Details trickle in...

Just a short little update tonight:

I continue to gather more specifics about my job placement in Natick. The more I learn about it, the more I get excited!

This placement seems to be tailored to my learning goals and skill/knowledge set.


Placement with Hartford Street Presbyterian Chuch: Natick, MA

• The garden project at the moment is being coordinated through the city's "Open Space Committee" 
• Church is currently trying to get a group together to clear some land and at least create some gardens for the spring.
• A good portion of the congregation is from Cameroon in West Africa- the church is interested in some of these members having plots with gardens where they could grow some of their native crops. There are projects in the area that have immigrants growing native crops from their country and selling them through local markets and making a good living.

In the land of subrban shopping, there appeared a farm...

I come bearing fantastic news!

I have learned that I will be serving in my first choice job placement! Hooray!

My job placement is for someone with a very specific knowledge and skill set. Luckily I have been working with the wonderful folks at Broadfork Farm this summer and what I've learned there is exactly what I need to fulfill the needs of this particular placement. Isn't it amazing how things work out!?

Just west of Boston lies the town of Natick, MA which is known for its malls and shopping (I had to laugh at the fact that I will be working in a town known for shopping and my tolerance for shopping is about 3 hours, if you're lucky). Within this small, suburban community is a church named Hartford Street Presbyterian Church and they have a long standing emergency food pantry on the church's property. I am charged with zoning and developing a community garden, on church grounds, that will supply the food pantry with fresh produce. The pantry is stocked with canned and boxed goods but the church would like to offer fresh produce to those who use the pantry. I have also mentioned that I would like to start educational work days for youth and school groups in the area. My hopes are to host groups of youth for a few hours a day and teach them about plants from seeding to harvesting. In return for their time in the dirt I hope to send them home with some produce to share with their families. By teaching youth about urban agriculture and supplying the pantry with healthy produce, I will attempt to combat hunger from two sides- education and assistance.

These are goals for just 1 year but I think I can accomplish them or at least get the ball rolling.
*Please hold me accountable if I'm 6-8 months in and haven't written a post about starting or hosting a youth event.

Thoughts, prayers, good vibes are always appreciated.

With a thankful heart,
~Kathleen