Changing Climate in the South Mountain Region: How a Changing Global Climate is Affecting the Local Landscape - Thursday, Nov. 13th

In collaboration with our partners at Dickinson College and the Greater Carlisle Project, the South Mountain Partnership will be hosting the evening lecture, "Changing Climate in the South Mountain Region: How a Changing Global Climate is Affecting the Local Landscape." The event is scheduled for Thursday, November 13th in the Stern Great Room on Dickinson College's campus.

Dr. Tim Hawkins, professor of earth science at Shippensburg University will draw upon his own research to describe historic weather and climate patterns and extremes for the South Mountain region, including trends found along the Appalachian Trail. Projections of future shifts in climate, as well as the important local, state, federal and international decisions that surround these changes will also be included. Dr. Hawkins will be joined by a panel of experts who will address additional factors, including alterations in Pennsylvania habitats, agriculture and flood management. Panelists will include Ben Wenk, Three Springs Fruit Farm; Dr. Marc McDill, Assistant Professor of Forest Resource Management at Penn State; and Dr. Jeff Niemitz, Professor, Department of Earth Science, Dickinson College.

This November events marks the last event in the 2014 Season of the South Mountain Speakers Series. Stayed tuned in the coming months for the announcement of an exciting range of talks and topics for the 2015 Season!

South Mountain Speakers Series Event to Focus on Recreating the Cider Industry Locally

A unique and growing aspect of fruit production in the region will be the topic of the next lecture in the South Mountain Speakers Series on Oct. 4-5 and 11-12, at the National Apple Harvest Festival in Arendtsville, Adams County.

“The Changing Face of Agriculture in the South Mountain Region: Recreating the Cider Industry,” will be held at 2 p.m. on each of the four days of the festival at the South Mountain Fairgrounds. The lectures will be held along the “Demo Stretch” of the fairgrounds, next to the Kettle Korn.

“This panel discussion will explore how four family farms are finding renewed economic success by turning back to producing sweet and hard cider,” said Jon Peterson, a planner with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy who is coordinating the committee on the speaker series. “The products of the Fruit Belt centered in Adams County – mostly apples and peaches – are the primary reason Pennsylvania ranks near the top of all states in fruit production.”

The panel discussion will include representatives from Hauser Estate Winery who will outline how their hard cider production is transitioning their farm and business; Reid’s Winery will discuss the planting and use of heirloom cider apples for its production; Big Hill Winery and Cider Works will talk about creating a modern farm business based on the old value-added product of cider; and representatives of Oyler’s Organic Farm and Market will discuss transitioning from conventional to organic apple growing and sweet cider production.

This event is supported by the Gettysburg Wine and Fruit Trail and the South Mountain Partnership. The panel discussion is free, however there is a charge to enter the festival grounds.

The annual South Mountain Speakers Series is envisioned as a revival of the talks given by Joseph Rothrock in the late 19th century as part of his work to preserve and restore Pennsylvania’s forests and natural landscape. The fifth season of the Speakers Series is sponsored by the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau.

The final lecture this year will be:

      “Changing Climate and the South Mountain Region,” Nov. 13 at Dickinson College.

The South Mountain Partnership is a public-private partnership between DCNR and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and has grown into a coalition of citizens, businesses, non-profit organizations and government representatives in Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York counties, working together to protect and enhance the South Mountain landscape.

South Mountain is at the northern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Communities in the 400,000-acre region have thrived off fertile limestone agricultural lands, the timber that fed iron furnaces, plentiful game and wildlife, and abundant pure spring water that is captured by the mountains’ permeable soils and released into the valleys.

For more information about the speaker series, visit http://southmountainspeakers.blogspot.com/ or call the Appalachian Trail Conservancy at 717-258-5771.

Some of the earlier lectures in the speaker series can be found on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthMtnSpeakers.

The Changing Face of Agriculture in the South Mountain Region - Oct 4 &5 and 11&12

One of the defining features of the South Mountain landscape is the rich agricultural heritage of the region. As quickly evident to residents and visitors to the landscape alike, the rich soil and a unique geology and topography combine to provide fertile farm lands. Nowhere is this more evident than in the 20,000-acre South Mountain Fruit Belt, centered in Adams County. The products of this Fruit Belt - apples and peaches most predominantly - are a primary reason that the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ranks near the top of all states in fruit production. An upcoming South Mountain Speakers Series will explore a unique and growing aspect of this fruit production.

In collaboration with our partners at the Gettyshttp://www.gettysburgwineandfruittrail.com/burg Wine and Fruit Trail, the South Mountain Partnership will be hosting "The Changing Face of Agriculture: Re-creating the Cider Industry in the South Mountain Landscape," a panel discussion that will take place at 2pm on each of the four days (Oct 4 & 5 and Oct 11 & 12) of the National Apple Harvest Festival in Arendtsville, PA. This year marks the 50th year of the Festival, and this panel discussion will sure to be a highlight.

Learn how four family farms are finding renewed economic success by turning back to cider. Hauser Estate Winery will discuss how their hard cider production is transitioning their farm and business; Reid’s Winery will discuss the planting and use of heirloom cider apples for their farm’s hard cider production; Big Hill Winery and Cider Works will discuss creating a modern farm business based on the old value added product of apple cider, sweet and hard. Oyler’s Organic Farms and Market will discuss transitioning from conventional to organic apple growing and sweet cider production.

 

Mark your calendars and come out to the scenic South Mountain Fair Grounds to hear first-hand how local farms are innovating to address an evolving market, and in doing so ensuring the South Mountain landscape remains a agricultural destination!