homefields

ISSUE SEVENTEEN

DECEMBER 2004

Homefields Incorporated
150 Letort Road
P.O. Box #41
Millersville, PA 17551
www.homefields.org

A New Alliance

The Goodwill at Homefields Farm

Program has formed a new alliance
with Millersville University in the last
year. New persons, interests and talents
have been brought to the Homefields
property through the Community Service
and Work-Study Programs. Two student
groups participated in a community volunteer effort called Into the Streets on
October 16th by digging holes for new
fruit trees and helping to paint new barn
siding. Because of the efforts of many, a
great amount of work was accomplished
in just a few hours.
The Work-Study program has brought
Beatrice Hanson from Philadelphia to the
farm four days a week. Her efforts help to
facilitate a large amount of work with our
trainee participants on a nearly daily basis. Recently, the association with M.U. has
brought us Joseph Abraham, who is also
from Philadelphia. As a student of Teaching and Industrial Technology, he brings a
wealth of knowledge and expertise to the
property, and has already made dramatic
improvements to our barn as well as to
our greenhouses.

My Friend Shawn

Being situated only a half mile from

the Millersville University is proving to
be a great benefit for students, Homefields, and the Goodwill at Homefields
Farm Program. We are grateful to have
this relationship and hope to see it grow
in the future.

Hello readers of Homefields Newsletter.

My name is Denny Dougherty. I am a
board member of Homefields and its
current Treasurer. I am a native of Lancaster County and currently reside in the
Willow Street area with my wife Susan
and children Shawn and Nora. I am not
writing to tell you about myself, after
all I am an accountant, how exciting or
even interesting can my life be! Rather, I
am here to tell you a little bit about my
son and one of my best friends, Shawn,
and our dreams for his future.
Shawn is 25 years old and was born
moderately mentally disabled. Shawn is
pretty much your typical young adult.
He gets up every morning and goes to
work at Ephrata Area Rehabilitation Services. After he arrives home from work,
he immediately heads for the refrigerator and turns on the TV. After satisfying
these basic needs, he calls his mother at
her place of employment and informs

Peter Emerson

I find great hope and

comfort in knowing
that Shawn has
the support of the
Homefields Village
behind him.

Christo Wraps Homefields!

No, the famous artist wasnt here, but it was just as exciting when 20 Millersville
University students of the Class of 2008 came to Homefields to wrap our two
greenhouses with new plastic sheeting on the Day of Service to the Community,
September 4.
This was a job that called for teamwork. Students wrapped tennis balls in plastic,
tied one end of a rope around the balls, and hurled them over the top of the greenhouse frame, to be caught by their buddies waiting on the other side. Carefully coordinated pulling on the ropes (a little harder on the west end) brought all fortyeight feet of heavy gauge plastic into position. After completing this step, the plastic
was then stretched front to back and secured using a zigzag wire along the perimeter
framework and foundations on both sides. Many trips up and down a ladder were
required to trim off excess plastic, and then the whole process was repeated on our
second greenhouse. Whew.
Millersville University, in partnership with AmeriCorps*VISTA, encourages the
freshman class to come together on this day to help create unity within the student
body and to familiarize students with the larger community. The Day of Service to
the Community is similar to the United Way Day of Caring in that volunteers go out
into their environs to donate time,
energy, and expertise to sustain
natural resources, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies.
Small groups of 1020 students
are assigned per project and work
The First Annual Dinner Out for Homefields
3 hours in the morning. This year
will be held on March 28, 2005 from 4 to
there was a pool of 250 dedicated
10 pm at many local restaurants. Were askstudents.
ing for 10% of the evenings proceeds.
That just about wraps it up. The
Corporate Sponsors are needed and
greenhouses beds have fresh plastic sheets that will last for several
sponsorship opportunities are available for
years, the students had fun while
$1,000-Gold, $500-Silver, $250-Bronze
working together in teams, hitting
and as little as $100-Patron. All sponsors
each other with tennis balls, and
will be noted on the table tents at each
making new friends. Homefields
restaurant on the evening of the event. All
was given what, to us, is a true
proceeds will go the General Fund of Homepiece of community art as a gift
fields. Please contact Cindy Ledwith at
from Millersville University and
717-872-1762 .
the Class of 08.

DINNER OUT
FOR HOMEFIELDS

her that he has safely arrived home,

(something we wish Nora would do
more often!). Next on his daily agenda is
checking out his wheels. Since Shawn
is unable to drive a car, wheels for
Shawn is a John Deere lawn tractor.
The Deere is driven daily, weather
permitting. Shawn received the tractor
as a combination birthday/high school
graduation gift four years ago, and is
already working on his third set of
tires! Since Shawn loves the company of
people so much, the Deere is used not
only for cutting grass, but also for transportation to visit with his neighbors in
our development. He loves to sit and
chat with people. As a result, our neighbors know more about what is going on
in the Dougherty family than Susan and
I wished they knew!
In addition to his tractor, Shawn loves
music, especially the country group Alabama, watching baseball and football
on TV, playing Uno and being with his
friends. In short, pretty much like any
other young adult. Unlike most young
adults however, Shawn will never have
the opportunity to live an independent
life. His disability prevents him from
purchasing, maintaining and living in
his own home. This is where Homefields
enters the picture and becomes such an
important aspect of Shawns future.
As most of you already know, Homefields not only provides employment
opportunities to disabled adults through
its partnership with Goodwill and the
community supported agricultural
program, but it also provides homes
for six disabled individuals in cooperation with Community Services Group.
Homefields Residential Mission is to,
create financially secure, long-term
homes in safe, family-like settings where

Homefields is a non-profit organization, 501(c)(3). Donations are tax-deductible. Letters to the Editor can be sent to:
Homeelds, 150 Letort Road, P.O. Box #41, Millersville, PA 17551, (717) 872-2012, or to info@homefields.org

there is respect for the individual in a

holistic sense, and fun and creativity are
revered as basic human needs. I like
to believe, that for the six individuals
currently residing at Homefields, we are
accomplishing that mission. I personally
believe it is now time to expand our
residential program so that Shawn can
one day live in a home that falls under
the Homefields umbrella.
The decision of placing Shawn in a
group home has not been an easy one
for Susan and me. Shawn is a true joy to
live with. He is considerate of the needs
and wants of others, has a great sense of
humor, enjoys life tremendously, loves
people and is overall a great guy. We
love Shawn tremendously! However,
there is not a day that passes in which
Susan and I do not wonder what the
future holds for Shawn when we are no
longer present to assist him in living a
happy and productive life. Again enters
(continued on reverse)

Homeless
The following are this years numbers for
different categories of residential housing requests (taken from the Lancaster
County HCSIS/PUNS databasethe
Home and Community Service Information System/Prioritization of Urgency of
Need for Services):
Number of Emergency requests = 117
Number of Critical requests = 214
Emergency is understood to mean that
this service is now needed. Critical is
understood to mean that this service is
needed within the next year.
The different types of residential
service needs may contain duplicates
(in other words, there may be a person
waiting for either type of service and
the family or individual has requested
to be listed as needing both, anticipating
they will take the first available, although
this is generally not the policy Lancaster
follows). However, the two categories
emergency and critical are mutually
exclusive (in other words, someone cannot be counted in both the emergency
list and the critical list).
(continued on reverse)
The official registration statement and financial information of
Homefields Incorporated may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania,
1(800)732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

Cool Cube

In early May, one month before shareholders would begin to pick up their weekly
allocation of produce, Peter
Emerson (Farm Manager,
Goodwill at Homefields
Farm), expressed an urgent
need for a 10 x 10 walk-in
refrigerator to keep the
harvested vegetables fresh
until distributed. The three
donated refrigerators used
by the vocational program
Installation being done by Vince Kling and Jim Nolt from Rufus Brubaker
in previous seasons had
Refrigeration, Manheim.
reached the end of their
useful life.
Homefields Board of Directors voted to present a one-time only request to Mr.
Stuart Symons, Deputy Director, The Lancaster County Office of Mental Retardation
and Early Intervention, for funds totaling $3,265 to pay for half of the cost of the new
refrigerator. Our petition was granted and the check was gifted to Goodwill Industries
of Southeastern Pennsylvania. The Board of Directors of Keystone Goodwill stepped
forward and voted to match this gift dollar for dollar and to donate the refrigeration
unit to Homefields.
Through the combined generosity of The Lancaster County Office of Mental Retardation and Keystone Goodwill, Homefields has been able to accommodate the goal set
by Peter while continuing to concentrate on planned expenditures.
A walk-in refrigerator allows produce to be harvested in bulk and kept fresh as dew.
Larger quantities of produce may be harvested at one time and stored, thus freeing up
the workweek for trainee farmers to attend to other farming tasks. For the first time,
shareholders have Saturday as an optional day to pick up their share of veggies and
fruit. Shareholders love flexibility, and Homefields loves shareholders.

DONATIONS
JULYOCTOBER 2004
IN MEMORY OF
GERALDINE H. DETERMAN

$100
Brandywine Sand and
Gravel Company
Stuart Symons
$50 - $25
Marianne G. Charles
Dennis & Susan Dougherty
Lester, Evelyn and Donald
Herman
Janet A. Ickes
National Capital Area
Council/Boy Scouts of
America
Joyce and Bill Smedley
United Support Group
IN-KIND
Community Services
Group, Use of office
Lancaster Lets Go!
Harley-Davidson Raffle Ad

John and Kathy Pontz,

Fishing Picnic Sponsor
Andrew Scheid, Funeral
Director*, Memorial Plaque
Reed Semedo-Strauss, Web
Design
David Strauss, Print Design
Trout, Ebersole & Groff,
LLP, Professional Advice
GIFTS
$10,000 - $5,000
Gerald & Suzanne Ganse
Family FoundationJohn
Deere Gator* $7,693.89
Goodwill Industries
Keystone AreaWalk-In
Refrigerator, Value of $6,530
$1,000 - $4,999
Mrs. Caroline S. Nunan
$100 - $499
Don and Tracy Arndt*
Dennis Dougherty
United Way
Neil and Nina Rovner*
Joseph and Patricia Slakey

Up On The Roof
Homefields yellow barn has a newly
painted green roof thanks to Kevin
Carroll and Kyle OReilly, Partners, K&K
Painting.
Kevin, a produce shareholder since
2002, took his love of the Goodwill
at Homefields organic farm program,
community, and the color green to a
new height when he and Kyle painted
our rusted barn roof in July. The barn
now compliments the equipment building that was built 2 years ago, giving
the property a cohesive appearance.
K&K Painting is yet another example
of our expanding and concordant
community.

$10 - $99
Joel Baron
Susan M. Dougherty
Helen Hostetter
Charles J. Pletcher
Mr. Charles W. Plummer
David W. Rose
Robert Shaub*
Mary Stehman*
Pure Energy/A. Tamasin
Sterner*
William D. Wanner
Carl Ziegler and Jillian
Evans-Ziegler*
DESIGNATED GIFT
Ephrata National Bank,
Lawn Mower Repair$125
SPECIAL THANK YOU
The Lancaster County
Office of Mental Health
and Mental Retardation
Millersville University
Office of Community
Service
*Indicates new member or new
level of giving

EVERYONE LOVES
A PARADE
It was the eighth annual Millersville
Parade and Homefields was there,
along with more than 140 entries
including bands, floats, fire apparatus, twirlers, the Phillie Phanatic,
the Heinz Hitch, with eight
strutting Percheron, and so much
more. Grand Marshals were two past
Presidents of Millersville University.
The parade theme, Milestones in History, honoring Millersville Universitys
150th Anniversary, is reflected by our
two 19th century farm ladies, Linda and
Joyce, Officers of Homefields Board, as
they drove the 2 mile parade route in
our new Gator. Young and old waved and
clapped. Millersville student volunteers,
shareholders, friends, and especially our
own Homefields residents along with
thousands of others lined the parade
route. Linda noticed several groups of
people and their support staff as they
watched the parade go by and was hoping Homefields floatcelebrating adults
with special needswas a source of joy
for them. Our good friends at George
Street Caf cheered and ran out to the
Gator with coffee for our farm ladies.

Shawn

Let the Chips Fall

Where They May
Brunner Tree Service, Conestoga, has
been donating woodchips (an organic
mulch) to Homefields farm property
since the summer of 2003. Woodchips
are a byproduct of a tree service business
and mulch is a basic requirement for
keeping plant roots moist and weeds at
abeyance. Our businesses and needs are
mutually complimentary.
Brunner Tree Service supplies enough
mulch to satisfy the demands of our 8
acres, an extraordinary gift. Because Mr.
Brunner is quietly generous, he never
stops to hear our gratitude. Thank you,
Jeff, for helping our farm program and
property work and grow.

continued from front

Homefields. It is our hope, dream and

prayer that Shawn and some of his
friends will one day live in a home that
falls under the administration, care and
love of Homefields. A home in which
Shawn can continue to ride his Deere,
watch his Phillies continue to lose and
his Eagles, hopefully, continue to win. A
home in which he can return to after
work and know people that care about
him are awaiting and are glad he has
safely returned. A home in which he
finds the love and support of others,
where he is assigned the responsibility
for its care and maintenance. In short, a
home very much where Shawn, you and
I currently live.
Will our hopes, dreams, and prayers
for Shawn come to fruition? Based on
your past support for Homefields, I
cannot help but think anything but a
resounding YES! One of my fellow Board
members frequently reminds me that
it takes a Village. I find great hope and
comfort in knowing that Shawn has
the support of the Homefields Village
behind him.
Your past support of both our Residential and Vocational programs is very,
very, much appreciated. Your current
and future support will not only help in
maintaining and enhancing our existing programs, but will also allow us to
expand and provide a quality life experience for Shawn and some of his friends.
In anticipation of this continued support,
my sincere, heartfelt thanks to all of you.
In closing, I would like to say that it is
our intent to provide you with periodic
updates on what is going on in the daily
lives of not only Shawn, but our existing
Homefields residents as well, so stay
tuned folks. In the interim, I am wishing
you all a very, very happy Holiday Season
and best of New Years!

Homeless

continued from front

Statewide, the number of people on

an emergency waiting list expands to
2,100.
It isnt possible to imagine how many
people similar to the Dougherty family
have never been added to a list and are
thus not part of this picture. Mothers
and fathers try to take care of their own
as best they can and, through love, will
carry their responsibility for life.
Homefields has made a difference.
We stepped forward as a community of
caring people and families to provide
homes and a place to work for those
seeking a future with options. Please
help us to expand our reach so that we
may embrace others.

Mrs. Geraldine H. Determan

In Memoriam

October 14,1918 July 28, 2004

Not only was this a fun day, but it was
recognition for Homefields.
Signs on the Gator read, HOMEFIELDS,
A GOOD NEIGHBOR AT 150154 LETORT
ROAD, and GOOD STEWARDS OF THE
LAND. It is likely that many more people

now recognize our name and know

where we are located.
Joyce and Linda had such a good time
that they are already looking forward to
October 29, 2005 for the next parade
with the theme Circus Time. We will
be looking for clown costumes and
another creation for the Gator bed.
Denises display of items found around
the farmplants, vegetables, flowers, and
hay baleswill be hard to top.

Joyce Smedley

Homefields lost one of our own when Founding Parent and Advocate Geraldine
Determan released her hold on this life and entered into rest and peace.
Geraldine, or Jeri, was actively involved in offering support to people with
mental retardation ever since her daughter, Mary Beth, reacted negatively to a
DPT injection at the age of 15 months.
When no school would accept 6-year-old Mary Beth, she joined hands with
other parents to start St. Collettas school in the basement of a Presbyterian
church in Arlington, Virginia. Mary was 1 of 8 of the schools founding children.
1989 Geraldine, along with her husband James, co-founded the United Support Group in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. United Support Groups goal is to
enhance the quality of life for children and adults with mental retardation and
other developmental disabilities by providing social and recreational activities.
1993 Once again linking hands with other families in need, Geraldine
became a founding parent of Homefields and opened a home for Mary Beth and
others.
We will miss Geraldine. A red maple tree was planted in her honor at Homefields, just outside of Mary Beths bedroom window. Now Geraldines daughter
can watch the beauty of the leaves through all her seasons.

Coming Home to Millersville

Dennis Dougherty, Board Officer, loves to crow about

Homefields every chance he gets.

Eight years ago, a small group of folks

met to talk about organizing a golf outing as a way to raise funds to support
the program at Homefields. I was invited
to be a part of that committee because a
few knew that even though my skills on
the course were not particularly special,
my interest in the game was unrelenting.
Others in the planning group welcomed
me, and I quickly found that it was not
hard to be impressed with the dedication
and drive of those who had close ties to
the Homefields mission. Most of us had
limited experience with planning a golf
outing. All of us were prepared to learn
together. Even more impressive, most on
the committee have continued to serve
together since our initial meeting.
On September 24, 2004, we saw the
results of our eighth planning effort. We
had shifted our venue to Crossgates Golf
Club in Millersville, just a short distance
from the Homefields site. The hills and
valleys of Crossgates were filled with
golfers. They covered the fairways and
greens with balls, and, in the interest of
fairness, gave the rough, the river, and
the woods their due, too. The weather
was spectacular for a late September day,
the Homefields rooster was on the prowl,
and the pleasure that new and old friends
were sharing was obvious.
Coming home to Millersville had long
been an interest of some of us on the
planning committee. Crossgates provides
a first-class setting for such an event, and
we wanted to reward those who have
been so supportive of the Homefields

golf tournament effort throughout the

years. We knew that loyalty was not
limited to our committee. Those who
have been to all of the events have no
trouble recognizing a returning corps of
volunteers. They are offered quick evidence of the loyalty of the sponsors who
have made the outing such a significant
success. Just as rewarding, they can see
the familiar faces of the golfers, albeit
with a few new ones added each year, as
they test the course and their skills. Those
who have been to the outing know that
this has become something akin to a
family affair. All seem to look forward
to enjoying that part of the Homefields
atmosphere.
In fact, thats what coming home to
Millersville really means. We didnt come
home to Crossgates. After all, this was
our first time there, even though we hope
to return regularly in the future. Instead,
we came home to the spirit and sense of
mutual caring that Homefields symbolizes and typifies on a daily basis. We just
had another chance to be reminded of
thata few miles away from the source
of the light and inspiration.
On behalf of the planning committee,
I would like to thank all of you who
helped make the Homefields 8th Annual
Fall Classic Golf Tournament such a huge
success. Please join us in looking forward
to next years reunion.
Terry W. Blue

Lin Varga, Executive Assistant, Community Services

Group, and Kay Welty, Director, Homefields, take a
break from monitoring the Hole-In-One Porsche Boxster
prizeto smile for our camera.

Raffle and Donations

forms also available online at www.homefields.org

aYes, Id like to help Homefields with my tax-deductible contribution:

___ $25 ___ $50 ___ $100 ___Other
a Please send me _____ tickets for the Harley-Davidson raffle at $5 each. Raffle is for
a red, XLH 883 Custom; drawing on February 12, 2005.

Your Information:

Total enclosed $ _______

Name________________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
City____________________________________________ State_____ Zip_________
Telephone____________________________________________________________
email address__________________________________________________________

Method of Payment:
a Checka MasterCarda Visaa Discover/Novusa American Express
Card # _____________________________________________ Exp. Date ____ /_____
Signature _____________________________________________________________
a PLEASE ADD ME TO YOUR MAILING LIST a PLEASE REMOVE ME FROM YOUR MAILING LIST

GOLFERS: Jim Arnold Mike Beahn Tom Bennett Robert Bickford Susan Bickford
Susan Blue Terry Blue Beth Bowers Steve Bowman Jason Brader Ken Brooks
Pat Browning H. Clay Burkholder Bob Byler George Callahan Rejean Carlson
Keith Cenekofsky Bruce Cohen Ed Conne Chuck Cook John Delvalle Dave Dieck
Jeff Diem Richard Edley Karen Ehrhart Ken Eshleman Joel F. Ewer Carmen
Facciolo Bill Ferrell Pat Flaherty Steve Frey Gemma de la Fuente Scott Fyfe
Carol Ganss Mike Gbur Jeff Gleason Ron Glossner Ken Greiner Brett Groff Jay
Groff Earl Grove Fran Haldeman Jan Hartle Allison Hawthorne Jon Heist Tom
Heist Chris Herr Nan Herr Noah Hershey Parmalee Hershey Don Hess Mel
Hess Jerry Hester Robert Hill Fran Holden Ed Hollinger Eric Hollow Nancy
Hostetter Bob Howe Bryan Hughes Greg Imes David Kennedy Neil Kilian
Chuck Kimmich Joan Klinger Joseph Kurjiaka Bill Koch Ron Kratofil Bob
Jackson Rick Johansen Rob Jones Jason LaFrance Stefan Latshaw Kris Lawrence
Tim Lawson Kitty Levan Keith LeVardi Tony Lombardo Bob Longo Tom Malesic
Chris Marschka Rick Martin Liz Martin Bill McCuen Vaughn McKamey Barry
Mentzer Donna Mentzer Colleen Morrone Bill Moshos Don Mowery Mike
Moyer Brent Musser Brian Musser Matt Musser Scott Musser Justin Nolt Lynn
Scott Paden Tim Peachey Karen Peiffer Tim Price Bob Rothfus Dan Sadler John
Sandy Andy Saylor Dave Schreder Dave Schriner David Semedo John Semedo
Tony Semedo Tim Shawaryn Scott Sheffy M. Sindicich Rob Skacel D.R. Smith
Phil Smith Mark S. Smoker Steve Snyder Bonnie Stambaugh Dan Strauss Jon
Stuckey Tom Sweeney Carol Thompson Don Thompson Randy Tobiassen Don
Trout Joe Varga Brian Wassell Brad Weaver Julie Weaver Dean Weikel Richard
White Gary Wickman David Wiegand Rick Wiest Jennifer Wright Paul Wright
Nick Young Randy Young David Zug COMMITTEE: Terry Blue, Chair Allison
G. Hawthorne Chris Herr Donald Mowery, CPA Carolyn Semedo-Strauss Reed
Semedo-Strauss Daniel J. Strauss David Strauss Linda Strauss Tom Strauss Lin
Varga Kay Welty Denise Zeigler VOLUNTEERS: Butch Bixler Charles Cook Jim
Determan Denny Doughtery Susan Dougherty Janet Hartle Melissa Jones
Carmen Klingensmith Cindy Ledwith Joyce Smedley Angela Smith Julie Weaver
SPONSORS: PLATINUM: Plain & Fancy
Farm GOLD: Community Services Group, A special thank you to the Gerald &
Suzanne Ganse Family Foundation
Inc Fulton Bank SILVER: amishlandinfo.
com Berger Real Estate, Inc. Brenneman for donating a John Deere Gator to
Homefields as their 2004 tournament
Printing. Inc. Emory Hill & Company
sponsorship Value: $7,693.89
Gibbel, Kraybill & Hess, Attorneys at Law
Homefields apologizes to any organization
Mrs. Dorothy L. Lyet The Lyet Famor person we may have overlooked. If you
ily Paul Risk Associates, Inc. Tsoules,
contact us, we will include your name or
Sweeney, Kepner & Martin, LLC Trout,
business in our next newsletter.
Ebersole, & Groff, LLP BRONZE: ATX
info@homefields.org or www.homefields.org
Communications The Bed & Furniture
Warehouse, Inc. Billie-Jeans Hair and
Nail Studio Goodwill Industries Keystone Area Intercourse News Lancaster Orthopedic Group HOLE-IN-ONE: Autohaus Lancaster Inc. The Phillips Group Daniel
J. Strauss LUNCH/BEVERAGES: The Phillips Group Frank Sahd Salvage Center, Inc.
Thomas and Linda Strauss The Strauss Family Denise D. Ziegler Decorating
HOLE: Charleston Townhouses Robert H. Ranck, Inc UGI Utilities, Inc. TEE OR
GREEN: Dennis and Susan Dougherty Donegal Insurance Companies Tomlinson
Bomberger Interiors Inc Kimmichs Painting & Wallcoverings, Inc. Kitchen Kettle
Village Lebzelters Total Car Care Paden de la Fuente llc Rhoads Energy Tri-Starr
William J. Patrick, Inc. RANGE: Barley Snyder, Attorneys at Law Hurst Painting
Landis Foods Scheid Produce TOURNAMENT PROGRAM: Allied Wellness Services, LLC
Barn Door, Ltd. Bonnie Stambaugh, Agent State Farm Insurance Dimensional Designs, Unlimited Ephrata National Bank Family of Shawn Dougherty and Supporters
of Homefields Gertrude J. Harnish Nora C. Dougherty Frank Mastromatteo Family
Rod and Ann Laukhuff Frank Mastromatteo Family Gertrude J. HarnishNora C.
Dougherty George and Lynn A. Markert Good Food, Inc. Hershey Farm Restaurant
& Inn In Honor of Allison Hawthorne from Mom/Dad, R.E. & Gail Hawthorne
Lancaster Lets go! In Memory of Geraldine H. Determan, 19182004, Founding
Director. Homefields, Inc. M.R. Fahnestock Fine Carpentry The National Watch
and Clock Museum Phillips Paint & Decorating Center River Valley Landscapes Inc.
Shelly Moving & Storage, Inc./Allied Van Lines Westfield Inn & Suites GOODIE BAG:
Community Services Group Kauffmans Fruit Farm DONATIONS: Barry Bruce and
Co., Inc. The Chesapeake Publishing Staff & The Cecil Whig Wendell L Funk MD
Richard A. Graff, D.D.S. Kauffman-Gamber Physical Therapy William and Judith
Koenig John and Theresa Krakowski Jeffrey F. and Leslie Lehman Scheid Produce
Ronald T. and Bernadette Schmitt Rosemarie V. Seminara Karon M. Shaub Shoemaker& Besser Insurance Group, Inc. Mary Stehman, Realtor Sandra Young PRIZES:
Tracy Arndt/Longenberger Basket Barn Door, Ltd Karen H. Bennett Blades Salon
Good Food Inc. William C. Haynes Attorney at Law Isaacs Restaurant & Deli
Jackies Beauty Salon John Herrs Village Market Keares Restaurant Group Lancaster
County Racquetball & Health Club Millers Smorgasbord Ms. Jody Oettel The Phillips Group Plain & Fancy Farm Pro Golf Discount of Lancaster, Inc. Rachel Simon
Sloans Pharmacy Tranquility Center for Well Being Turkey Hill Willow Valley

Nature Lore

Recipe:

Autumn Harvest
Minestrone

Homefields
150 Letort Road
P.O. Box #41
Millersville, PA 17551

Non-Profit Organ.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Lancaster, PA
Permit No. 1928

4 carrots, peeled and

chopped into 1inch pieces
4 small new potatoes,
chopped into 1inch pieces (about
2 cups)
2 leeks, chopped
(white and light
green parts)
1 medium onion,
chopped
2 zucchini, sliced into
1-inch discs
1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
3 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
teaspoon pepper
32 ounces vegetable broth
1 cup slightly cooked vegetable rotelle
(corkscrew pasta)
1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, drained
and rinsed
1 cup chopped Swiss chard
cup frozen peas
Grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese, for
garnish

Clockwise from top: Brandon

Pfrommer, Marty Zeamer, Dan
Kahler, and Patrick Ryan arent
afraid to get a little dirty if it
means producing wholesome
organic foods.

1. Combine carrots and potatoes in

slow cooker. Add leeks, onions,
zucchini, tomatoes, garlic, and
spices. Pour vegetable broth over
mixture. Cover and cook on low
heat for 6-8 hours.
2. During the last 15 minutes of
cooking, add cooked pasta,
garbanzo beans, chard, and frozen
peas. Stir, re-cover, and continue
cooking.
Serve garnished with cheese.
Serves 8. Use asparagus, green
beans, fresh peas, and tomatoes if
seasonally available.

Way down yonder.... In the Asimina triloba

patch, that is. Better known as the pawpaw,
but unknown to most, and tasted by fewer
people still, our largest native fruit is being
rediscovered. The pawpaw fruit is a greenskinned fruit with creamy yellow flesh and
tropical flavor that reminds some of mango,
banana and vanilla custard. It comes
by its tropical flavor honestly, being the
northernmost member of the custard apple
familythe group contains the cherimoya,
a fruit that Mark Twain aptly described as
deliciousness itself.
The pawpaw nourished generations
of Native Americans and later provided
European newcomers with sustenance as
Board Director Denise Ziegler hammers out a few
they adapted to their new surroundings.
kinks on the property.
The pawpaw is native from southern New
England down to Florida and stretches out
to the Midwest. Pawpaws favor establishment in shady areas, so they are not found out in the open, although young trees may
be protected for a few years and then will grow in the full sun of your yard or field.
Unlike apples or pears, relatively little selecting or breeding work has been done, so
there are only a few named varieties of pawpaws. However, pawpaw enthusiasts are
busy selecting the best varieties they can find in the wild and giving them names in
order to disseminate the best genetic material. If youd like to try one, many of the
wild types growing in the river hills down around Muddy Run Park and Holtwood are
plenty tasty. The Lewis and Clark expedition of 1806 apparently thought so too: our
party entirely out of provisions subsisting on poppaws...the party appear perfectly
contented and tell us that they can live very well on poppaws. For an expedition of
your own, September and October are the best times to be in the pawpaw patch.

Scott Breneman

Homefields Mission Statements

RESIDENTIAL To create financially secure, long-

term homes in safe, family-like settings where

there is respect for the individual in a holistic
sense, and fun and creativity are revered as basic
human needs. VOCATIONAL To provide agricultural/horticultural facilities for individuals who
prosper with supported employment, to nurture
integration through community interaction, and
to cultivate a spirit of volunteerism within our
community.

HOMEFIELDS NEWSLETTER

Board of Directors
Christian R. Herr, Jr., President
Joyce Scout Smedley, Vice President
Dennis Dougherty, Treasurer
Linda Strauss, Secretary
Leon Bixler
Allison G. Hawthorne
Stefan Latshaw
Cindy Ledwith
Dorothy L. Lyet
Thomas E. Strauss
Kay A. Welty
Denise Ziegler

ISSUE SEVENTEEN

DECEMBER 2004

Farmer trainee Marty Zeamer gives new meaning to the phrase

in the field.