Growing a sustainable, local future
Eagle Mill Farm Education Project, covering 20-acres on the north end of Ashland, has been sprouting new seeds like the vegetable and herb plots that adorn it.
In early August, the farm began a Community Supported Agriculture program, where consumers can sign up for 12 weeks worth organic, freshly harvested produce. Members can also volunteer on the farm and help harvest their own produce. This is the first CSA in Ashland, and joins the farm's education programs and the McGowan Peace Garden.
Eagle Mill's CSA runs through the end of October, and the weekly produce boxes will satisfy a family of 2-3. The farm is a nonprofit and program Director Chris Ammon says that farm Manager Michael DiGiorgio is "using his creativity and ideas to make it more financially viable. A CSA is a great way to do that."
DiGiorgio sees the CSA as a means to "support local agriculture, preserve farmland and maintain local food production." With the average vegetable traveling thousands of miles to our dinner plates, local food is a delicious and sustainable option. Land adds that the program is unique because "our focus is on the kids. To me, there is nothing more amazing than seeing kids eat fresh food and connecting them with the origin of their food while supporting the local community."
Planting the Seeds
Ron Roth founded Eagle Mill Farm in the 1980s, offering free tours and a pumpkins to school groups. Education Program Director Timothy Land calls Roth a "visionary," who began with organic methods and an inspiration to build community around the farm. In 2000, Ammon established the nonprofit Eagle Mill Farm Education Project to support growing interest in the tours and ongoing educational programs. She helped secure funding, with the Ashland Food Co-op providing the first grant.
Ammon says "I believe gardening has a role in school curriculums. It's an education of the sights, smells and tastes that enhance our lives at a fundamental level. Gardening with kids and seeing the process through their eyes reminds me of how beautiful it is to harvest and eat food that you have had a part in growing. Farming has changed my life. To share this with tons of kids makes it even more special."
About 1,000 children take part in the farm's activities, from planting in the spring, composting year round, and harvesting and cooking in the fall. In the mid- to late summer after the children are gone their joyful presence is felt in handmade signs marking the "Rainbow Garden" and each row of ripening vegetables and herbs.
Children come from area public schools, Lithia Springs, Community Works, Kids Unlimited the Siskiyou School and other groups. Groups often carry out activities that tie curriculum topics to farming, such as measuring plot areas or doing creative writing about the farm. "This place is like a canvas," says Land. "We love working with each group to help create a program for them"
Potential
Looking toward the future, Eagle Mill's staff see even greater potential for its role as an educational tool and community center as well as its productivity and financial viability.
DiGiorgio and Land hope to redo the kitchen area so children can participate more in cooking their harvest, set up shade structures to make the farm more inviting in the summer, establish a greenhouse and put in a winter garden. Volunteers and interns are always needed, and welcome to lend a hand with planting, composting, harvesting, educational programs, special projects and general operations.
The CSA still has memberships available and filling them is a current focus. "Since we're just starting out, we can be flexible and that makes the program nice," says DiGiorgio. "We want to create this program together with out members."
As development increases, the importance of maintaining the land itself becomes more central. Ammon says "Ron (Roth) would like to see the farm become more community-owned. He is concerned about preserving the farm and its role in the community for the future." One of Ammon's own "ultimate dreams" is "to see the farm more connected to the community and the local schools. Wouldn't it be great if local farms grew food for school cafeterias?"
All of these plans will take ongoing funding. Program staff hope that more of this will come from the CSA, growers' markets and sales to local stores and restaurants. However, given that these programs are new, grants and donations remain a central need, along with volunteers. This year, an anonymous donor provided funding to cover DiGiorgio's position through the fall. "We're hoping something like that is ongoing," says DiGiorgio.
Anyone interested in joining the CSA or getting involved can call 481-2424 or email emfep@yahoo.com.
Photo Captions (suggest choosing 2 of 3 to keep text length as is)
EagleMillKidPumpkin (submitted, will get photog name)
An educational program participant reveling in her pumpkin.
EagleMillMichaelTimothy (Melissa Schweisguth)
Michael DiGiorgio and Timothy Land manage the farm and its educational programs.
EagleMillSquash (Melissa Schweisguth)
Children's signs mark the season's harvest.
