In Tunkhannock, in Wyoming County, PA, Jay Jadick and his partner, Jordan Delzell, are writing a new chapter on Jay’s family land. Together, they operate Twofold Farm and Studio, a blend of market garden and papermaking studio, coupled with a bold vision for perennial agriculture. 

Jay, a fourth-generation farmer, is shifting ground that once grew continuous corn into a more resilient future with trees. “We’re hoping to find a blend between art and agriculture in our daily lives,” he explained. “Long term, we want to focus on perennial crops like chestnuts and work more cooperatively with other artists and farmers in the region.” 

Twofold Farm’s vision began moving forward in June 2023, when Jay and Jordan first met with the Wyoming County Conservation District to share their ideas. With the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) newly launched, planning moved quickly.

Click here to read the entire article. 

This summer, Chester County Conservation District planted 0.36 acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer in the White Clay Watershed. The project cost $5,256.00 and was paid for through PACD’s multi-functional buffer sub-grant program. 

 

Submitted by Doug Beri, Jr., Executive Director, Indiana County Conservation District.

The Indiana County Conservation District’s annual Apple Festival once again drew thousands of visitors to celebrate Indiana County’s agricultural heritage, local artisans, and conservation programs.

The festival grounds came alive with the sights and scents of autumn as visitors enjoyed fresh-pressed apple cider, with more than 180 gallons produced on-site, alongside local foods, handmade crafts, and nature-inspired goods. Vendors offered a wide range of fall favorites, from caramel apples to handcrafted soaps, jewelry, and artwork.

In addition to local shopping and food, the festival featured hands-on learning experiences that brought conservation to life. Attendees explored educational booths on stormwater management, watershed protection, native plants, and pollinator habitats. At the same time, families enjoyed children’s crafts, a petting zoo, and live music by Mountains Meet the Moon Band, whose blend of Appalachian and Celtic tunes kept the crowd entertained throughout the day.

“The Apple Festival continues to grow as a celebration of everything that makes Indiana County unique; our farms, our forests, our creativity, and our sense of community,” said Douglas Beri Jr., Executive Director of the Indiana County Conservation District. “It’s an event that blends fun and education, helping residents connect directly with conservation in action.”

With a record turnout, strong community support, and participation from dozens of local vendors and organizations, the festival has solidified its place as one of the region’s signature fall traditions.

For more information about upcoming events and conservation programs, visit www.iccdpa.org.

 

The Allegheny County Conservation District was named one of the top 15 best mid-size workplaces in Western PA by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The district was ranked 13th in the medium category (25-49 employees).

The staff celebrated this recognition at a Pittsburgh Pirates game at PNC Park. (The Pirates lost to the Cubs 8-4.)

Click here to read more. 

 

Susquehanna County Conservation District (SCCD) recently welcomed new “Eels in the Classroom” to their district tank! This is SCCD’s second year raising eels, and these juveniles are already much bigger than last year’s.

Eels in the Classroom (EIC), offered by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, gives educators juvenile American eels to raise and release back into the Susquehanna River. The program partners with natural resource agencies, schools, and Conowingo Dam operators to help restore eels to their native waters.

Public educators interested in joining the EIC program can fill out the form here. 

Cumberland County Conservation District funded a stream restoration project along the Mountain Creek of Mount Holly Springs. This project successfully restored 640 feet of stream bank with the use of saw-tooth modified mudsill, log-framed cross vanes with rock throats, saw-tooth stone deflectors, and log-framed stone deflectors.

By installing these practices, the district and partners:

• Improved water flow & oxygen
• Reduced erosion
• Created a better habitat for trout & aquatic life

Project partners included the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Habitat Management Division, Western PA Conservancy, the Mountain Creek Trout Club and Conservation Society, and Gleim Excavating.

The project was funded with $50,337 from the Unconventional Gas Well Fund (Marcellus Shale).

 

On Saturday, September 6, 2025, the Lehigh County Conservation District partnered with the Lehigh Valley Zoo to raise awareness about the damage invasive plants can do to our landscape and ecosystem.

Participants in this unique new event met on The Trexler Game Preserve with a two-fold mission. First, learn all about invasive Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), then collect berries and foliage. After discussing identification, look-alikes, and native berry producers, the group paraded back to the Zoo grounds with harvest in tow to make a tasty jam and provide enrichment to resident megafauna!

Although E. umbellata is not preferred browse for PA native whitetail and elk, its thorny branches are similar enough to the Masai giraffe’s beloved Acacia foliage to be thoroughly enjoyed! With each jar of jam, participants brought home the knowledge to prevent thousands of new autumn olive seedlings from taking root in our public lands each year.

 

On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, the Columbia County Conservation District held its 8th annual Water Education Day at Briar Creek Lake Park in Berwick. About 190 eighth-grade students from two different school districts in Columbia County attended the event. The students rotated through six stations where they learned about various aspects of our water sources, water quality, and aquatic ecosystems. The six stations—Water Quality, Streams, Groundwater, Music and Discovery, Art and Poetry, and Fish Ecology—are all led by volunteers.

Click here to read the entire article and to see more photos. 

PACD Acting Executive Director Amy Brown attended the Franklin County Conservation District’s (FCCD) Summer Conservation Farm Tour. The tour featured the Craig Alleman LLC beef operation in Shippensburg, PA, on August 5, 2025. The district selected the Alleman Farm as the 2025 Conservation Farmer of the Year.

The tour included the beef cattle facilities and manure handling systems. Attendees saw how Craig, utilizing FCCD grant funds, was able to convert an overused open area into an improved animal heavy use area (AHUA) that includes a bedded pack structure. Both actions led to enhanced cattle health and manure management.

The tour also stopped at the farm’s tree planting to demonstrate how planting trees has improved the farm. FCCD staff demonstrated how to measure soil health and the benefits of no-till field management. Lastly, staff answered questions on Conservation Excellence Grants and Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program grants.

On July 28, 2025, the Berks County Conservation District (BCCD) held its Annual Awards and Scholarship Dinner.

In addition to several scholarship recipients, BCCD also recognized the following individuals and organizations for their efforts:

• Engineer of the Year: Samuel Reeser
• Organization of the Year: Hay Creek Watershed Association
• Individual of the Year: Nicholas Johnson
• Urban Agricultural Project: Front Street Garden to Café Esperanza
• Educator of the Year: Sherry Fuhrmann
• Student Environmental Ambassador: Garrett Hynemann
• Student Environmental Organization: Schuylkill Valley FFA
• Reading-Berks Science and Engineering Fair Winner: Samson Evans
• Low Volume Road Project of the Year: Mill Road Project in Oley Township

There were over 140 people at the dinner. Thank you to Senator Judy Schwank, Representative Johanny Cedpeda-Freytiz, Representative Jacklyn Ruscnock, Representative Eric Weaknecht, Representative David Zimmerman and Craig Lutz and Dan Bost from Senator Chris Gebhards office, Kim Fies, Executive Director of the Berks County Department of Agriculture, Nicholas Ramsey, District Conservationist, NRCS; Chas. Heberling Conservation District Field Representative, PA Department of Environmental Protection and all the other partners, friends and family who took time to come out and celebrate with the district.