Welcome to Trailside Organic Farm at Cornwall Manor!

A unique partnership was announced in March 2021 with the industry experts at the Rodale Institute to establish Trailside Organic Farm at Cornwall Manor! As a leader in the senior living industry, Cornwall Manor strongly supports our wellness philosophy, which is based on the principle that each resident is entitled to enjoy and maintain the highest level of health, dignity, independence and activity. Cornwall Manor is the first retirement community to partner with the Rodale Institute.

Statistics show that residents in retirement communities live two years longer on average than those who live alone, owning to an environment rooted in health, well-being and community. The Cornwall Manor-Rodale Institute Trailside Organic Farm is an opportunity to combine the health benefits of organic food and farming with the improved longevity of community living. Partnering with the Rodale Institute experts guarantees that Cornwall Manor residents receive the best and healthiest product because it meets the strict standards of USDA organics. Trailside Organic Farm will offer freshly harvested farm-to-table offerings for resident meals and residents and visitors will enjoy the beauty of the farm as well as educational and volunteer opportunities.

Video Tour of Trailside Organic Farm at Cornwall Manor

Through our partnership with the Rodale Institute, Trailside Organic Farm is currently a two-and-a-half-acre USDA certified organic vegetable farm located on Cornwall Manor’s Woods Campus. The development and organic farming is led by Rodale Institute’s team of industry experts (Farm Manager bios are below). Cornwall Manor will use the produce grown on the farm to be served in all campus dining areas. Utilizing Rodale Institute’s expertise in organic growing methods, Trailside Organic Farm will provide residents with healthy, hyper-local food choices and a thriving natural environment that supports their health, environment and overall well-being. Both organizations see this project as having the potential to serve as a model for continuing care communities across the country.

Trailside Organic Farm Resident Testimonials

The implementation of Trailside Organic Farm and the partnership between Cornwall Manor and the Rodale Institute benefits Cornwall Manor’s community of residents and staff.

Now entering our third growing season (2024), several Cornwall Manor residents shared their feedback on how Trailside Organic Farm, the weekly farm markets, volunteer opportunities and educational sessions impacts them.

Trailside Organic Farm Accomplishments

2024

Greenhouse built
Farming the full 2.5 acres
Continue to build soil health

2023

Hired seasonal farm helper
Expanded the growing capacity of the farm to two acres, which increased the quantity and offerings of items harvested
Incorporated irrigation lines
Constructed second hoop house
Ongoing building of healthy soil structure
Continued to offer workshops, farm tours and Friday Farm Markets for Cornwall Manor residents
Received USDA organic certification
Hosted second annual Fall Harvest Fest to commemorate Trailside’s growing season
Completion of bank barn and ribbon cutting

2022

First growing season spanned .8 acres
Constructed a hoop house (caterpillar tunnel), which is beneficial to extend the growing season and create a controlled growing environment
Hired an assistant farm manager
Implemented a volunteer program
Offered workshops and farm tours
Flowers were planted at Trailside Organic Farm to add beauty to the site and attract pollinators
Hosted first Fall Harvest Fest
Groundbreaking for bank barn
Cornwall Manor received the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal’s Nonprofit Innovation Award for Leadership Excellent for collaborating with the Rodale Institute to create Trailside Organic Farm

2021

Announced partnership with the Rodale Institute
Hired a farm manager
Began site improvements and soil enhancement

Trailside Organic Farm NEWS

In the news (November 2023): New bank barn anchors organic farm

In the news (October 2023): Cornwall Manor collaboration with Rodale Institute blooms newest local bank barn

News Release (October 2023): Cornwall Manor Celebrates Barn Ribbon Cutting & USDA Organic Certification at Trailside Organic Farm

In the news (July 2023): In its second season, Trailside Organic Farm is bustling, Food Management

In the news (May 2023): Trailside Farm weathers challenges, reaps rewards in first season

News Release (May 2023): Cornwall Manor Expands Trailside Organic Farm to Advance Health and Wellbeing

News Release (November 2022): Cornwall Manor Breaks Ground on Barn at Trailside Organic Farm

ManorLife (Summer 2022): Happenings at Trailside Organic Farm

ManorLife (Fall 2021): Introducing Trailside Organic Farm

News Release (March 2021): Cornwall Manor to Partner with The Rodale Institute

What’s Growing on? Trailside Organic Farm Updates

Stay up-to-date with what’s happening at Trailside Organic Farm. Monthly updates are provided in the Neighborhood News and on our blog.

April 2024 – no update as Trailside is planning for Farm & Barn tours for residents
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024

Trailside Organic Farm Highlights

Scallions in the greenhouse at Trailside Organic Farm (April 2024).

Variety of lettuces grown in the greenhouse at Trailside Organic Farm (April 2024).

Greenhouse construction (March 2024) at Trailside Organic Farm, awaiting cover.

Trailside Organic Farm received a special Valentine ❤️🐊 gift from an anonymous donor! A John Deere Gator was delivered to assist with farm operations. A Gator is essential for transporting plants and tools, it significantly reduces the manual labor required. Additionally, its ability to navigate through rough terrains makes it ideal for executing general farm maintenance tasks. Our farm managers were very excited about this addition to the farm, and we are very grateful to the donors who made this happen! (February 2024)

Trailside Organic Farm at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg (January 2024)

The 3,840 square foot bank barn at Trailside Organic Farm.

The 3,840 square foot bank barn will assist and expand Trailside Organic Farm operations.

Official ribbon cutting ceremony at Trailside Organic Farm's Bank Barn on October 20, 2023.

Entrance off Ironmaster Road to Trailside Organic Farm.

The annual Fall Harvest Fest is held to celebrate Trailside's growing season. Residents and their families can take their own photos with the tractor used at Trailside Organic Farm.

As part of the annual Fall Harvest Fest, a pumpkin decorating contest is held for residents and staff to participate in. The only rule...incorporate a pumpkin grown at the Trailside Organic Farm. Oscar the Grouch, created by Corson Hall Personal Care, won "2023 Fan Favorite."

Barfing Bob, created by Woods resident Robert Johnson, won "2023 Spookiest" at the 2023 Fall Harvest Fest.

Largest sweet potato of the 2023 Trailside harvest. Can you guess the weight? This sweet potato weighed in at 7 pounds, 9 ounces!

Flower bouquets are a popular Friday Farm Market item. At the 2023 Fall Harvest Fest, attendees could pick-their-own bouquets!

Aerial photograph (September 2023) of Trailside Organic Farm and Barn.

Residents and staff love the convenience of having fresh, organic produce right at Cornwall Manor every Friday. Here, Woods resident Hilde Greenlee, purchases a colorful flower bouquet.

The Palmyra Garden Club visited Trailside Organic Farm in September 2023 for a tour of the barn and farm! They even put together a dried flower arrangement using flowers from Trailside.

The Palmyra Garden Club taking a tour and viewing the tomatoes harvested at the Trailside Organic Farm.

The Palmyra Garden Club tours the lower level of the barn and takes a look at the most recent tomato harvesting.

Cornwall Manor's Trailside Organic Farm met the criteria to become certified organic under USDA standards!

Katherine Gehris, a resident at the Buckingham Campus, volunteering at the Trailside Organic Farm.

Our partnership with the Rodale Institute offers educational as well as volunteer opportunities for our residents. Here, Buckingham Campus resident Katherine Gehris, volunteers on the farm.

Flower arranging workshop held in August 2023.

An arrangement of flowers made during the Trailside flower workshop.

A completed arrangement from the workshop.

Summer squash was a popular item at the Friday Farm Markets.

Fresh herbs, grown at the Farm, are sold at the Friday Farm Markets.

Katie Landis and Dina Thalen working at a Friday Farm Market.

Katie Landis (left), Trailside Assistant Farm Manager and Dina Thalen, Trailside Seasonal Farm Helper, work at a Friday Farm Market.

Aerial photograph (May 2023) of Trailside Organic Farm and Barn.

Construction of the barn at Trailside Organic Farm in December.

Trailside Organic Farm Barn Construction (December 2022).

Groundbreaking for the Trailside Organic Farm Barn (November 2022).

Meet our Trailside Farm Managers

Ian Frederick, Farm Manager

Formerly the Farm Operations Field Technician at Rodale Institute, Ian began working with our team in September 2021. While in his position at Rodale, Ian helped with maintaining and designing the landscape. Ian has a work background in landscaping and ornamental gardening.

In 2019, Ian received a Bachelor’s degree in Sustainability from Messiah College. He prioritizes landscaping practices that provide ecological benefits as well as aesthetic value. Ian has experience with integrating pollinator habitats on Rodale’s property.

Katie Landis, Assistant Farm Manager

Katie joined Ian at Trailside Organic Farm in April 2022 as the Assistant Farm Manager.

Living in Quentin, Katie is a “local” and lives right around the corner from Trailside Organic Farm. Katie has been farming for a living since 2012, beginning as an intern growing herbs and cut flowers at Lancaster Farmacy. Her five years there taught her how to use high tunnels and greenhouses to extend the growing season, how to use irrigation to get the appropriate amount of water to the crops and how to manage weeds.

After leaving the Farmacy, she worked at Homefields Care Farm where we grew a large variety of vegetables that were sold to the community through a CSA program. Working at Homefields taught her how to operate tractors and the different implements that could be attached to the front or back to make field work easier.