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Save the Farm- Community Garden
Donation protected
Please Help
SAVE the FARM
thefriendsofjohnston.org
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Hello Good People!
Because of you we Saved the Farm!!!! On March 17, 2015 we purchased Camel's Hump Farm on the Johnston Estate to use as a community environmental education and skills training center and community garden!
We worked very hard this summer restoring the buildings and grounds. We provided free environmental and hands-on skills education to our kids with special needs, autism spectrum, Biology students. preschoolers and Scouts.
Our volunteer base is growing, but so are our deer! We need a tall deer- exclusion fence so that our community members can raise healthy food that they could nototherwise afford.
Food is essential! Please help with a donation or if you have any fencing or materials please let us know and we will pick them up!
Thank you for all of your help and come visit us on the farm if you are ever in the Bethlehem area!
Vicky
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In 2012 the farm was under agreement of sale to be paved over for 420 apartments and a strip mall.
The Friends of Johnston, Inc. is a grassroots nonprofit that formed with the mission to protect, preserve, restore and sustainably reuse the Estate of our first mayor, Archibald Johnston, to meet some of the most pressing needs of our community.
Rescuing this property took a lot of hard work, caring people and a series of small miracles:
Miracle 1: A handful of citizens of all ages including students and the elderly came together and attended public meetings to defend the property.
The government listened and they did not change the zoning to allow for commercial development!
Miracle 2: The developer stepped away.
Miracle 3: The owners of the property chose to place their land in conservation even though they had been offered 3x more money by the developer!
Miracle 4: The County, State, local businesses and neighbors believed in the merits of the project so much they raised $2.1 million dollars in grants and donations to purchase the farm!
Miracle 5: December 30th we received a check for $69,030.00!!!!
Our Plan is to Sustainably Reuse the Farm as a Community Center for Nature, Education and the Arts
We think saving and reusing the farm is more valuable to our community than another strip mall. We will:
* Grow food for the poor,
*Provide care for our children of all abilities
* Provide educational hands-on experiences
that teach practical skills in farming, building
trades and engineering as the students help
care for the farm
* Restore the native habitat and provide trails and
for recreation,
* Preserve and teach our heritage,
*Create jobs for teachers, landscapers and farmers
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The 1836 Historic Pennsylvania Double Decker Bank Barn is a one of a kind in great shape. We will reuse it for farming, animals and events like barn dances and weddings.
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We have a once-in-a lifetime chance to save something for our children that will otherwise be gone forever. Please help us to make a lasting positive impact on our community and build a legacy that we can all be proud of.
Any assistance that you can provide will be greatly appreciated in helping us to fulfill this very worthy mission. For more information or to make pledges go to our website: Friendsofjohnston.org
Sincerely,
Victoria Bastidas
President, Friends of Johnston, Inc.
1311 Santee Mill Road
Bethlehem, PA 18017
[email redacted]
Friendsofjohnston.org
Preserving Our Past to Serve Our Future
SAVE the FARM
Organizer
Vicky Bastidas
Organizer
Bethlehem, PA