Gerald “Jerry” Brunetti, 63, of Lower Mt. Bethel Twp., passed away peacefully on December 20, 2014, at St. Luke’s Hospice House, Bethlehem. Jerry was born December 28, 1950 in Easton, PA. He was the son of the late Aurelio “Rello” Brunetti and Rena Tarsi Brunetti. Jerry was a highly demanded lecturer and speaker, both nationally and internationally, on topics that included soil fertility, animal nutrition and livestock health. He passionately proclaimed to his audience the strong link between healthy soil, truly nutritious food, profitable farming and healthy communities.

Jerry studied Animal Science at North Carolina State University and then moved to western Virginia to run a cow/calf operation. He served as Regional Dairy Director of the National Famers Organization in the Northeast for five years. In 1979 he founded Agri-Dynamics, a business devoted to providing products and services for farmers practicing ecological and sustainable stewardship towards the earth. In 1991, Jerry co-founded Earthworks Natural Organic Products, which provides services and ecologically safe products to the golf course and landscaping industries. Jerry was active in community based organizations devoted to rebuilding local food systems and local democracy.

He founded and served on the Lower Mt. Bethel Township Environmental Advisory Council, was a board member of Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) and was an honorary board member of the Weston A. Price Foundation. In 2008, Jerry received the Leadership Award from PASA and the Eco-Agriculture Achievement Award from Acres USA. Jerry’s articles and DVD’s on farming, land stewardship and the environment were widely published by the agricultural community. He also authored The Farm as Ecosystem, which was published in 2013.

Per Jerry’s request, family and friends will hold an event in Spring 2015 celebrating Jerry’s life, accomplishments, and contributions to biological farming.

Jerry is survived by his partner, Regina Marinelli, his friend and former wife Sherrie Arant Brunetti, his beloved children, Donald “Chip” Black, of Lake Forest, California, Yuri Brunetti and his wife, Jennifer, of Easton, and Corey Brunetti and his partner, Monica Wolinski, of Easton. Jerry is also survived by his loving grandchildren; Sydney, and her partner Dallas Julian, Jacob, Gavin and Elena Brunetti, a great-granddaughter, Myla Julian, a brother, Ronald “Ron” Brunetti and his wife Joanne, of Covington, Virginia, a niece Carla Malitsch, and nephews, Erik, Brian, Dana and Alex Brunetti.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at 1:00 PM at the Finegan Funeral Home, 4080 William Penn Highway, Palmer Twp. Calling hours will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2014 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the funeral home. The family has requested that memorial gifts be directed to the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture.

Make checks payable to ‘PASA- Jerry Brunetti Memorial’ and mail to: PASA, P.O. Box 419, Millheim, PA 16854. Donations can also be made online at www.pasafarming.org/donate and fields allow those gifts to be earmarked as a memorial gift to Jerry as well. “The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope.” – Wendell Berry – See more at: http://obits.lehighvalleylive.com/obituaries/etpa/obituary.aspx?n=gerald-brunetti-jerry&pid=173573086&fhid=31073#sthash.hxc5nZLu.dpuf