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Vacation in the Heart of the Endless Mountains |
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Sustainability |
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Jerry Arcuri 205 Shultz Hollow Road Benton, PA 17814 570-925-5700 |
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To contact us: |
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Kathy and I have been concerned about the environment for many years. In fact, that concern was one reason we moved here from Philadelphia in 1994. We wanted to do our small part to reduce carbon emissions in the big city, to grow our own food, and to lead a less hectic life. To some extent we succeeded. But we’re finding that there is still a substantial amount we can do to make a positive impact on the environment. We continue to try to recognize where we fall short of our goal, and how to make appropriate changes. For example, we had been mowing the lawn in a very large circle around the house, but have now decided to only clear paths to give us access to areas we frequent regularly. And we’ve enrolled in an environmental program to plant warm season prairie grasses on our hill sides; the goal of this program is to help preserve the Chesapeake Water Shed, while simultaneously providing shelter for wildlife in the area. Although we still have a long way to go, one area where we believe we have made considerable progress is our garden. We grow our vegetables organically and have reached a point where we can almost eat year round from the garden. A few chickens and ducks provide eggs. A nearby farmer’s market sells meat and chickens and cheese, enabling us to buy locally thus reducing transportation costs in getting food to market. We compost all of our kitchen waste; and our two donkeys (George and Harry) contribute substantial organic matter. Kathy has established a Plant a Row for the Hungry program in Benton, and is encouraged by the outpouring of support. She and our neighbors will make twice monthly deliveries of fresh produce to the Northern Columbia County Food Bank. We have resisted the temptation of air conditioning our house and the cottage. We are fortunate to live in a locale where nights generally remain cool even in the summer. For those few humid July and August nights, we rely on fans for air circulation. The cottage is supplied with two fans which help guests stay comfortable while still enjoying the outside summer sounds. This is just a bit of our philosophy of life. If you share our view of the world, or even if you only want to enjoy some peaceful nights in the country and some beautiful days immersed in the many outdoor activities in the area, we invite you to visit the little cottage on our farm in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania. Jerry |
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“Sustainability is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising future generations.” --United Nations, Brundtland Commission, 1987 |