Goals

Thoughts on Goals Moving Forward

Operations Directions

Short Term – 2023

  • √ Review: Current 2023 crop planning features 14+/- acres of food production crops for neighbors in need:

  • Adding additional 1 acre of potatoes, 7-8 acres of Potatoes total; 3.5 acres at Becker’s

    • 4.5+/- acres, in Potatoes at the KU Heritage Center, and Michael Coffey Plot back Gehret Rd.


Support Acres:

  • Non-GMO, Conventional Soybean at remaining Heritage Center (HC) acres. ∙ GMO Field Corn, and Noecker’s Plot.

  • Plot to maintenance; Lenich's?

  • Rye Cover Crop in post potato production and pea/string bean plots expected ounce again.

  • 2 Acres Snap Green Beans (1Acre increase)

  • 2 Acres Yellow Wax Beans

  • - 2 Acre Snap Peas, adding 1 additional acre of Snap Peas this year.


Near Term – 2023

    • Operate per past norms, forward.

General Goals for 2023

      1. √ Placed the December 2021 order for 300, 50 pound seed potato bags being 15,00 pounds for 2023, with Ed Shenk of Weaver's Ace Hardware, which are being 100% donated.

      2. √ Annual Business Board Meeting, January 21 2022 .

      3. √ Ordered Snap Pea and String Bean Seed, 1A increase - Peas.

      4. Seed Potatoes are Scheduled to be cut in public invited Sessions, Saturday & Sunday 1PM-4P April 22nd and 23rd, at Becker's St. Peter's EL Church.

      5. Hope to produce 75,000 - 50,000 pounds of potatoes to be harvested and distributed to local food pantries, via the Helping Harvest Food Bank Reading, for Berks & Schuylkill Counties.

      6. Request and desire to purchase a Sweet Corn Harvester. Sweet Corn Harvester, possibility - searching for an affordable mechanical harvester to enable this project.

      7. Desire to upgrade and add field equipment - Particularly adding a 2Row 3Point Pea/String Bean Planter. Visit the Wish List Page on Website. Our 2 'big' tractors may require service soon. Add new potator harvester, another 'large' tractor 75-90 HP, smaller 2 row planter for String Beans, Peas, and Sweet Corn custom food crops.

      8. Desire to expand field farming operations with additional acres being placed into the program close ranging from KU Heritage Center, particularly for Field Corn and Soybean Project toward sustainability, which helps support the "produce projects" successive year Spring startup, if/as the opportunity for additional land is presented. Would like 3-5Acre size plots due to "the farther out we need to travel".

      9. Sweet Corn Project startup; searching for associated harvest equipment which may be found available.

      10. Consideration for physical facilities to be added for storage of Combine and additional equipment, being two additional carports type structures.

  2. Looking for this expansion equipment items in 2022:


Additional CAPEX Purchases under consideration. Used equipment unless otherwise noted.

      1. 3Point 2Row Pea/String Bean Planter

      2. Sweet Corn Harvester (Desired)

      3. 1Row Hands-on assist Potato Digger (Desired)

      4. Acquire an accessible 1 Acre of land – Place Office, Equipment Storage, Produce Storage

      5. Crop Processing Facility, Equipment, Maintenance Shop, as an Operations Center. ∙ Acquire additional equipment to improve stability of food crop operations such as a Barrel Washer for root crops. See Website WishList Page.

      6. Acquire additional field food crop automation equipment. See Website WishList Page. Manned potato digger, sweet corn harvester, other.

      7. Additional Farm Land - receive into the project for use to support and expand what we are doing and would like to do – 70, 150, 200, 750 upwards to 1000 Acres and 1Millions pounds of grown and donated fresh food to regional hungry neighbors in need. From a facility for Farming, Food Storage and Processing Facilities, Retreat Center, Cabin Housing, Worship Center, Modern Meeting and Education Center, and Other related activities.