Conservation-minded to the core, more than 300 people attended Brandywine in White at Chadds Peak Farm in Pennsbury Township on Saturday, Aug. 27, motivated by a desire to protect Barnard’s Orchard from development.
Vince Moro, who organized the apple-themed, pop-up gala with his girlfriend, Elizabeth Roche, said preliminary figures indicated that the event would easily attain its mission: closing the funding gap for an agricultural conservation easement for the beloved orchard in Newlin Township.
The Land Conservancy (TLC) for Southern Chester County has been closing in on the $901,000 needed for the easement, which will keep the family-owned 1862 orchard from turning into a subdivision.
“Elizabeth and Vince really know how to throw a party for a great cause,” said Gwen Lacy, TLC’s executive director. ‘We are confident, once we run the numbers, that we’ll have reached our goal.”
Lacy said she was gratified by the outpouring of support – many guests, all elegantly attired in white, said they attended because Barnard’s Orchard has played such a positive role in the community for so long. Describing “the amazingly positively-charged atmosphere,” Lacy said the evening represented a great tribute to Barnard’s, the community, and conservation.
Ann Salisbury of Pocopson Township, who was accompanied by Laurie Hailey of Newlin, and Nicole Ellis and Bernie Hutchison, both of Pocopson, expressed the sentiments of many of the first-time guests. “It’s such a great cause that we wanted to participate,” Salisbury said.
Mindy Rhodes, an artist who operates Whisper Winds Studios in West Bradford Township, said she heard about the effort through a relative, mentioned it to some other people, and suddenly a group formed to share a table. “Everyone seemed to have a connection,” she said. “It was six degrees of separation.”
Richard and Maryann Schaftlein described themselves as “big-time customers” of Barnard’s. They are also volunteers at TLC so there was no way they were going to miss the event, they said, in between greeting attendees at the entrance.
Lacy said the conservancy, which has received numerous calls and messages from area residents about their fond memories of the orchard, appreciated the outpouring of support. She also voiced gratitude to Lewis Barnard for helping to ensure that the property would retain its agricultural roots for generations to come.
She said Barnard attended the event in spirit. “He’s actually still out in the field working, but he gave us all of these great photos to display,” Lacy said, pointing to several easels with historic images.
Moro and Roche said they were thrilled with the turnout. “People came from everywhere: Kennett, Chadds Ford, Unionville, West Chester, Main Line, Wilmington and a group of about 30 from Philadelphia,” said Moro.
He said they were so determined to raise enough funds that they added a couple of elements to the evening. Chinese lanterns and floating candles were sold and then displayed over the farm’s large pond, adding a festive, magical glow to the atmosphere. In addition, the pair created a silent auction item called "Deck The Halls at Rebel Hall," a holiday dinner for eight guests and eight courses paired with eight wines at Roche’s historic Kennett home.
Moro said they had hoped to get $800 for the dinner, but two rival bidders pushed the cost up to $1,575. The losing bidder offered to pay his amount if the couple would prepare a second dinner, and another $1,500 was raised.
The Brandywine in White concept received its inspiration from French En Blanc dinners, which involve a gourmet meal in elegant surroundings with a like-minded crowd interested in benefiting nonprofits, Moro said. He said after failing to get tickets to a sold-out Philadelphia version of the event – Diner en Blanc – several years ago, he decided to create his own – a decision TLC is applauding.
Lacy said she hoped the momentum for conservation generated by Brandywine in White would continue.
“There are at least three other farms that do not get the support or attention necessary to make a family, (many of whom may have moved from the area and have no tie to the land) whole financially, and therefore they succumb to development,” she said, adding that two other projects that will need funding are in the works.
To learn more about The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County, visit http://tlcforscc.org.
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