"Look what I found!" Those may be Amy Crystle's favorite words. Pictured here inside a newly discovered Amish greenhouse in the Southern End of Lancaster County, she's beaming over her unexpected find.
Where can one make delightful discoveries, if not in Lancaster County? When one of those discoveries illuminates the transition path to sustainability, both environmentally and economically, Transition Lancaster wants to join the celebration!
This particular find came on a dirt road near Nottingham,PA at Pine Grove Greenhouses. Amy stopped by in between other farm visits to drop off a book on four season harvesting she'd promised to farmer Daniel. This topic is one of many she had discussed with a group of Amish farmers while advising them on organizing an organic or chemical- free co-op.
Even though Amy had first purchased blueberries from Daniel and his wife, Fanny, in 2006, she had never actually been to their farm and didn't know about the greenhouses. I had the rare privilege of celebrating this find first hand with Amy because she let me tag along on her usual Tuesday travels.
On Tuesdays she does pick ups of the food which goes into her Seasonal Food Bundles for the week; "The Flexible CSA" as she calls it. These weekly food bundles provide year-round seasonal produce from a mix of organic and chemical-free Lancaster County farms and farmers.
Once she gets her week's orders collected, she takes this produce to East Side Community Kitchen on Plum St. in Lancaster City, where she assembles the bundles. Then subscribers to Amy's service, known as Everday Local Food (www.everdaylocalfood.com), pick up their food at her home on W. Chestnut St. She also has a delivery option. In this way local growers have cash paying customers and Lancaster eaters have locally grown food all year round!
This win/win arrangement contributes to the rebuilding of a resilient Lancaster County food system; one we need to sustain us through the uncertainties of our rapidly changing world.
If you know of other Lancaster County examples of Transition activity, let me know. I'd love to write about it!
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