Goals

Thoughts on Goals Moving Forward

Operations Directions 2026

Short Term, revised 2/26.

• Review: Current 2026 crop planning features 23+/- acres of food production crops for neighbors in need:  

•  7Acres of Potatoes total; 3.5 acres at Becker’s, 3.5+/- acres at Dreibelbis Farm.

•  Non-GMO, Conventional Field Corn at remaining Heritage Center (HC) 7 acres. 9 Acres Non-GMO Field Corn Noecker’s. 

•  Rye Cover Crop in post potato production and string bean plots expected ounce again. 

•  8 Acres Snap Green Beans at either HC or Process Masters, rotational.

•  8 Acres for Sweet Corn at either HC or Process Masters, rotational.

•  Perhaps a planting of some Squash at HC, Z's, and maybe Coffey's.

Near Term 

• • Operate per past norms, forward. 

General Goals 

1. 1. 1.  √ Placed the December 2025 order for 300, 50 pound seed potato bags being 15,000 pounds, with Ed Shenk of Weaver's Ace Hardware, which was indicated with/as donated. Dec. 24.

      2.    √ Annual Business Board Meeting, January 17, 2024.

      3.    √ Order String Bean Seed. Sweet Corn Seed Field Corn Seed, Fertilizer, Pesticides, Sundry.

      4.    Seed Potatoes are Scheduled to be cut in public invited Sessions, Saturday & Sunday 1PM-4P April 18th and 19, at Becker's St. Peter's EL Church. 

      5. √ Order Container Rental. 

      6.  April 15 with Air Products Seed Potato Cutting at Becker's.

      7.   Hope to produce 60,000 - 120,000 pounds of potatoes to be harvested and distributed to local food pantries, via the Helping Harvest Food Bank Reading, for Berks & Schuylkill Counties. 

      8.  Desire to upgrade and add field equipment: Particularly a 2Row Potato Planter. Visit the Wish List Page on Website. Add new potato harvester, √ another 'large' tractor 75-90 HP - acquired another CIH 4210 at auction early March.

      9.  Desire to expand field farming operations with additional acres being placed into the program close ranging from KU Heritage Center, particularly for Field Corn and Soybean Project toward sustainability, which helps support the "produce projects" successive year Spring startup, if/as the opportunity for additional land is presented. Would like 3-5Acre size plots due to "the farther out we need to travel". 

      10.  √ Sweet Corn Project start up; equipment found. √ Will require seed, fertilizer, herbicide(s).

      11. Begin The Corn Meal Project in expanded process, as/if Helping Harvest Food Bank clients sustain a demand.

      12.  Consideration for physical facilities to be added for storage of Combine and additional equipment, being two additional carports type structures.

2. Looking for this expansion equipment item: 

Additional CAPEX Purchases under consideration. Used equipment unless otherwise noted. 

2. 1. 1. √ Sweet Corn Harvester - $11K.

      2. √ Additional 75+/- Hp Tractor.

      3. 1Row Hands-on assist Potato Digger (Desired) 

      4. Acquire an accessible 1 Acre of land – Place Office, Equipment Storage, Produce Storage 

      5. Crop Processing Facility, Equipment, Maintenance Shop, as an Operations Center. ∙ Acquire additional equipment to improve stability of food crop operations such as a Barrel Washer for root crops. See Website  WishList Page. 

      6. Acquire additional field food crop automation equipment. See Website WishList Page. Manned potato digger, sweet corn harvester, other. 

      7. Additional Farm Land - receive into the project for use to support and expand what we are doing and would like to do – 70, 150, 200, 750 upwards to 1000 Acres and 1Millions pounds of grown and donated fresh food to regional hungry neighbors in need. From a facility for Farming, Food Storage and Processing Facilities, Retreat Center, Cabin Housing, Worship Center, Modern  Meeting and Education Center, and Other related activities. Added just short of 3Acres at HC in 2024. Expecting additional acres at Process Masters and Noecker's 2025.

      8. Additional field farming tractor(s).

      9. Potato planter, 2Row.

      10. 100-200 gallon, larger 3Pt Sprayer.

      11. Corn Meal Processing and Facilities Expansion - Hammer Mill, Grain Cleaner, Small Prefab Building/Shed. Search & See: Corn Meal Project

      12. Carrot Project: Equipment needed - Harvester, Cleaning equipment... Search and See: Carrot Project