In April, Representative Rob Bresnahan (R-PA-08) visited Endless Roots Farm in Waverly, Pennsylvania. In a social media post, he shared highlights from his visit: “I had the opportunity to learn more about the incredible impact of small, local agriculture.”
Fourteen years ago, husband and wife team Mike and Liz Krug founded Endless Roots Farm. Mike previously worked in education and environmental science, and Liz was a social worker. They each gained experience across a variety of agricultural operations, which has helped them successfully manage their farm today. Mike was an apprentice at PEAS Farm in Missoula, Montana, and the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Tarrytown, New York. Meanwhile, Liz was an apprentice at Riverbank Farm in Roxbury, Connecticut. They eventually worked together at Fullers Overlook in Waverly before building Endless Roots Farm.
Photo Courtesy Endless Roots Farm
Endless Roots Farm does not use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or fungicides, instead focusing on stewarding the land and employing regenerative practices, such as raising chickens in pastures, growing cover crops, and reducing tillage. After growing cover crops that inject carbon and nutrients into the soil, the Krugs apply tarps to the land in the winter, breaking down the cover crop and making it easier to plow with tractors in the cold and wet springs.
Such efforts contribute to more sustainable operations that boost agricultural yields, create healthier soil and watersheds, and protect biodiverse life. The farmers also plant flowers and herbs specifically chosen to provide food and shelter to beneficial insects.
Photo Courtesy Endless Roots Farm
Liz first discovered her passion for food justice when collaborating with community organizations as a social worker. The farm says on its website, “We believe that access to healthy food is a basic human right. To aid in the battle against food insecurity, we work with the Food Dignity Movement to get food directly to those who need it.”
The Krugs also believe in working with other farmers to benefit the greater community. They claim, “These interactions create agricultural social capital, a resource that can be leveraged to build more connections and achieve greater goals.”
Rep. Bresnahan reflected, “From cover crops and cold storage to the benefits of keeping produce local, it’s clear how farms like this play a vital role in supporting our community and local programs. Their produce goes from soil to fork within 48 hours.”
Photo Courtesy Congressman Rob Bresnahan Jr.
Endless Roots Farm depends on Pasa, which works with and provides research and training to sustainable farms in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, and which also awarded the Krugs a climate grant. “It was financially helping some of the practices we had already been doing. Looking forward, it was helping to fund some projects that maybe were a bit financially out of our reach,” Liz explained to PBS.
However, in April, the nonprofit had to furlough most of their staff due to federal funding freezes that left them waiting for more than $3 million in reimbursements, not having been paid in 60 days. Liz commented, “We’re hoping that it’s just a furlough and the funding will come through, but not having the resources and the knowledge base is going to be a huge hole.”
This development comes at a time when farms need all the support they can get, Liz added: “Within the next month, greenhouses are going to be increasing by about 10% because of tariffs, so that just means that we’re probably not paying ourselves, or paying ourselves less.”
As Liz summarized, “Farming is a very hard profession. There are very small margins. We do this because we want to feed our communities, we want to take care of the land, keep nutrients in our communities, have it healthy from soil to your table… So then when there’s an administration that says, ‘Okay, well good luck, here you go, we’re not going to support you,’ that’s soul-crushing.” She concluded, “We don’t want to import food? Well, then, create a regional food system. Support those folks that are doing it. You want to be America first? Here you go. Support the people that are growing your food.”
In addition to supporting the Pennsylvanians working in sustainable agriculture, Rep. Bresnahan has been a vocal proponent of the clean energy industry. He has previously spoken out in favor of clean energy tax credits, joining other House Republicans in letters to Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-MO-08) in March and May, advocating for clean energy tax credits that benefit farms with sustainable practices such as Endless Roots Farm.
Photo Courtesy Congressman Rob Bresnahan Jr.
