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Bent Pine Alpaca Farm

Doris and Darwin, owners, breaders, and caretakers at Bent Pine Alpaca Farm, are enthusiastic about their friendly herd of alpacas and offer a variety of goods made from their alpaca’s fiber. They enjoy visitors and can provide educational seminars for groups of all sizes. You can arrange an educational tour ahead of time by giving them a call.

From their website
“16 acre historic farm (circa 1770) that is home to 25 – 30 alpacas and 3 llamas located off the road in a quiet setting. We are located half way between Carlisle and Mechanicsburg, 1/2 mile off Rt 641 (West Trindle Rd.) on Old Stonehouse Rd. South. Note: most GPS units want to send you up the hill to North Old Stonehouse Rd.) Look for our sign at the intersection of Rt 641 and follow the arrow on the sign. Bring your camera for pictures!”

Our farm store is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons after our open house the second week in October until Christmas. Other times of year, the farm store is open by appointment.

April 28, 2014
Central Pennsylvania Research and Teaching Laboratory for Biofuels

“The Central Pennsylvania Research and Teaching Laboratory for Biofuels serves as a center for the study of second- and third-generation biofuels, with the goal of bringing environmentally friendly energy alternatives to the marketplace. Located on the west side of the Penn State Harrisburg campus, the center provides biotechnology equipment and greenhouse space for science and engineering classes and student and faculty research at Penn State Harrisburg, and also accommodates partnerships with other higher education institutions, schools and other organizations.”

April 28, 2014
Energy Smart Home Improvement

Energy Smart is a business providing home energy audits and energy saving improvements. The company is committed to the latest and greatest advances in the emerging field of home performance. Here are some of their core business practices, which they believe are essential to running an effective (and successful) home performance outfit.

Industry Standards and the Whole House Approach to Building Performance They are a proud partner with Home Performance with EnergyStar and PA Home Energy. The ESHI team works according to the whole-house approach to building performance. They treat each house as a system of interrelated parts; what affects one part of the system affects them all. An inefficient HVAC system may contribute to moisture problems in unlikely places throughout the house. Incandescent light bulbs and other heat-emitting home appliances make tangible differences on air conditioning loads. Air leaks compromise the effectiveness of insulation. By taking the whole-house approach, they are able to accurately assess the quality of the home environment, and thus help homeowners make the best decisions toward becoming more energy efficient, cost effctive, and comfortable. To learn more about the whole-house approach, the Whole Building Design Guide is a great place to start.

Air Sealing AND Insulation Maintaining a comfortable and energy efficient home entails both insulating and air sealing the building envelope. At Energy Smart Home, they air seal customer’s home to stop the movement of uncontrolled, unwanted air between the interior and exterior, then insulate to give it a complete thermal boundary.

April 28, 2014
Cumberland Valley Rails to Trails

Located in the Cumberland Valley, one of Pennsylvania’s most beautiful areas, Cumberland Valley Rails-to-Trails Council (CVRTC) regards preserving the beauty and history as its mission. The 11-mile Cumberland Valley Trail , once a stretch of railroad tracks from Shippensburg to Newville, is donated to CVRTC by Conrail in 1995.

CVRTC has spent the last 16 years developing the former Cumberland Valley Railroad into an improved multi-use trail to serve all ages and abilities. The first 4 1/2 miles of trail was completed in the fall of 2004 and the next 5 miles was complete in the fall of 2006. The trail is now complete from the Shippensburg Township Park outside of Shippensburg to McFarland Street in Newville, approx 9.5 miles.

Trail enthusiasts can enjoy walking, jogging, bicycling, horseback riding, and other non-motorized recreational uses. The trail, which is wheelchair-accessible, has a crushed limestone surface except for the last 1/2 mile at the Newville trail head which is paved. All of the road crossings between these two points have been graded to meet ADA specification and paved if it is a long grade.

CVRTC also recently purchased the old railroad corridor between Newville and Carlisle. A master plan has been completed and we are now seeking funding to start development. Completing of both projects will connect the business districts of Shippensburg and Carlisle along with the campuses of Shippensburg University and Dickinson College.

CVRTC is an all-volunteer, non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to conservation, historic preservation, recreation, and alternative transportation in the Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania through the development of multi-use trails along former railroad corridors and other areas.

April 28, 2014
The Carlisle Indian School Historical Site

The Carlisle Indian School is an important piece of Carlisle’s history. The school was built on the current site of the Carlisle Barracks in the late 1800s. From 1879-1918 more than 10,000 Native American children were brought to the school with the intention of integrating them into white society. They were taught academics for one half of the day and trades for the other half.

While this does not necessarily represent a positive time in Carlisle’s history, it is an important part of American and Carlisle history and it should not be ignored. As we continue to foster a growing and diverse community in Carlisle, we must remember our history and where we came from. Carlisle has a rich history sprinkled with proud moments and rough times. We can learn from both the good and the bad in our history and continue to incorporate it into the community that we are.

Students, residents, and tourists can visit the Carlisle Indian school and learn about this moment in Carlisle’s history. You can pick up a guided walking tour at the Cumberland County Visitor’s Center on W. High street.

April 27, 2014
Appalachian Trail Conservancy

The ATC’s mission is “to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail to ensure that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can be shared and enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come.”

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy upholds the highest standards for the protection and management of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) to ensure that it can be shared and enjoyed well into the future.

Due to the Trail’s historic legacy of volunteerism, many of the ATC’s programs are focused on supporting and encouraging volunteers. We work cooperatively with volunteer A.T. clubs and agencies to develop meaningful Trail policies, share expertise on trail design and construction, and protect the landscapes and natural and cultural resources that represent the unique, inspiring, and oftentimes life changing, experience of the A.T

Our newer initiatives help us reach out to the next generation of A.T. supporters and visitors through education and outreach programs. As we work to steward the valuable lands that the A.T. traverses, we are eager to ensure those protected lands remain relevant and available to all those seeking recreation and solitude on the Trail.

The organization also provides leadership support to the South Mountain Partnership.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy maintains an online map of the entire Appalachian Trail to aid hikers in trip planning.

April 27, 2014
LEAF (Leadership, Education and Farming) Project

The LEAF Project (Leadership Education And Farming) is a farm-based youth employment program. Launched by Heidi Witmer in 2013, the project envisions a community in which our youth, as well as all members of our region, are connected to the food that nourishes them, the land on which it grows, and to each other. To achieve this, LEAF provides paid internships to youth, ages 14-18, to work alongside farmers and chefs in the greater Carlisle region. These internships are meant to engage and inspire youth through the meaningful work of building a healthy local food system. Youth work, collaborate, and learn together, motivating personal and social change while increasing knowledge about and access to locally raised food in our community.

Currently, LEAF provides paid internships to 12 youth for a seven week summer program. During the program, youth experience all aspects of the local food system. They spend a good chunk of time planting and cultivating crops at their host farm, owned by fourth generation farmer Bert Myers. The youth then deliver some of their own produce to local restaurants, donate it to hunger relief programs, learn how to cook it from seasoned local chefs, and then engage the community in cooking demonstrations and workshops about the differences between locally grown and processed foods. During the program all youth keep writing journals, in which they document their experiences and growth during the program.

The LEAF program is a Carlisle area gem. At a time when hard manual work is not attributed to youth, the LEAF staff is proving both to the kids and to the community that not only are they capable, but that they can enjoy it. By combining a paid summer job with agriculture, education, and leadership training, the LEAF Project allows its participants to be productive during their summer breaks. Furthermore, the youth leave the program as environmental and healthy-eating ambassadors to their own families and their communities – improving the health of the region one child at a time.

April 25, 2014
Farmers on the Square
If you’re looking for delicious, local food and hope to lower your food miles or meet your local farmers personally then visiting the Farmer’s on the Square (FOTS) market is for you! The market is year round – weekly during the summer months and twice a month in the winter. During the summer you can find the vendor’s by following your nose to their setup at 2 N. Hanover Street, right at the intersection of High St. and Hanover. This location was used for open-air markets from 1751 to 1952 and FOTS is the first one to be hosted since! During the winter months you’ll find them arranged inside at Project SHARE on 5 N. Orange St. in Carlisle. All markets occur from 3-7pm on Wednesdays.

FOTS strives to provide fresh, healthy, local food to those who need it most. Many of the vendors have attained third party certifications for their produce including USDA Certified Organic, Certified Naturally Grown, and Food Alliance Certified. With every product you buy you’ll have a farmer’s face to match with it. All their vendors live and work within 50 miles of Carlisle – each one grows, raises, or makes from scratch the food that they sell!

Depending on the season and the available products you can find a amazing array of local produce and other products. Just a few examples include:
- Read-to-eat food like fresh-cut fries, popcorn, smoothies, soups, burgers and bratwurst!
- Hand-cut flowers and arrangements
- Fresh-picked vegetables and crisp, sweet fruits like apples, pears, plums and all sorts of berries
- Fresh seafood from Maine!
- A variety of fruit products like apple sauce, apple juice, and apple & pear butters
- Hearth-baked breads and home-baked crackers
- Granola, teas, honey popcorn, and cookies!
Furthermore, FOTS provides the Double Up Food Bucks program to extend the availability of their food to the community. Through the generosity of the Carlisle Area Health and Wellness Foundation, this program doubles the value of dollar benefits for eligible Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) recipients – up to $20 per week per recipient.
April 22, 2014
The Artist Market of Pomfret Street

The Artist Market Of Pomfret St. welcomes Pennsylvania artists and craftsmen to bring their wares. They display and sell their art on consignment. They are fortunate to reside in an area that is full of such talented people. They are happy to showcase residents work in the front room.

The Artist Market Of Pomfret St. was founded in October of 2010 right before the holiday season. The retail space of the building was vacant, so we got in touch with local artists and craftsman. Since then it has grown and they have about 40 artists and craftsmen represented in the front area of the shop.

They have recently begun carrying polish pottery. It started small, but there has been such a demand that they have expanded to a full room! So come check out the Polish Pottery Room. Polish Pottery is hand made and painted in Poland. Bake in it, freeze in it, microwave and dishwasher safe. We have one the largest collections of Polish Pottery in the area. They encourage their customers to use it and enjoy it. In addition to its beauty, another great advantage is easy clean up.

Support and buy local!

April 1, 2014
Project SHARE
MISSION: In response to God’s call to love one another, Project SHARE (Survival Help And Recipient Education) provides food, clothing, nutritional education, and links to programs to empower people in need within the greater Carlisle Area.

Project SHARE is an interfaith cooperative effort, begun in 1985, involving over 66 local congregations, schools, and civic organizations. Contributions of food, money, and volunteerism provide essential basic assistance to more than 1000 families each month. Of those needing assistance, about 20% are seniors and nearly 30% are children.

Project SHARE’s sustainability programming includes:
- Growing vegetables in a high tunnel on the grounds of the Carlisle High School; mainly tomatoes, squash, herbs, and peppers. Recipients learn to nurture and harvest these and other annual crops.
- Recycling cardboard using a baler that was donated around 2005. They receive cardboard from many different community locations and raise about $20K a year from this resource.
- Teaching canning and other forms of food preservation to those who come for food or people in the local churches to encourage food preparation and the best use of resources.
- Gleaning fresh fruit and vegetables at approximately 3 dozen local locations; harvesting whatever the farmer can’t use or sell. They also make use of the 2 local produce auctions in Shippensburg and extras from area CSAs.
April 1, 2014