April is here and transforming gardens and fields from brown and dormant to colorful and vibrant. Ephrata is fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful farmland that provides the area with stunning scenery and amazing bounty. Farmer’s Markets, greenhouses, and nurseries are abundant and overflowing with a sense of renewal in the air.
Along with Spring celebrations, April brings Earth Day on the 22nd. Originally a US-based day of teaching, marching and demonstrating against environmental destruction, it has evolved into an annual, international event celebrating our planet and its biodiversity. Earth Day brings people together to commemorate nature’s beauty by planting trees, cleaning up the great outdoors, volunteering at recycling centers–and much more!
Looking to do your part as an environmentally conscious citizen locally? Join Mainspring on Saturday, April 22nd for a community clean-up as we participate in the Great American Clean-up and Keep PA Beautiful events. Meet at the Whistle Stop Plaza, 16 East Main St, at 9 am. Our Clean Team will be divided into groups and assigned specific areas such as the Rail Trail and even Heatherwood Bike Park. Trash bags, recycling bags and gloves will be provided. Last year we had over 40 people sign up, so please consider helping again – or for the first time. Let us know you’re coming by RSVPing on our events calendar.
After you’ve helped get our public spaces ready for spring, continue celebrating our planet by beautifying your own neck of the woods. Our abundance of local greenhouses offer an excellent way to support the environment and Ephrata’s economy.
The benefits of buying local extend far beyond convenience. Making your planting purchase from these local vendors reduces overall transportation costs. These growers also use less energy than giant conglomerate farms because they don’t have to produce their plants in colossal quantities or ship long distances. All of this adds up to a massive reduction in your carbon footprint.
Additionally, you’ll be supporting local farmers and helping to keep them in business! In most cases, you’ll also find that the prices at these greenhouses are lower than those offered by large-scale growers because there’s no middleman involved. So, whether you’re trying to save the earth or save a buck, shopping local is a win-win. Not sure where to start? We’ve listed some of the most popular greenhouses within the Ephrata Area School District below.
Homestead Gardens, Clay
https://www.homesteadgardenspa.com
Esbenshades
Farmstead Flowers
https://www.farmsteadflowers.com/
Cocalico Creek Greenhouse
https://reallancastercounty.com/markets-2/flowers-gardens/cocalico-creek-greenhouse/
Sunset Acres
https://www.myfavoritenursery.com
Country Meadows
Serenity Ridge
Farmette Gardens
190 Parkview Heights Rd Ephrata Twp PA 17522
Zimmerman’s Greenhouse
https://reallancastercounty.com/markets-2/flowers-gardens/zimmermans-greenhouse-of-ephrata/
Village Farm Garden Center
https://villagefarmgardencenter.net/
Frysville Farms