Common Roots Farm

TO PROVIDE FARM-BASED EMPLOYMENT SKILLS TRAINING AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN AN INCLUSIVE SEETING OF AN URBAN FARM.

COMMON ROOTS FARM'S MISSION IS TO BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES TO GROW HEALTHY FOOD, BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS, AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THAT SUSTAIN EVERYONE. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS BY OPERATING A PRODUCTION FARM GROWING 25+ FOOD CROPS AND 30+ FLOWER VARIETIES FOR SALE DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC. WE OFFER INTERNSHIPS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, HOST EDUCATIONAL FARM-BASED WORK DAYS, AND HOST SOCIAL EVENTS TO HELP BREAK THE ISOLATION SO COMMON WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC. OUR SALES OUTLETS INLCUDE A COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE SUBSCRIPTION (CSA) PROGRAM, A FARM STAND AND A VALUE ADDED PRODUCTION OF SHELF-STABLE PRODUCTS.IN OUR 2019 SEASON WE HOSTED FOUR TRAINEES FOR AN IN DEPTH EXPERIENCE ON THE FARM, INLCUDING TWO INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILIITES. WE ALSO PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT TO TWO INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. WE PROVIDED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR OVER 100 PEOPLE, WITH A FOCUS ON SUPPORTING VOLUNTEERS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS IN PARTICIPATING IN OUR FARM OPERATION. WE ASSISSTED 15-20 REGULAR, WEEKLY VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, MOST OF WHOM ARE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. OUR VOLUNTEERS ASSISTED WITH ALL ASPECTS OF OUR PRODUCTION, INCLUDING WORKING IN OUR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE GREENHOUSE TO PROPAGATE SEEDS AS WELL AS PLANTING, TENDING, HARVESTING AND DISTRIBUTING FOOD AND FLOWER CROPS IN OUR FIELDS. VOLUNTEERS ALSO ASSIST WITH ANIMAL CARE, EGG COLLECTION AND PACKING AND BOUQUET MAKING. WE HOSTED GROUPS FROM TWO OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO CAME TO USE OUR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE RAISED BED GARDEN WEEKLY, AND THEY SERVED 6-10 INDIVIDUALS EACH.IN OUR 2020 SEASON, WE BUILT UPON THE SUCCESSES OF PREVIOUS YEARS BY EXPANDING OUR VOLUNTEER SLOTS, OUR CSA CUSTOMER BASE, AND OUR SURPLUS PRODUCE DONATION PROGRAM TO OUR LOCAL PARTNER NON-PROFITS ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE CONTINUED TO SERVE 15-20 INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WEEKLY THROUGHOUT OUR PRODUCTION SEASON WHO CAME TO LEARN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR OPERATION. COVID CAUSED THE TWO PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY USED OUR RAISED BED GARDEN TO CANCEL THEIR OUTINGS. HOWEVER,OUR FARM CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT COVID-SAFE MASKING, DISTANCING AND VACCINE REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE OFFERING VOLUNTEER AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS INTERNSHIPS, AT THE FARM.WE CONTINUED TO EMPLOY TWO YOUNG MEN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES WHO CAME ON REGULAR FIELD TRIPS TO THE FARM. WE ALSO ENGAGED OVER 100 VOLUNTEERS IN A SERIES OF MONTHLY WORKDAYS ON THE FARM, ACCOMPLISHING NUMEROUS INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS BUILDING ANIMAL PENS, COVERING ANIMAL FEED, INSTALLING A SHADE STRUCTURE, BUILDING ACCESSIBLE RAISED BEDS AND IMPROVING THE FARM'S GREENHOUSE AND ADJACENT OUTDOOR PLANT AREA USED FOR PROPOGATION AND PLANT SALE. THE FARM INCREASED ITS VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTION AND ADDED PRODUCTS TO OUR LINE AND ENGAGED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE LABELING AND PACKING PROCESS. RELATIONSHIPS WERE BUILT WITH LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL AND POST SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS SERVING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES SO THAT, POST-PANDEMIC, STUDENTS COULD RETURN AND FIND ENGAGING FARM-BASED, OUTDOOR EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AT COMMON ROOTS. THE FARM'S VOLUNTEERS SUCCESSFULLY PRODUCED FOOD AND FLOWERS, FOR WEEKLY SHARES, TO 50 CUSTOMERS IN OUR 2020 SEASON.