Fall/Winter 2024 Update
A Message from the Director
It has surely been a season of growth and gratitude here at Crown Point Ecology Center. As we transition from fall into winter, we reflect on a season filled with exciting events and heartfelt community support at Crown Point Ecology Center.
This year, our ecology programs and guided hikes explored the varied ecosystems across our property, offering guests an intimate view of nature’s beauty. I am thrilled to announce that more guided hikes will be added to our winter calendar!
A big highlight, of course, was our annual 26th Taste of Earth fundraiser, which was a tremendous success. I am deeply grateful to our donors, volunteers, and our dedicated Taste of Earth committee members. Special thanks go to this year’s chair, Pam Klemm, and our honorary chair, Ellen Otto, whose years of service to Crown Point are truly inspiring.
Our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program wrapped up its summer season, and we are now in the midst of our Fall CSA. This year’s harvest has been bountiful, and with the help of our CSA shareholders and hardworking farmers, we have been able to donate approximately 38% of our harvest—providing tens of thousands of servings of fresh vegetables to those in need. Stay tuned for exciting winter and spring events in our greenhouse program space, where we will continue to build and celebrate community..
I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our volunteers and donors. This year, we’ve seen more support than ever before, and it’s truly energizing to witness the growing enthusiasm for our mission.
As we approach the end of the year, I invite you to visit Crown Point. Take in the harmony and peace of the changing seasons along our five miles of hiking trails, open from dawn to dusk. It’s a wonderful way to recharge your spirit and reconnect with nature.
Finally, I encourage you to consider supporting our annual fundraising campaign. Your generosity directly fuels our efforts to fight hunger, preserve natural resources, and advance sustainable agriculture practices in our region.
Thank you for being a part of our community!
-Kevin Gross
Executive Director, Crown Point Ecology Center
Meet the Farmers
If you have been to the farm in the past six months, more than likely you have met our new Farmers, Bianca and Ben. If you have not had the pleasure of meeting this dianamic duo— let them tell you in their own words a little about themselves.
“I am dedicated to fostering a love for farming and sustainable practices in those around me, ensuring a brighter future for the local agricultural landscape.”
Bianca Macreno- Farm Manager
I grew up in Akron, Ohio, where a deep connection to the land began to take root. In 2020, the unexpected turn of events brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic redirected my path. A planned job in Glacier National Park fell through, but rather than leave the beauty of Montana, I discovered an opportunity on an organic farm, marking the start of a transformative journey in farming.
That summer spent in Montana ignited a passion that has only grown since. Due to COVID-19 complications, in the next farming season I took on a role at a large-scale Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in Cleveland, Ohio, further expanding my expertise. I then embarked on an intensive apprenticeship at Horton Road Organics in Oregon, honing skills and deepening my knowledge of sustainable agriculture.
Most recently, I managed a two-acre market garden on a 100-acre cattle farm in the stunning San Juan Islands of Washington State. These diverse experiences across various landscapes and farming practices enriched my understanding and love for agriculture.
With a strong desire to return to my hometown, I came back to Akron to share the joy and knowledge gained from my journey. Currently, I am thrilled to be a part of Crown Point Ecology Center, where I work alongside amazing volunteers and benefit from the overwhelming support of the community. I am dedicated to fostering a love for farming and sustainable practices in those around me, ensuring a brighter future for the local agricultural landscape.
“Here I have found a community of volunteers deeply connected to the work and mission of this land, a local market of conscious consumers eager for a relationship with food and producer, a burgeoning coalition of growers creating opportunities to come together, and a real chance to impact the food landscape of my backyard.”
Ben Bashor - Farm Lead
I grew up in West Akron without much of an exposure to the local food system outside of an occasional trip to Szalay’s or Howe Meadow. After a few years studying environmental science and ethics at the University of Akron it was time to pick my head up and get my hands working. I took the chance to travel to Northern Thailand to participate in WWOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). There I found myself for four months on an organic permaculture home-stay farm run by a couple and their young son, called Happy Healing Home or Baan Raksa. I learned there the value of community, the strength of will and compassion, and the deep joy of working land with teachers and volunteers from so many different cultures and motivations.
About a year after that Bianca and I found ourselves on Terrapin Farm in Kalispell, MT learning the ins and outs of organic vegetable production. Here we were met with a high learning curve and an amazing group of friends and farmers who encouraged us the whole season through.
Next we headed to coastal Oregon to compound our fresh experience with a more in depth, managerial minded internship at Horton Road Organics. Here we became rotating managers of each aspect of the 5-acres of production and participated in the three farmers markets each week and the large CSA. I came to understand on this farm how truly large of an impact 5-acres and 8 people can have on a city the size of Eugene. Dozens of families and even small restaurants depended on us for their food and trusted that our efforts and practices were aligned with theirs.
The season after we headed back out west for an internship at Midnight’s Farm, a 100-acre regenerative mixed use farm in the San Juan Islands. Here we added no-till vegetable production practices to the quiver and gained experience managing grass-fed USDA Organic beef cattle through the AMP grazing approach.
Coming back home to Akron, we began looking for organizations and opportunities that mirrored the experiences and ethics of those we found out west. Nothing fit better than Crown Point. Here I have found a community of volunteers deeply connected to the work and mission of this land, a local market of conscious consumers eager for a relationship with food and producer, a burgeoning coalition of growers creating opportunities to come together, and a real chance to impact the food landscape of my backyard.
End of Year Fundraising Campaign - Annual Appeal
As we wrap up another incredible year at Crown Point Ecology Center, we’re excited to announce the launch of our End-of-Year Fundraising Campaign! Starting this November, this campaign is one of our largest fundraising efforts of the year, and we have an ambitious goal: raising $20,000 to support our mission of sustainable agriculture and environmental education.
Every dollar raised will go directly toward supporting our mission and the communities we serve in greater Akron.
Our Accomplishments since End of Year 2023:
10,335 lbs and counting of fresh, organic produce donated to The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. More than 38% of the total harvest was donated and equates to over 23,051 servings of vegetables and counting
1,844 Organic plants donated from our annual Spring Plant Sale to 12 local community gardens, valued over $10,000!
53 Volunteers assisted with carrying out our mission which equated to 3,729 volunteer hours.
28 Educational and Spiritual Programs brought over 1,000 people to our farm to experience the beauty of Crown Point and participate in our mission.
4 Weeks of Summer Farm and Science Camp brought 51 campers between 3rd-8th grades.
20 Weddings and Special Events were held in the Century Barn and enjoyed use of the 115 acre property.
How You Can Help:
Donate Online or Mail a Check: Visit our donation page to make a contribution—every bit helps us get closer to our goal!
Matching Gifts: Check with your employer to see if they offer matching gift opportunities, which could double the impact of your donation.
Spread the Word: Even if you aren’t able to donate, you can still help by sharing our campaign with friends, family, and colleagues.
November marks the start of this campaign, but the need continues through the end of the year. As you plan your year-end charitable giving, we invite you to consider Crown Point and help us keep our farm thriving and our programs growing.
Together, with your generosity, we can look forward to an even more impactful year in 2025. Thank you for being a part of our community!
