Sweet Meriam’s Farm currently runs the MACC Farm Program for children and youth, maintains Conservation Programs on the farm, and is a drop-off site for the Three Sister’s Buying Club.

Sweet Meriam's Farm is committed to supporting a healthy environment, providing healthy foods, and building healthy relationships. We aim to create a strong, supportive community by involving people in the process of growing fresh, organic produce for each other, supporting local farmers, and serving as a resource to the larger community of central Pennsylvania.

Sweet Meriam’s Farm is based in Beaver Springs, Snyder County, PA. The farm is run by Kristen Markley and Mike Savario.  The farm was previously owned by Kristen’s grandmother Meriam, who inspired Kristen with her strong spirit, loving heart, and passion for organic gardening.  Kristen is the sixth generation of Markleys to farm on the land. The Markleys hail from a long history of organic farming.

Sweet Meriam’s Farm ran an organic vegetable operation from 1997 through 2008. Sweet Meriam’s Farm was the site of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative from 2000 through 2008. The CSA provided members with a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, berries, and other high-quality products throughout the growing season. Campus groups and student interns from nearby Susquehanna University and Bucknell University and other parts of the country and world provided significant resources and support in the fields and around the farm.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a relationship of mutual support and commitment between a grower and a group of consumers. Members provide their farmer with the up-front capital needed to cover production costs, sometimes assist with farm tasks, and may help to coordinate the organizational details of running a CSA. In return, the farmer provides members with a share of the weekly harvest. CSAs provide significant benefits for the farmer, the members, and the larger community.  CSAs provide a means for a small-scale family farmer to make a decent living, by sharing the year-to-year risks inherent to farming such as drought and pest problems.  Farmers also feel more connected to their customers, and can improve their operation based on customer feedback. CSAs also benefit the larger community in many ways.  Far fewer resources are expended when community members purchase their foods from local farms, rather than supermarkets that ship foods long distances. The environment is kept clean and wildlife abundant when farms reduce or eliminate chemical sprays and fertilizers. These family farms preserve a healthy quality of life by using environmentally conscious production practices and strengthen local economies by spending a significant percentage of their budget on other locally owned businesses and services.

To find a CSA near you: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/