seth will graduate with a liberal arts major in environmental studies and found object sculpture. He is unsure of what he wants to do after that. He does though hope to someday have a CSA of his own, perhaps on his parents' 23-acre farm in Ohio, but perhaps somewhere else. Regardless of what his future holds, we are presently very glad to have him here for his go-get-em work ethic and for his expertise in fixing broken tractors and tools. If you see a self-proclaimed hillbilly around, give him a "howdy" and he may give you a "ya'll come back now, you hear" right back.

by Liz Martin

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