Drexel Neumann Academy at the Farm, by Joanne

Hi, I've been working with Drexel Neumann Academy's 3rd-grade class, 23 children and their teacher Cindi O'Hanlin, since April. I am very fortunate that Mimi Hall, Red Hill Farm workshare, has been able to help out with the classes and their visits to the farm.

Class portrait!

Topics in the classroom have included how plants grow, planting seeds, making hummus, nutritional information on food groups, and the sugar content of drinks. Amazing--apple juice has about as much sugar as Coke! While apple juice has the added benefit of vitamin C, its sugar content suggests fruit juices should be limited to one cup a day.

The kids, w/ Mimi at back right and Cindi front right

At the farm, the students planted the plants they grew from seeds, learned about chickens, bees, and how we grow organic foods. They had a chance to look under the microscope at the soil and, of course, bugs! On their last visit, they planted and harvested beans!

Students with green beans!

Our relationship will continue with Drexel Neumann Academy in the fall, as well as schools in the Penn Delco school district, St. Francis de Sales School in Lenni (click here for more info), the Neumann Child Development Center (click here), and the Girl Scouts.

Another group shot--cool kids!

PLEASE NOTE:  in the shareroom we're selling bright, cheery grocery bags to help fund our educational outreach progams. They're only $6 and are made of 80& recycled materials. Your support would be *much* appreciated!

Thanks from Joanne Rosenbaum, Farm Education Coordinator
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
610-558-6121

***A note on Drexel Neumann Academy:  St. Katharine Drexel School was the last Catholic school in Chester, PA, in 2005, yet it was scheduled to close due to declining enrollments that year. To remedy the situation, the Diocese of Philadelphia, Neumann University, the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, and St. Katharine Drexel Parish decided to create Drexel Neumann Academy, an independent Catholic school run on Franciscan principles of love, peace, and caring for people and the environment. The new school opened in 2006, with no discrimination on religion, financial resources, or race--in fact, over 85% of the students are non-Catholic!  For more on the wonderful work done by Drexel Neumann Academy, click here.  If you're wondering who St. Katharine Drexel is, she is Philadelphia's first woman saint (1858-1955, canonized in 2000)! She came from a wealthy background (her father founded Drexel University) but was moved by the plights of poor Native Americans and African Americans, becoming a nun in 1889 (the Philadelphia papers proclaimed in large headlines, "Miss Drexel enters a Catholic Convent--Gives Up Seven Million!" (For more on St. Katharine Drexel, see here.)

First Week of Pickups, by Angela

Beautiful Romaine lettuces

Our first week of pickups was a wild one, with rain "book-ending" our Monday and Friday.

865-gal. rain-harvesting tank irrigating the
sunflower patch

Great fun to have everyone back on the farm and feel the farm come alive again. Joanne worked with kids in the children's garden on Tuesday, planting and exploring.

Joanne with Lily and her mom Caroline smelling herbs

We also had a visit from the third-graders at Drexel Neumann Academy, which was lively and delightfully loud.  Ahhh, the transplanting continues as my brain sprawls in a few million different directions peacefully, as we move into the time of just nurturing our growing crops.

Brendan & Josh transplanting summer
squashes

New Farm Education Coordinator, and an Invitation to You, the Members, from Joanne

[The "backstory," from Melinda:  the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, who own our Farm, see the Farm as fulfilling part of their environmental goal of shepherding the land, which it does admirably. But  among their other goals are outreach and education. This led to the idea of finding someone already conversant in the hands-on life of the Farm, as well as versed in food science and the health sciences in general, who could guide and coordinate the Farm's educational mission(s). As is so often the case, the person we sought was right under our nose:  Joanne Rosenbaum! Many of you know her as a long-time workshare, but you may not realize that she has extensive professional experience in life sciences (biology and chemistry), health sciences, health administration--particularly but not exclusively in women's health--conference and workshop organizing, and new-program development in those areas. We're thrilled to welcome her as our new Farm Education Coordinator!  Below is Joanne's story in her own words.]

Joanne's Story

Joanne, photo by Melinda

"Back in the day when I was working full-time and had five weeks' vacation, I spent Fridays at the Farm doing my workshare. I came home sweaty, smelling of the earth and whatever veggies I harvested that day. Since then, Red Hill has become my sanctuary for peace, relaxation, introspection, and meeting new and like-minded friends.  Oh, and how could I forget?--the most beautiful, luscious veggies ever! (See my essay on why I love my CSA on the Sisters' site--click here.)

So, one might ask, how and why did I end up taking the Red Hill Farm Education-Coordinator position?

I loved my previous job:  working in women's health had always been my dream. But after sixteen years and many difficult life events, I started thinking that I wanted to work in the community where I live and try to make a difference there in people's lives. I am passionate about "health promotion and disease prevention," especially the importance of good nutrition and the prevention of childhood obesity.

Angela Kidder, our Farm Manager, mentioned that the Sisters wanted to get back to one of the core missions of the Farm, "education."  To make a long story short (as I usually do), I quit my job and here I am!

The Invitation

Part of my charge is planning events and programs for our CSA members and community. I also want to build on the existing farm tour and develop at least two further age-appropriate tours.  Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in joining a "working committee" to plan the two tours.  Now please don't be frightened by the term "working!" I will do the leg-work for support materials, contacts, or other things that need to be done during the working day. Ideally, we'd have a group working on each topic of the tour:  e.g., bees, soil health, compost tea, weeds, etc. I'd like to have our first meeting at the beginning of February.

It is also very important to the Sisters, to Angela, and to me to develop relationships with local schools, including Drexel Neumann Academy (see here). I will be planning interactive lectures to take into the schools, in turn supporting them with tours of the Farm.

The most important part of this plan is to include as many members of the community as possible:  school students and teachers, dietitians, clinicians, farmers, Sisters, and of course, YOU, the CSA members!  You can call me at 610-558-5396; or email at Jrosenbaum@osfphila.org. Looking forward to seeing you all again!"