Penn Soil RC&D Awarded Outreach Grant

Penn Soil RC&D Council has been awarded a $25,000 grant through the National Association of RC&D Councils to provide outreach to underserved populations and new and beginning farmers related to NRCS programs. Penn Soil plans to host outreach meetings to share information pertaining to NRCS programs that are available and refer potential clients to the agency staff.

Penn Soil participated in our first outreach event on July 27 during Farm Fest at 3 Pillarz Farm in Columbus, Pa. We talked to many farmers, some who had been in business for several years and some who were just starting out. The feedback was good and several were interested in follow up conversations. More information about future outreach events will be passed on as event details are solidified.

Farm Fest itself celebrated its 3rd year offering accessibility to many organizations pertinent to farming and agriculture, artisans and craft vendors, food, music and goat yoga! There was also a beekeeper group giving talks on honeybees and honey products. There was a farmer’s market with fresh produce for sale as well as a couple of local beef farmers selling their products. The Master Watershed Stewards of Penn State Extension were doing demonstrations about non-point source pollution from storm runoff and ways to minimize the impacts from these rain events on landowners' property and how to curb the subsequent flow of pollution associated with rain events.