Sustaining the Uniqueness of Our Community
Kendra & Jacqueline, Co-publishers
As March winds usher in warmer
weather and longer days, those
of us with spring fever may be
tempted to remove the piles of leaves and
debris shielding our plants from the cold of
winter. But this year, try to wait a bit longer,
until the cherry trees bloom, in order to
preserve the chrysalids and tiny hiding
spaces that shelter moths, butterflies, bees,
praying mantis, fireflies and the thousands
of other creatures that contribute to a vital
and flourishing ecosystem.
In this part of the country, we are
fortunate to have rich and fertile soil, a climate that supports seasonal bounty and a
long history of backyard gardening, family farming and tending to the land. Some of the
country’s most nutritious and delicious fruits and vegetables find their way from local
farms to grocery stores, co-ops, markets and farm-to-table restaurants all over the East
Coast. Locally, 99 percent of the farms are family owned, as compared to the 50 percent
national average. These precious small businesses have a tremendous impact on our
economy, our health and well-being, and can play an important role in the preservation
of the land and soil quality.
With so much of the agricultural and woodland acreage in Berks and Lancaster
counties under development lately—about three acres a day, according to the Lancaster
County Agricultural Council—the importance of supporting our local farmers becomes
a quality of life issue. Sustaining the uniqueness of our community, the stewardship of
our land and waters, and the vitality of our local economy is essential to our identity. This
aligns with the call to encourage and support the ongoing transition to no-chemical and
low-tilling crop production and organic farming, which uses less water, less energy and
no pesticides, leading to less erosion, improved soil quality and better-tasting, nutrient-dense food choices.
While you are waiting for blooms on cherry trees and warmer weather, use the time to
make your list, chart a course and set a goal to visit new farmers markets, roadside stands
and farm-to-table restaurants as often as you can—once a month or even once a week.
There are plenty to choose from, and it will be a pleasure for the whole family to discover
these nearby treasures.
If you are a farmer, thank you for all that you do—the dusk-to-dawn days of hard
physical labor, the meticulous care in selecting and planting your seeds, harvesting at just
the right moment and delivering your very best for all of us to savor. We are grateful to you for our health and vitality, and honor your vision and your ongoing hard work.
Kendra Campbell and Jacqueline Mast, Co-Publishers
