*Update* In our continuing efforts to resolve this situation, our local Pennsylvania respresentative, Scott Conklin, has come to the farm to meet with us and sent a letter to the Centre Region Code Administration.  Please click here to read it.

Greenmoore Gardens is a certified organic CSA farm serving over 150 members of the community in the State College area. Our mission is to strive for excellence in quality, variety, and nutritional value, while providing the community with a secure local food source.

Monday, February 4th, the Centre Region Code Agency inspected our harvest building. (See Exhibit A) After the inspectors left, they returned a few hours later and posted the building with signs notifying us that we have been denied access to the building. They did not provide explicit reasons, only general concerns regarding structural, electrical and other unspecified issues. (see Exhibit B) Historically, this building has been an Agricultural Structure, and Agricultural Structures under Pennsylvania Code are exempt from building code requirements (See Exhibit C). It has been in use on the farm for decades and safety has never been an issue.  It should be noted that building code inspections do not have any involvement with public health.  We currently hold all necessary food safety licenses from the PA Dept of Agriculture.

Without use of this building, we cannot access our stored vegetables, wash any harvested vegetables, or have a place for our members to pick up their shares. This temporary closure has a negative effect on the daily operations of our CSA farm. This situation may set a precedent in that it exposes a hindrance for small farms to interact with their members when hosting farm events or CSA share pick ups. (See Exhibit D)

We are starting this petition to support the sponsorship of a bill or amendment at the State level. This bill would add an amendment to the Pennsylvania Code to allow a farm exemption to building code compliance. Specifically, this exemption would allow occasional use of Agricultural Structures for uses that may fall outside the current definition. This definition contains the current allowable uses that define an Agricultural Structure. (see Exhibit C) This new bill or amendment would create the missing legal framework for local farms to survive and thrive in the growing local food market, and is vital for food security and the growing community connection to local farms. 

Please use the following resources for more information:

www.greenmooregardens.com​

www.pacode.com (Chapter 401 for definition of Agricultural Structure, Chapter 403 for exemption of Agricultural buildings)

Contact us:
Email info@greenmooregardens.com Phone: (814) 237-0082 

Exhibit A​

Exhibit B​

Exhibit C​

Exhibit D