May 2018: AgrAbility PA Project Highlights

Published by agrabilitypa on May 30, 2018May 30, 2018

Milk & Honey, Turn-Up the Dial, and Wheels for Woods round out some of AgrAbility PA's highlights for May.

AgrAbility PA staff dabbled in Milk & Honey during the month of May. That's part of the sweet name that makes up Tim Wallace'spassion project in his retirement from teaching elementary art and serving in the United States Army. Milk & Honey Farms is a non-profit, privately owned farm dedicated to providing fresh fruit and vegetables for those at risk for hunger in South Central Pennsylvania. It is a special place indeed!

AgrAbility PA staff visited Tim's farm and spent several hours talking and exploring ideas for growth, capacity, accessibility, and vitality of the farm's mission. Tim uses a utility vehicle to access much of the hilly terrain of the farm. The farm provides seasonal garden plots so volunteers from the community can help plant, tend, grow, and harvest crops for local food banks, churches, and Veterans organizations to distribute to those in need in our community, including working closely with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Last year, over 3,000 lbs. of produce was donated to the Military Share program of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank

The AgrAbility PA staff is looking forward to future collaborations with Tim and his farm, as he has strong connections to the military and Veterans families in the greater Central Pennsylvania area interested in agriculture.

Turn up the dial

WHYY (Philadelphia's NPR affiliate) met and interviewed Dennis Hunsberger -- a crop and chicken farmer in Middleburg, Pa., who underwent a double amputation in Fall 2016 due to complications from bacterial meningitis. Dennis worked with AgrAbility PA and PA's Office of Vocational Rehabilitation to acquire a towable lift, tractor steps, and automatic truck bed covers. The story aired on Friday, May 18.

Read or Listen to Dennis' Story: https://whyy.org/segments/staying-mobile-to-keep-farming/

Wheels for the Woods... and everywhere else

Project Assistant Abbie Spackman met with Dan Christiana of Wheels for the Woods LLC, a Trac-Fab vendor at the Trac-Fab shop. Trac-Fab is a company that designs off road mobility devices, wheelchairs that includes tracks and other custom features for work and recreational mobility across all terrains. If you would like Trac-Fab to attend one of your events, please contact Dan Christiana at 412-629-0436.