In one of the final lessons of the school year, more than 300 Northumberland County fifth graders traveled to Dreamcatcher Farm to harvest lettuce and learn about healthy eating as part of WellSpan’s Farm to School Program.

Students in the Milton and Shikellamy school districts planted lettuce seeds, watched them grow and harvested the crunchy greens at the farm.

The Farm to School Program is part of the Fresh Local Food Project, which was formed in 2021 through a partnership between WellSpan Evangelical Community Hospital and Dreamcatcher Farm to help address local food insecurity. In Northumberland and surrounding counties, there are over 19,000 food-insecure residents – approximately 11% of the total population.

Last year, WellSpan invested $1.5 million to improve food insecurities in central Pennsylvania.

“We chose fifth grade for this program because these students can start choosing their lunch the following year in middle school and we hope it helps them make healthier food choices,” says Ann Dzwonchyk, community health educator. “Throughout the program, we encourage them to seek out local, fresh produce. Watching them learn something new and appreciate where it came from is just amazing. Not many of these kids have been on a farm, so it’s fun to watch them get excited.”

Annie Moyer, a student at Chief Shikellamy Elementary School, wants to expand from salads to fruits.

“I want to try planting strawberries now,” says Annie. “I think this was important for us to learn about growing our own healthy food.”

Annie Moyer at Dreamcatcher Farm. 

Jon Hunsberger, farm manager at Dreamcatcher Farm, helps the students plant their lettuce and teaches them about soil and alternative farming practices.

“It’s a great opportunity to teach youth that they can have a hand in growing their own food and participate in a more localized food system,” says Jon. “Many of these students are surrounded by farms and aren’t introduced to how they can help communities. They’re so eager to learn more. I feel really lucky that I get to help broaden their horizons about food and farm work.”

Jon Hunsberger helps students plant their lettuce seeds.

Supporting the community

The Fresh Local Food Project also helps provide healthy food to team members, WellSpan patients and the community. Produce from Dreamcatcher Farm is donated to the Union County Food Hub at the Miller Center for distribution to individuals in need.

Team members can also purchase locally grown produce from pop-up stands at the WellSpan Evangelical Community Hospital. All proceeds benefit the Farm to School Program.

“This program helps us care for and invest in our community,” says Ann. “We have the opportunity to benefit team members, community members and all of these wonderful students by regularly making fresh, locally grown produce accessible to them. I’m so proud to be a part of this program and support such amazing work.”