(The following information was provided by the Montgomery County Office of Communications.)
Today, Montgomery County celebrated the purchase of an agricultural conservation easement on the Pennypack Farm property adjacent to the College Settlement camps in Horsham, ensuring it will remain a working farm in perpetuity for the benefit of County residents and visitors alike.
The preservation of the farmland was coordinated through the County’s Agricultural Land Preservation Program, also known as the farmland preservation program. The property is farmed by Pennypack Farm, which is a separate organization from College Settlement of Philadelphia.
The 35-acre property, which includes 24 acres of farming maintained under lease to the Pennypack Farm & Education Centerand the surrounding natural land trust, was originally purchased by College Settlement of Philadelphia founder Anna Freeman Davies in the summer of 1926. Now in 2024, it has become Montgomery County’s 187th permanently preserved farm.
"We celebrate every time a farm is preserved like this because this is a voluntary program and it means that this farmland’s legacy is now protected in perpetuity. In this case, it’s particularly special, as this land holds a lot of significance to many people in Montgomery County and beyond,” said Jamila H. Winder, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. "For over a century, College Settlement Camp has offered a unique space for children to develop a closer relationship with nature. This is especially valuable for children in the metropolitan area who without College Settlement might never have had this kind of opportunity to connect with the rural outdoors.”
"In 2022, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of Summer Camps at College Settlement in Horsham. We are pleased to announce that we have agreed to accept the Montgomery County Agricultural Farm Easement on the Pennypack Farm property, ensuring that this farm will remain a farm in perpetuity, and will always be included in our curriculum for our summer camp and outdoor school programs,” said Brian Simard, Interim Co-Executive Director of College Settlement.
"With our staff and board putting 20 years of hard work, investment, and love into this land, we are equally as thrilled to know it now has a protected legacy thanks to this easement,” said Julie McCabe, Executive Director of Pennypack Farm & Education Center. "We are grateful to be supported by College Settlement in our efforts to create not only an amazing organic farm, but a model for regenerative and sustainable agricultural practices we can share with the local community and many others who follow our work. We look forward to a collaborative relationship and programming with College Settlement for many years to come.”
Pennypack Farm’s collaborative programming with College Settlement teaches thousands of campers and students about where their food comes from and fosters an appreciation for farms and farmers.
"The preserved land at College Settlement is uniquely positioned to tie into the County’s climate and sustainability goals. When people can purchase and consume locally grown food, consumers are supporting biodiversity and reducing the journey that the food takes from farm to table,” said Neil Makhija, Montgomery County Commissioner. "Pennypack Farm raises a variety of organically-grown produce on this land, much of which is distributed through a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program to more than 400 households.”
"Preserving farmland in the county is important because once farmland is developed, it’s nearly impossible to get that resource back,” said Thomas DiBello, Montgomery County Commissioner. "Organizations like College Settlement of Philadelphia and Pennypack Farm are training the next generation of farmers, a crucial part of making sure our workforce knows more than just where our food comes from, but also how to grow this food and get it to consumers.”
According to a contemporary newspaper account in the Philadelphia Public Ledger, "In past years (the farm) was known as the Whitmer poultry farm…In buying the farm, the Settlement proposed to make itself a kind of "country uncle” to hundreds of city children, their parents and relatives, offering them a chance to get acquainted with the out-of-doors. For most of the youngsters, it is their only contact with vigorous American farm life. The things which are common to the country boy are strange and full of wonder to most of them. Cows, pigs, water-bugs, growing grain, trees, rabbits are all largely things read of but not seen.”
The total purchase price of the property was $1,852,251.95 with contributions from the township, county, and the state.
About Pennypack Farm & Education Center:
Founded in 2003, Pennypack Farm & Education Center is a non-profit diversified vegetable farm dedicated to growing nutritious food organically, sharing it with our community, and teaching others the importance of sustainable agriculture. Our farming practices are centered around regenerative organic farming techniques that promote soil health and foster a thriving and dynamic farm ecosystem. Each season we grow enough produce on our 13-acre farm to serve thousands of households in our community through ourCSA program, farmers market, and produce giving program to local hunger relief organizations. Our education programs serve the community, our partners, and future farmers interested in our approach. The collaborative programming with College Settlement teaches thousands of campers and students about where their food comes from and fosters an appreciation for farms and farmers. For more information, visit pennypackfarm.org
About College Settlement:
Founded in 1922 to serve the children of Philadelphia and their families by providing a healthy outdoor, country experience in the aftermath of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, the mission of College Settlement of Philadelphia and College Settlement Camp is more vital than ever as the Philadelphia region copes with the COVID-19 pandemic. As the non-profit organization celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the summer camp programs, it continues their mission of shaping the lives of young people by instilling respect for self, others, and the natural world. In 2023, College Settlement celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Outdoor School Program. For more information, visitcollegesettlement.org.
About Montgomery County Farmland Preservation Program
The Montgomery County Farmland Preservation Program is committed to preserving a permanent agricultural land base and maintaining an environment that supports a viable farm economy. Farmland is preserved through the voluntary sale of a property’s development rights in perpetuity. The farmland program was established in Montgomery County in 1990 and, to date, has preserved over 10,500 acres on 187 farms. More than $122 million of county and state dollars has been put toward these efforts, in addition to municipal contributions. For more information, visit our website.
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