Volunteers arrived with contributions to potluck in a downpour. Farmer John almost called it and sent us home. But, Debbie and I got busy in the greenhouse separting cabbage sprouts

Farmer John, looking worried about the weather. Most of us asked, "Since we are here what can we do?" And we all began other farm chores and about 30 minutes into that chore. The rain stopped. Famer John directed us to the field to plant 400 lbs of 5 different potato varitites. Kennebec, Yukon Gold, Purple Majesty, and German Butterball, just to name a few. Note: the 400 lbs of the seed potato were cut into pieaces to isolate the an eye of the potato where the plant begins to grow. And once cut it looks like dried up potato that belongs in the trash bin.

Still sprinkling out, loyal volunteer Matt Cunningham begins to hoe a furrow into the beds. The beds are 150 feet long and 3 feet wide and 1 pound of seed potato for one foot with a furough in the middle. The dried and cut up seed potato gets placed eye facing up every six inches in the furrow and then covered.

Can you say stooping, bending, squatting, or otherwise known as Garden Yoga? This is a skill of many volunteers and farmers. Pictured left is the greenhouse manager Marion in her "downward facing potato pose".

4 cut up seed potatoes 6 Inches apart

Potatoes in the ground, Time to EAT! Terry made delicious corned beef and cabbage. Also available,Potato salad, spinach and roasted beet salad, collcannon, assorted desserts, and even a guide to make your own Irish name. Farmer John's name, "Greenie Mc Spud"!!!

Thanks to The Farm to Fork Blog, I am here to tell my story:
I have been interested in gardening, farming, and the care of livestock, after I read the book by Barbara Kingsolver, Steven Hopp, And Camille Kingsolver, "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle", and "You Can Farm", by Joel Salatin. My husband and I immediately got involved with gardening our .10-acre to 8 x 32 feet of our very own food production. We also joined a Crop Mob. Which is an organized event in which landless farmers and the agricurious descend on a farm for a day supporting local farmers and sustainable agriculture. Creating a community of green-thumbed volunteers to empower and support local farmers through volunteerism. Working side-by-side farmers and consumers build a better relationship of understanding and trust. After one season, my husband and I became the volunteer organizers. The partnerships we have made within the community of consumers and farmers had me dreaming of other avenues and how to expand. My profession outside my volunteering and my degree is in Occupational Therapy (OT). This profession arouse, in part, from idle time in state facilities and many mentally ill patients (which we now call adults with disabilities). During this time gardening became a vocational way to pass the time, and subsequently became a treatment modality for state hospitals. To make this more clear and short explanation. I want to do both of the things I LOVE, my profession as an occupational therapist and garden/farm. HOW...you say?  Through supported employment, job coaching, and community options, I aim to bring the adults to the farm work. There are many opportunities on even a small farm that supported and meaningful employment can benefit our existing community. To reach my goal I started this business The Super Local Food Project LLC. I have two funding campaigns both are mentioned below. Restaurants and farmers are interested, I KNOW the general public also has a vested interest in healthy, fresh foods. But wouldn't it feel even better knowing that you can also help YOUR community in supported employment. As an example, I have a young man at an area high school (to remain nameless) that has never used a phone?  In my incredible job I was honored to teach him (I still have to pinch myself some days, I can't believe I am payed to do this!) This young man was beaming with PRIDE that he was able to not just communicate, but use technology. This business The Super Local Food Project is wholesale to restaurants from local farmers. Supported employment for adults with disabilities or adults on the medicaid waiver recieving services through our Community Services Board and Behavioral Health. Want to help reach my goal?