Needham Community Farm is Giving Back

The following press release was sent by the Needham Community Farm:

The Needham Community Farm (NCF) is offering a new way to give back to the community. In an effort to increase their fresh produce donations to local food pantries, the NCF has begun a garden bed sponsorship program. Residents, local organizations and businesses can sponsor 1/4, 1/2 or an entire bed, and all the produce harvested will be donated to families in need. Garden signs will be placed at each bed to recognize the sponsors’ generosity.

Food access has been a priority for the Needham Community Farm since the organization began running educational programs and growing produce in 2008. Each season, the NCF has donated a portion of their harvest to the Needham Community Council Food Pantry. The NCF is committed to meeting the rising, significant need to get healthy produce to lower income families and plans to substantially increase their donations next year.

NCF president, Debbie Schmill, is confident that the community will step-up to fund this initiative. “Needham has many caring, generous people who understand how important it is to have access to healthy food. I believe residents will support the Farms’ efforts to provide more high quality, fresh produce to families in need in our community.”

In addition to food donations, the NCF is planning to offer cooking workshops for pantry constituents. “The Farm donated a lot of kale in 2012 but we quickly realized that many people did not know what to do with it. In response, we plan to offer free seasonal cooking workshops to demonstrate how to use the produce we donate.”

Anyone interested in participating in the Needham Community Farm sponsorship program can learn more by going to their website, www.needhamfarm.org. Sponsors and other community members are also welcome to participate in the pantry harvest, when the time comes.