of nuts, seeds and dried fruit. Friends stop- ping by for flour asked if they could buy a pound or two of the dry goods. Tis was the early, unintentional beginning of Son- newald Natural Foods. Tey also contributed a few farm
Sonnewald Natural Foods store entrance
Sonnewald’s Legendary Path of Purpose
by Gisele Siebold W
ith the cour- age 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 hu- manitarian vision 75 years ago. Teir vision included a better way of life for all through peacebuilding and the explo- ration of every aspect of regenerative living. Tey championed the virtues of organic food in the community before it was cool. Tim was hired by Westinghouse
in the 1940s aſter studying electrical engineering at Penn State and the Mas- sachusetts 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 draſt 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 sen- tence, 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
12 South Central PA
NaturalCentralPA.com
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 or- ganic soil amendments and fertilizers. Grace and Tim were
Tim and Grace Lefever (1922-2014) 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 wed- ding giſt, and Grace began grinding whole wheat flour for their pastor’s wife and other friends. Te mill was located in a corner of the laundry room next to some pantry shelves containing the family’s bulk supply
products and natural food items to an organic farm stand at the historic Penn Street Farmers’ Market, in downtown York. Te 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 accommo- date Sonnewald Service, Tim’s plumbing and electrical business. During the back-to-the-land move-
ment, people interested in self-sufficient lifestyles were drawn to Sonnewald, where they could learn a wide variety of home- steading skills. Te 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 pas-
sions and actively participated in numerous peace, wellness and sustainable agriculture groups. He formed the York Organic Asso- ciation, which later became the York Natural Food & Health Association. Aſter attending a national seminar, Tim and Paul Keene, of Walnut Acres, founded the Pennsylvania chapter of Natural Foods Associates. Tis or- ganization eventually became the Pennsylva- nia Natural Living Association. Both of these organizations shared healthy living informa-
First passive solar home in Pennsylvania
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