Villa Maria Farm 

While this project is just in its feasibility study phase under its partner agency The Alliance for Nonprofit Resources, Community Partnership is exploring a long-term relationship with the Sisters of the Humility of Mary in Lawrence County, with the intent of preserving and developing the Villa Maria Farm. If this project moves into implementation, the Villa Maria Farm would expand its support of charitable food programs, increase its agricultural education programming, and offer innovation and entrepreneurship programming and infrastructure for food and farm-based businesses in Western Pennsylvania.

CP has been awarded a H.R. 133 Specialty Crop Block Grant. Under this grant, we will work with Penn State Extension's horticulture team to provide specialty crop education to beginning and established fruit and vegetable growers in Western Pennsylvania. Growers (three cohorts of ten over the next three years) will participate in a series of 16 workshops covering soil health, pollinators, and greenhouse growing with a focus on brassicas (broccoli/cauliflower/cabbage) and tomatoes/peppers.

This Grant will include the installation of four demonstration gardens at Villa Maria over the next four years. CP is currently looking for local farmers in Butler, Beaver, Lawrence and Mercer counties to participate in the cohort, but growers outside of these counties will be considered if space is available.

UPDATE!! We are currently enrolling for the final Grower’s cohort, which will be offered virtually via Zoom starting in April. Sessions will include soil testing, soil analysis, macro and micro nutrients, transplant production and direct seeding, integrated pest management, organic fungicides and insecticides, and specialized sessions on cut flowers, greens, tomatoes, pumpkins, winter squashes, and cover crops. If you are interested in signing up for the class, you can sign-up using Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seeding-the-future-of-ag-specialty-crop-grower-education-series-tickets-824745194077.

Seed to Supper

Seed to Supper is a free, comprehensive seven-week comprehensive gardening course that is designed to give beginning gardeners the skills they need to grow a portion of their own food at home. Seed to Supper is specifically designed to help gardeners who are on a limited budget, and the program is free to individuals who meet income guidelines or who are honorably discharged service veterans.

In Butler County, Seed to Supper is a partnership between the Penn State Master Gardener Program and Community Partnership. The classes will be held every Tuesday evening from 6-8pm starting April 14th and running until May 19th. The classes will be held at the Artisan Resiliency Center, formerly the Artisan Catering Company Restaurant, 781 New Castle Road, Butler Pa 16001. In addition to learning how to start and take care of their gardens throughout the growing season, participants will also receive materials and seeds for their home gardens.

In addition to providing garden education and increased access to healthy foods, Seed to Supper providers learners with a transformative experience that increases individual and community food security by fostering food literacy, resiliency, community connectivity, and supportive social networks.

Read our reviews from our recent Seed to Supper cohort here!

Applications for Seed to Supper can be downloaded here, along with the Food Security Matrix which can be downloaded here. Both documents can be dropped off at the Artisan Resiliency Center from 9am-3pm Monday through Friday. Applications can also be mailed to the following address: Community Partnership, c/o Seed to Supper, 781 I New Castle Road, Butler Pa 16001 along with copies of monthly oncome and/or proof of military service.