AHF is proud to be Certified Naturally Grown (CNG). CNG is a national organization based in Brooklyn that offers peer-review certification to close to 900 farmers and beekeepers in the US and Canada who are producing food for their local communities by working in harmony with nature, without relying on synthetic chemicals or GMOs. What I especially love about CNG is that 1) it is for the direct market/community based farmer who is selling produce locally and 2) the peer review certification process (based on the PGS model) relies on transparency and fosters direct relationships between farmers.

As a Board Member for Certified Naturally Grown, I know first hand how hard the organization works on behalf of its members. And that’s why I’m helping to organize its very first Farm Dinner Fundraiser. Our Goal for the Fundraiser is to raise $3,000 for CNG’s Scholarship Fund. The Scholarship Fund covers certification dues for beginning farmers with heavy start-up costs and dues for farmers who are facing unusual hardship – like extreme weather or serious medical costs. The Scholarship Fund was created in 2012, and was initially funded by CNG farmers, who contributed more than $2,500 that first year. Since then, CNG has distributed 94 scholarships totaling around $7000 in value. The program has been instrumental in helping beginning farmers get established, and providing some stability to farms that have been hit by hardships like tornadoes, floods or illness. You can read more about it HERE.

I’m especially grateful to Jayne Shord, for offering Beech Springs Farm as the venue.  Mike Mahr (chef extraordinaire), will be catering the event. And Maria Wolf & Bridget Schell (Adams County Coordinator of the Gleaning Project of South Central PA) have both generously offered to lend a hand in organizing the event.

We hope that YOU too can join us for a beautiful evening of delicious, locally grown food, fabulous music (Pomona’s Trio), and good company. Tickets are available HERE.