The Adams County Farmers Market held its first South Mountain Partnership (SMP) Day today, sharing the work of the partnership and its many partners, including the Adams County Planning Commission, The Adams County Planting Partnership, and The Appalachian Trail Museum.
The day brought hundreds of people together to learn about the partnership while shopping for fruits, vegetables, flowers, meats, cheese, breads, and hundreds of other items.
“It’s so cool to see our partner organizations and hear other people’s stories,” said SMP Program Manager Julia Chain. “Everybody has a favorite place in Adams, Cumberland, or Franklin counties.”
SMP Director Karen Hess said the goal of the partnership is to promote and protect landscape resources. “Air, water, and soil quality; recreation. All that woven together makes a healthy community,” she said.
Area geology, history, recreation, climate, ecology, mineralogy, and health and wellness all fall under SMP’s mission.
Hess said the partnership served as a convener – bringing organizations together to further a shared mission and create community.
The 501c-3 non-profit has existed for 15 years but has recently been revitalized “We’ve revisited our roots,” said Hess.
As part of its mission to advocate for a sustainable future in the 620,000 acre region which includes Carlisle, Waynesboro, Chambersburg and New Oxford, the organization awards mini-grants to organizations in Adams, Cumberland, and Franklin counties.
“We had a mini-grant from SMP to support the development of our board and to give SMP some exposure,” said Market Director Reza Djalal. “Today was the capstone event with 10 SMP partners here.”
Learn more about the South Mountain Partnership.
Featured image caption; Chain (left) and Hess.
Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.