Thank you!

In the meantime, online bidding is still open for our auction.  Check out www.biddingforgood.com

If you know a high school student who might be interested in participating in this program, please email us at needhamfarm@rcn.com or leave a comment below and we’ll be sure to send you more information when it becomes available. In the meantime, a big thank you to the NEF for funding this amazing program!

The NCF was able to purchase the materials for the beds – lumber and hardware – and the compost to fill them, thanks to a Needham Education Foundation (NEF) grant. This grant will also fund program development to be implemented in partnership with the Needham Public Schools.  The NCF Board is so appreciative of NEFs support.

Many thanks to Whole Foods at Legacy Place for donating refreshments for our hard working volunteers. And, special thanks to Garret Graham Jr. of the Needham Garden Center and Richard Greenleaf for being such supportive community members and for their willingness to help when we needed it.

One of the primary objectives of the Needham Community Farm is to build community.  This weekend we began to do just that.  We brought community members of all ages and backgrounds together to create something for all of us.  We had fun, met new people, worked hard, and accomplished something tangible.  Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers for making the Needham Community Farm kick-off such a great success.

The NCF is a volunteer run 501(c)3 non-profit, community organization which was established to create a center for environmental education in Needham. The NCF focuses on sustainable farming as a method of educating children and adults, connecting them with the environment and encouraging a more sustainable lifestyle.

The new location, which is often referred to as the former Nike site, has not been utilized for many years. The NCF will have its work cut out for it as it prepares and cultivates the land so that produce can be grown and harvested on the site using organic farming methods.

In the meantime, the NCF will begin developing curriculum in partnership with the Needham Public Schools, giving students a unique opportunity to be actively involved from the very beginning of the endeavor. The curriculum development is being made possible through an Needham Education Foundation (NEF) Large Grant. The grant funds will also be used to build the raised beds at the site and to purchase tools to get the program up and running.

In addition to school day programming, the NCF plans to offer children’s summer and after school programs, as well as year round adult and intergenerational classes and activities.

The NCF Board has been advocating for a community farm and outdoor education center for the past four years. NCF President, Debbie Schmill, was very excited about the Needham Public School’s decision: “Being awarded the Nike license is an enormous step toward realizing our educational mission. We are thrilled about this opportunity to enhance our already strong relationship with the Needham Public Schools and look forward to forging an equally beneficial relationship with Needham residents of all ages and interests.”

For more information about the NCF and for ways to become involved, please visit the website at www.needhamfarm.org.

NCF has decided to start blogging! We hope to share news about our farming and education programs as well as thoughts from our own volunteers about the future of sustainable organic farming. Stay tuned!