On Monday, July 10, ten teenagers gathered at Cow Track Ranch
to help with weeding, prepping beds, cleaning garlic and any other
task that might be helpful to farmer Liz Daniels. The program
is part of a partnership launched this summer between Marin Organic
and the Marin Conservation Corps’ Project ReGeneration.
A summer youth community service and
environmental education program, Project ReGeneration works with
youths ages 11-17 to instill an ethic of service, make positive
changes, enable the youth to gain a deeper understanding of environmental
issues and provide an opportunity for them to work together with
a diverse group of people.
For Marin Organic member farmers, the partnership has meant a
much appreciated injection of hands-on help from enthusiastic
youth interested in supporting local producers. “The farmers
love it,” Marin Organic Program Associate said Paige Phinney,
who has helped to organize the workdays. “They’ve
been really impressed with the quality of the work.”
Project ReGeneration helped at Worsley Farms in Point Reyes
on June 26th , Clark Summit Farm in Tomales on July 24th and Fresh
Run Farm in Bolinas on July 31st. “The partnership has been
more successful than we ever thought possible,” Phinney
said. “It has provided a whole new avenue for us to help
our farmers, and the partnership with Marin Conservation Corp,
who is doing such amazing work, is something we’ve wanted
for a long time.” The partnership is part of a larger effort
on Marin Organic's part to develop a volunteer task force that
will help local organic farmers with anything from rebuilding
ponds to building compost piles.
Click here for more information
about how you can help volunteer.
The next opportunity to volunteer on a farm is August 5 at Paradise
Valley Produce from 10 am-2 pm, with a picnic lunch to celebrate
at 2. To register to participate, please contact the Marin Organic
office at 415-663-9667 – please come lend a hand!
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