Over 200 guests gathered at Heritage Conservancy’s Russell-Mandel Nature Preserve on Saturday, June 15 for the annual Farm to Table fundraiser. From happy hour with music to plein air painting, an auction, and farm-fresh dinner in the fields, it was a night to remember!
The event is one of Heritage Conservancy’s biggest fundraisers of the year, and the generosity of guests helped bring in vital funding. We exceeded our $100,000 Farm to Table Mission Appeal goal, which helps fund the land conservation, historic preservation, environmental education, and community outreach efforts at the heart of Heritage Conservancy’s mission.
The auction was also a success, with lively bidding on items that included a handmade serving board from the George Nakashima Woodworkers and a signed copy of a book by his daughter Mira Nakashima, two watercolor paintings of the Russell-Mandel fields by Bucks County artist Jane Ramsey, a private farm tour with lunch and cocktails, and a native plant consultation and planting with a Heritage Conservancy plant expert, which includes 25 native plants and a seedling cultivated from Aldie Mansion’s massive, historic Bur Oak.
The social hour brought guests in to the shade of the tent to enjoy the live guitar and vocals of musician Shalom Mukamuri. People mingled over wine and local beer and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres. Tables displayed auction items and information on recent successes, including Heritage Conservancy’s Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence, received in May. Quakertown-based Doan Distillery was on hand to pour their local spirits and popular Quakerade cocktail.
Guests were able to meander the grounds, take in the evolving native plant nursery, and watch Jane Ramsey at her easel, completing the landscape watercolor that would be part of the auction that followed dinner. Her painting captures the property’s recently installed pollinator meadows, which bloomed for the first time this year. Walking trails in this meadow will open to the public in the future.
Heritage Conservancy Land Conservation Manager Jim Drennan and Conservation Steward Tyler Kovacs offered tours of the property, showing guests the pollinator meadow and the natural features of this preserved property that make it such an important resource. They also talked about their stewardship of the property and the native plants, trees, and shrubs they have added as part of their management of the land.
Rich Zaveta was on hand at the newly repaired Russell-Mandel house, where his company made repairs and salvaged original materials to bring new life to the building. Rich worked closely with Heritage Conservancy to help preserve the historic integrity of the building. Stationed by the building’s massive stone fireplace for the event, he answered guests’ questions.
Dinner followed across the street, beside golden wheat fields. It was a picture-perfect evening, with comfortable temperatures, a clear blue sky, and gentle sunshine on the wheat fields. The event was moved up to June to avoid the peak July heat and humidity, and this also provided a longer stretch of daylight that lasted through dinner.
Jamie Hollander Catering & Events served guests fresh, local, seasonal fare under the lights of the tent. Friends connected in convivial conversation and heard more about Heritage Conservancy’s mission from board members and staff. This preceded the Farm to Table Mission Appeal, which raised $97,500, with donors raising paddles for various sums. (The Mission Appeal remains open until the end of June. Donate now.)
Heritage Conservancy would like to thank event sponsors for their generous support: Jamie Hollander Catering & Events; Ralph C Fey AIA Architects; Bucks Digital Printing; Fulton Bank; Holly Hedge Estate; Univest Banking, Insurance, Investments; Curtin & Heefner LLP; C&N Banking, Lending & Wealth Management; NJM Insurance Group; The Steve Darlington Team at Berkshire Hathaway/Fox & Roach; and Wehrung’s Lumber & Home Center.
Thank you to all guests and everyone who bid on auction items and supported the Farm to Table Mission Appeal. This supports our vital work in the community.
See the 2024 Farm to Table event program for more images and details.
All photos by Megan Close. Visit Megan’s website to see more photos.