Homegrown Happy Valley

Gary Landon, owner of Roly Poly (107 E. Beaver Ave.), has stopped making donations to non-profits. The small business owner simply can’t afford to be charitable in the midst of the economic crunch.  

 THON, however, is the exception. And the reason is very personal. 

One evening in December 1996, Landon’s wife rear-ended another car after skidding on ice. After Gary’s five-year-old stepson, Nate, began experiencing severe stomach pains, he was rushed to Mount Nittany Medical Center. Apparently, the seat belt had punctured Nate’s colon during the crash. The doctors repaired his colon, but discovered a small tumor during the surgery. Within a few days specialists diagnosed neuro-blastoma, a common childhood cancer. 

How much chocolate are you making?

Right now we are going through anywhere between 1,000 to 1,300 pounds of chocolate each day.

Do you enjoy this season, or is it overwhelming?

I love seeing everyone walk out of here with a smile on their face.

What’s your favorite item?

I love all of it. And I love seeing all of it go out the door.

You must get some interesting insights into relationships this time of year.

Hoo Do You Love cookies

Do the dark and dreary days of winter have you feeling down?  Order some sugar cookies from Flour Box Bakery and you’ll have something to smile about.

Anne Yorks, owner of Flour Box Bakery, prides herself on her fun, whimsical cookie designs.  She started the business in 2007 after becoming a stay-at-home mom. Her passion for baking flourished, and she soon realized she could have her “cookie” and eat it too.

Anne makes cookies for all occasions, including princess-themed birthdays (she made pink tiara cookies for my daughter when she turned 3). Speaking from experience, her cookies taste as delicious as they look.

Check out our new promotional video put together by one of our interns. Get a taste of what Homegrown Happy Valley is all about, as well as our goals for the future.

This week, Pennsylvania foodies are hitting the classroom. The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture’s 19th Annual Farming for the Future Conference began Wednesday, with workshops on everything from composting to rebuilding our local food system. We spoke to Kristin Leitzel Hoy, Conference Program Coordinator, about the event’s significance.

Can you put the conference in the context of the local food movement?

Want to get creative this Valentine’s Day? Talk to Janet Robinson, creator of The Piper’s Peck. Her small business makes delicious alternatives to chocolate and candy hearts: jams, jellies, salsa and fudge with a kick from her homegrown hot peppers.

I don’t even like really spicy food, but I’m hooked on Robinson’s products. Her delectable peppery fudge reminds me of Juliette Binoche’s character in Chocolat serving hot chocolate spiked with chili pepper. Her Raspberry Chipotle jam turns my PB&J into a sophisticated sandwich. And her Hot Pepper Jelly is my new favorite snack food—I prefer it on crackers, with or without cream cheese.