Ginny Yanzsa introduced this morning’s speaker Vickie Bastidas, Executive Director of Camel’s Hump Farm on Johnston Estate. Joining Vickie was Katie Taylor a staff member at the Farm. The Farm is part of a 135-acre park complex along the Monocacy Creek. The overall park is owned by Bethlehem Township and Northampton County. In 2015, The Friends of Johnston, Inc. purchased the historic farm buildings and 3.4 acres of Camel’s Hump Farm. The intent was to preserve and reuse the buildings as a Community Center for Nature, Education, Wellness and the Arts and the home for the organization. The historic buildings of the farm include: a 1722 farmhouse, 1836 Pennsylvania doubledecker bank barn, a guest house renovated from a small barn, a greenhouse, and a cabin and offers many opportunities for classroom and gathering spaces.
Vickie indicated that the main purpose of the Farm is education for youth. Kids come to the Farm to learn by doing and in many cases have a chance to get away from the “big stressors” of their family life and learn how to deal with the “little stressors” they will encounter as life goes on. They are given tools and put to work on the farm and learn a lot from the experience of farming. This a good way to teach children about the environment and how to respect and work within our sensitive environment.
Like any organization, Vickie is always looking for volunteers to share their time + talents + treasurers. For more information please visit their website at www.thefriendsofjohnston.org.