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This fundraiser will outreach to students from grade school through college, as well as the general public throughout the Greater Wenatchee Valley.
The funds will be used to purchase:
– 2+ acres of arable land
– one barn and one outbuilding
– picnic tables and benches for seminars/lectures
– tools/materials for participants
– materials for volunteer farmers’ market stand and membership dues
Farm participants will benefit from:
– experience in growing sustainable organic produce
– learning agriculture full-circle, from seed germination to harvest to marketing
– managing animals
– conserving natural resources
– establishing connections with a supportive agricultural community
We hope to purchase the land by 2020, and also establish farm infrastructure during 2020. Once initiated, the farm will be financially sustained by providing non-profit revenue from market sales, on-site sales, and farm services.
Support for this project will foster community values and meaningful pass-times for young and old alike. The assured outcome of community farming is a increased physical, mental, and social health. The Greater Wenatchee area has many wonderful educators and farmers who need this avenue to jump start community involvement and accelerate locally sustainable production.
We are in the process of brainstorming with local food health and farm-to-table leaders, Wenatchee School Boards, Food Service Coordinators, Hospitality Ministries, parents, teachers, and students to bring this project to fruition.
Funding for WEF (after the initial costs covered by this campaign) will likely be afforded 20% by Wenatchee Public Schools, 50% by farm production revenue (a large portion of goods will also be donated to school cafeterias), and 30% by grant (eg. Bullitt Fund).
WEF will provide farming, food, and environmental education in an outdoor classroom through hands-on education. Students will see farming as a real career, while providing food for cafeterias, food banks, direct market sales, and CSA members. Alternative sources of revenue will derive from contract grows for schools, summer lunch programs, discounted sales to food banks and soup kitchens.
Further student involvement would include a Friday take-home-food program, culinary classes with produce from WEF, starting and continuing school gardens, and curriculum through Classroom in Bloom.
We will teach biointensive, organic farming methods to hired high-school students during the summer. Also, hire one, 30-40 hr/wk Farm Manager/Coordinator, and two, 20 hr/wk Farm Assistants/Teachers.
Schools Benefit:
– Fresh, healthy produce grown specific to order
– Beautify school grounds
– Well rounded students
Kids Benefit:
– Become more food secure by learning to produce their food
– Job training
– Connecting learning to real-life situations
– More time spent outdoors and strengthening bodies through physical movement
– Will eat more vegetables and fruits when they participate in the process
Community Benefits:
– A more food secure community
– Classroom for Continuing Education classes
– Food provided to low-income and food needy families
– Kids provided with healthy food on non-school days
– After school program and positive pass-time
– Fresh, nutrient rich food for food banks
That’s all for now!
We will continue to update you on the progress every week.
Please like, share, and/or donate to the cause, and help us to make this necessary project a reality!
Please contact us for more info at: wenedfarm@yahoo.com