Crawford County, Pennsylvania: An Organic Gardening Hub

Northwestern Pennsylvania is a rural area with abundant resources for organic gardeners. The five county area is dotted with small communities, a few Amish settlements, family farms, abundant fresh water, wooded rolling hills and scenic valleys.

Crawford County is one of the five counties in the northwest region and remains a largely agricultural region. The largest city, with a population of just over 13,000 in the county is Meadville, a once frontier village on historic French Creek. Just after the Civil War, oil was first successfully pumped in nearby Titusville (population 6,100) and the area boomed for several decades until the wells ran dry. Slowly, the region return back to it's agricultural roots.

Located in the city, the county seat, is the Crawford County Penn State Agricultural Extension Office which remains one of the leading resources for information and insights on regional agriculture and organic farming practices. The Extension Office would be one of the first steps in beginning an organic farm operation.

The Extension office has a resource packed, user friendly and informative Web site regarding many agricultural concerns dealing with disease and insect outbreaks to the best vegetables which can be grown successfully in the region. The Penn State Master Gardener's program operates a weekly toll free number for gardeners with gardening questions at the Extension office and retains an active email address for additional information and links.

Members of the Master Gardener program are also active in many of the small communities teaching the art of composting, performing a wide variety of community service projects as well as conducting numerous educational events for local gardeners.

The Crawford County Conservation District, also located in Meadville, is another important resource for organic gardeners. The emphasis of the volunteer organization is to promote soil and water conservation throughout the county. Like the Extension office , the Conservation District conducts a wide range of educational programs for local residents and provides resources and links to soil and water conservation programs.

Crawford County (estimated population of 88,000) still has many active Grange Halls in many of the small communities of the county. While not specifically an organic gardening organization, many of the members practice organic farming methods and are a another valuable tool for learning about tips and tricks in growing harvesting and preserving a home vegetable harvest.

4-H programs, located at the Extension office, thrive throughout the region an young students learn sustainable and good agricultural practices. The programs are the feeder network for the future of farming.

Crawford County, which covers about 1038 square miles, also boasts many small, family owned and operated organic farms which promote organic gardening activities. One of the farms is just north of the City of Meadville, Fresh From the Vines, which has it's own educational center and all natural bakery and kitchen. The farm has a unique relationship with Allegheny College, located in Meadville, and students are frequently at the farm learning and working.

The Meadville Market House, located in downtown has been a market house for local farmers since 1870. It offers many homemade, natural and homegrown products for sale and provides an informal setting to get the latest organic news and insights. Similar opportunities abound at the Titusville Farmers Market as organically grown food is cited as the best around. Both offer glimpse into organically grown products that can be easily sold.

Organic farming methods are readily available throughout Crawford County and all of the rural, five county area of northwestern Pennsylvania; the tips and tricks are a simple mouse click away or can be found at many of the hands on learning sites found throughout the area or at the markets. The area abounds with a wide variety of organic farms, mostly small family owned organization from strawberries to blueberries, fruits and vegetables of any kind. It is an area deeply rich in knowledge, expertise and practical, common sense organic gardening methods.