Featured photo, from left: BCFS Executive Director Mary Mitchell; Award Recipient Chris Tower; BCFS Farm Manager Dorothy Barnes.
The 2020 harvest is in at The Farm at the Food Shelf and it was an outstanding year, according to a release.
Despite challenges involving the loss of volunteer groups and organizations due to COVID-19, nearly 15,000 pounds of produce was harvested for area families, a new record for the farm.
“It was devastating to realize that we were not going to get any of our usual volunteer groups,” said Farm Manager Dorothy Barnes. “AmeriCorps and YouthWorks were especially helpful because there were so many young people and they worked hard and accomplished a lot.”
BCFS Staff let the community know of its need for Farm volunteers through social media and other means, and many members of the community contributed.
“These folks were there from planting through harvest, so they truly saw ‘the fruits of their labor,’” said Mitchell.
“This gave them a special sense of pride and ownership that other groups may not have experienced.”
This year’s crops included rhubarb, tomatoes, squash, onions, greens, cabbage, potatoes, green beans and peppers. Asparagus, apple trees, and grapevines were planted this year for future harvests.
Each year, BCFS presents the Friend of the Farm Award to an individual who has made major contributions to the success of the Farm.
This year’s recipient is Chris Tower, a member of the Farm Vision Committee, who this year constructed raised beds and designed and created a large pollinator rain garden.
