The
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VOLUME 26, NUMBER 20
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Mid-April, 2022
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Cyber schools and budget topic at PMSB by Pat Albano At the Pocono Mountain School Board meeting on April 6, business manager Joseph Collazo gave a financial update discussing cyber charter school tuition which he Ashley Walsh and Jeff Moyer seal the Pocono indicates “is still a hot item.” Organics/Rodale partnership with a ribbon cutting. Current costs are $10.7MM on a $12MM budget leaving approximately $2MM in the budget. He added, “enrollment continues to go up and down like the stock market and continues to see an uptick of students.” Collazo ended stating, seemed odd at first but became will be sold at the market. benefits. Photos and story “the final budget is due in the Food can be purchased a “perfect match.. healing peoThe farm started with 50 next few weeks and hopefully by Lori R. Cooper year round at the Organic acres and now has eight green- ple and the planet.” there will be some funds and Rodale Institute’s Jeff Tkach Farm Market and Cafe, where grants from Harrisburg—at houses, with plans to add an Pocono Organics held a a “Chopped” champion, stated, “The vision of Rodale additional eight. this point it is a wait and see.” ribbon cutting ceremony and Lyndsay McClain, is executive Pocono Organics has worked Institute is to “bring regenPocono Mountain School dedication for their partnerchef. Pocono Organics District Cyber Teachers hosted ship with the Rodale Institute with the Rodale Institute since erative organic gardening to recently started selling her every community.” Pocono its inception. a short presentation highon April 7, marking the inauRegenerative farming refers Organics is the fourth resource signature line of at-home lighting past and future events guration of the Rodale products, ranging from jams including a book fair and a to the use of the soil, not using center working with Rodale, Institute of Pocono Organics. which aims to change the lives to pasta sauce, mny infused book club for grades 3 and 4. any pesticides. Natural comPocono Organics of Long with Pocono Organics’ of consumers and farmers A Fall festival was hosted for post that is farm produced is Pond, is the largest regeneraorganically grown hemp. by having the most nutrient grades K-4 which included a used. The goal is to improve tive organic certified farm in In addition to 40,000 square holiday sweater contest and North America. Their mission the soil health, help with water dense food for all. This infeet of greenhouse space, the cludes race fans, as Pocono gift cards awarded. Additionresilience and nutrient densiis to “inspire people and heal Organics provides food for the farm includes fields where ally, K-2 Cyber students were ty. Rye grass is also grown to the earth.” vegetables, fruits and cut help the soil drainage. Pocono Raceway. invited to dress up as if they The 380-acre farm was flowers are grown. The market were 100 years old. Field Trips Throughout the ceremony Rodale Institute has been started by Ashley Walsh, sells fruit, vegetable, spices, the sound of 30 newborn are planned for grade 3 and 4 granddaughter of the Mattoili a leader of the organic moveorganic beauty products and chicks pleasantly chirped in ment for more than 70 years, and a spelling bee will be held family who owns the adjacent more. the background. This is the on May 25. Cyber enrollment leading the industry through Pocono Raceway. In 2018, Pocono Organics’ most first time Pocono Organics has has increased from an initial 8 research, farmer training and after being diagnosed with used animals to aid with the interesting motto says it all, students in 2009 to a total of education. CEO Jeff Moyer a severe stomach disorder, “Give a damn, we do.” 1,060 today. Walsh discovered regenerative noted that the idea of working soil. The chicks’ waste will be used as a fertilizer and eggs organic farming and its health with farming and a racetrack
Rodale partnership makes Pocono Organics a destination for farming inspiration