by Booka Alon
The Hayes Valley Farm was awarded a generous community Challenge Grant from the Department of the Environment on October 14th. On November 14, with support from the help of 288 individual donors across the country, the farm raised $22,600, surpassing the initial request by $2,000 on Kickstarter. com. The funds will go to new education programs and will ensure the farm can widen its reach to a more diverse spectrum of people, as well as serve the greater community by opening its gates more days each week. The farm is continuing to raise funds for their 2011 Operations Plan, and is preparing to launch some highly anticipated Winter Education Course Offerings, including fruit tree grafting and compost tea recipes. On November 30, 2010, Pesticide Watch held a press conference at Hayes Valley Farm, featuring speakers Melanie Nutter, of the Department of the Environment and Francesca Vietor, President of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The event outlined reports by fifty scientists – including five Nobel Laureates- condemning the use of the cancer-causing pesticide methyl iodide and its dangerous implications.
Hayes Valley Farm raises $22,660 in 45 days on Kickstarter.com.
The funds will be used for new education programs and to build infrastructure for 2011, image courtesy Booka Alon
Hayes Valley Farm will host its first ever Winter Wonderfarm, a seasonal day camp for kids ages three to thirteen, December 20th-23rd and December 27th- 30th. We are joined by local artists, musicians, worm enthusiasts, soil scientists, chefs and bakers. We invite our youth to experience the magical interconnections of the natural world, directly taste, smell and engage in urban transformation, community building and collaboration in an effort to create a holistic and meaningful experience for kids during winter break. Scholarships are available. For registration and scholarship information go to https://www. hayesvalleyfarm.com/winter-wonderfarm.
We need your carbon. Please give us your cardboard, holiday wrapping and packaging (non glossy) so we can layer it in our compost bins and veggie beds. To sign up for our newsletter, send an email to newsletter@hayesvalleyfarm.com