With the courage to strike out on a path of purpose, Harold “Tim” and Grace Lefever were ahead of their time when they founded Sonnewald (Pennsylvania Dutch for “Sunny Forest”) with a humanitarian vision 75 years ago. Their vision included a better way of life for all through peacebuilding and the exploration of every aspect of regenerative living. They championed the virtues of organic food in the community before it was cool.

 

Tim was hired by Westinghouse in the 1940s after studying electrical engineering at Penn State and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He remained true to his values of peace and resigned when assigned to a likely war-related security project, giving up a potentially very lucrative career and a draft deferment. As a conscientious objector, he was sentenced to two years in prison.

 

 While serving his time, he met other conscientious objectors and was exposed to vegetarianism, organic farming and homesteading. Upon completing his sentence, 60 acres of farmland was purchased and named Sonnewald. Inspired by solar research being done at MIT, Tim built what is believed to be Pennsylvania’s first passive, solar-style home as a reflection of his newfound purpose to live more gently on the Earth. He started growing wheat for Walnut Acres, America’s original organic brand. He also sold organic soil amendments and fertilizers.

 

Grace and Tim were married in 1955. He gave his new wife a stone mill so she could grind grain and prepare wholesome foods. Word spread of this most unusual wedding gift, and Grace began grinding whole wheat flour for their pastor’s wife and other friends. The mill was located in a corner of the laundry room next to some pantry shelves containing the family’s bulk supply of nuts, seeds and dried fruit. Friends stopping by for flour asked if they could buy a pound or two of the dry goods. This was the early, unintentional beginning of Sonnewald Natural Foods.

 

 They also contributed a few farm products and natural food items to an organic farm stand at the historic Penn Street Farmers’ Market, in downtown York. The homestead continued to expand with the addition of fruit trees, berry bushes, grapevines, beehives, chickens, a pond and the beginnings of a multi-generational community. In the 1960s, the mill and dry goods were moved into a small corner of a new building that was built to accommodate Sonnewald Service, Tim’s plumbing and electrical business.

 

During the back-to-the-land movement, people interested in self-sufficient lifestyles were drawn to Sonnewald, where they could learn a wide variety of homesteading skills. The Lefever family also participated in the Fresh Air Program that welcomed inner-city children to spend time in nature.

 

Tim and Grace shared the same passions and actively participated in numerous peace, wellness and sustainable agriculture groups. He formed the York Organic Association, which later became the York Natural Food & Health Association. After attending a national seminar, Tim and Paul Keene, of Walnut Acres, founded the Pennsylvania chapter of Natural Foods Associates. This organization eventually became the Pennsylvania Natural Living Association. Both of these organizations shared healthy living information for decades.

 

Grace’s quest for knowledge and passion for sharing what she was learning qualified her to be a very effective teacher on many aspects of personal and planetary health. She began leading Weed Walks on the Sonnewald property in the 1970s, and continued to do so for more than 40 years. This tradition inspired and educated thousands of people about nature’s nutritional and medicinal bounty. She enthusiastically shared her knowledge with the community through demonstrations, workshops, lectures and appearances on several local television shows.

 

The Lefevers’ boots-on-the-ground activism is a legacy that continues today with their daughter, Willa Lefever, and her husband, Bill Kaiser. “There are different ways of doing things,” explains Willa. “My parents truly believed good health comes from the farm, not the pharmacy, which continues to be our motto today. Their pioneering spirit is a testament to what can be accomplished by people who truly believe they can change the world.”

 

Decades of commitment and perseverance can create long-reaching ripples of impact. Organic food went from unknown, to fringe, to mainstream and now is a prerequisite for many. In some sense, the term has become so commercially valuable that it’s been co-opted by Big Ag, and now regenerative is the new organic.

 

Sonnewald has been growing deep roots in the community since 1945, inspiring others to join them in the pursuit of peace, justice and a better way of life for all. Leading by loving example, sharing nature’s knowledge, embracing hope and impacting lives with purpose; that’s the Sonnewald way.

 

Sonnewald Natural Foods is located at 4796 Lehman Rd., in Spring Grove. For more information, call 717-225-3825 or visit Sonnewald.org. See ad, back cover.

 

SIDEBAR

For the next five months, we will be featuring Sonnewald’s evolution into a multifaceted ecosystem in our Online Exclusive section. Readers can discover how a 75-year-old homestead, in Spring Grove became a regenerative living destination for our community and beyond.