The Seed Farm (TSF), an agricultural education and entrepreneurship program based on a farm site in Emmaus, was initially developed by Lehigh County and Penn State Cooperative Extension with the support of a three-year USDA grant.

A primary goal of the program is to support the farmland preservation program by cultivating the next generation of farmers to take over Lehigh County’s preserved farmland. Since 1989, Lehigh County has invested over $23 million (along with $55 million of state funds) to preserve over 23,000 acres of farmland. Lehigh County dedicated the use of the Seem Seed Farm to protecting that substantial investment by training new farmers to strengthen our food security and local economy while protecting our natural resources.

Since 2010, TSF has provided intensive, full-season training in production, marketing, business planning, and equipment operation to over 30 beginning farmers who are looking to start farms; and eight farm businesses have been launched in our agricultural incubator, which is located on the farm site in Upper Milford Township.

Additional experiential and educational activities have enabled us to deliver valuable skills in sustainable agriculture practices to hundreds of farmers, gardeners, and community members. TSF’s unique mission and impact led to the ongoing support of the community; as well as to a recent merger with Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV), where The Seed Farm benefits from the increased financial and programmatic security of a much larger, more established organization.

 Brad Pollock, the Farm Manager, can be reached at BPollock@caclv.org.

The Seed Farm has merged with Second Harvest Food Bank!

Second Harvest is a program of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, Inc.

The Seed Farm and Military Share programs

Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley

Diane Matthews-Gehringer Director of Farmland Preservation Office

4234 Dorney Park Rd, Suite 2,  Allentown, PA 18104 

610-336-5680 ext1           dianematthews-gehringer@lehighcounty.org

www.TheSeedFarm.org

Watch us grow on Facebook and Instagram!

Growing New Farmers