Programs

  • Common Roots Farm Initiative

    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.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2021 – Jun 30, 2022
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $226.9K

  • Program 1 [2024]

    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 TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. OUR SALES OUTLETS INCLUDE A FARM SHARE/COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE SUBSCRIPTION (CSA) PROGRAM, A FARM STAND, WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTION OF SHELF-STABLE PRODUCTS.IN OUR MOST RECENT SEASON WE EMPLOYED TWO YOUNG MEN WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED INTERNSHIPS WITH COMMON ROOTS. WE PROVIDED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR OVER 200 PEOPLE, WITH A FOCUS ON SUPPORTING VOLUNTEERS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS IN PARTICIPATING IN OUR FARM OPERATION. WE OFFERED REGULAR, WEEKLY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES THROUGHOUT OUR FARM SEASON. 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. VOLUNTEERS ALSO ASSIST WITH FLOWER BOUQUET MAKING. WE HOSTED GROUPS FROM THREE OTHER NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO CAME TO USE OUR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE RAISED BED GARDEN WEEKLY, AND THEY SERVED 10-25 INDIVIDUALS EACH.WE HAVE INCREASED OUR STAFF TO INCLUDE A VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR WHO CONNECTS DIRECTLY WITH VOLUNTEERS, OFFERING THEM ORIENTATION AND TRAINING AS WELL AS SCHEDULING OF THEIR VOLUNTEER TIME AT THE FARM. WE CONTINUED TO SERVE 15-20 INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WHO ARRIVE WEEKLY THROUGHOUT OUR PRODUCTION SEASON TO LEARN AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR MARKET FARMING OPERATION.TWICE WEEKLY COMMON ROOTS SUPPORTS LOCAL POST SECONDARY STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO COME TO THE FARM TO LEARN BEGINNING VOCATIONAL SKILLS, INCLUDING HOW TO BE READY FOR A JOB, HOW TO COMPLETE A TIMESHEET, AND HOW TO ASK QUESTIONS OF A SUPERVISOR WHEN UNSURE ABOUT HOW TO PROCEED WITH ANY GIVEN TASK. THE FARM ALSO REGULARLY RESPONDS TO REQUESTS FOR FIELD TRIPS FOR YOUNGER PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO LIVE WITH DISABILITIES AND ARE IN SPECIAL DAY CLASSES. THESE CHILDREN ATTEND THE FARM WITH THEIR PARENTS AND SCHOOL TEACHERS AND AIDES TO EXPERIENCE OUR FARM, VISIT OUR ANIMALS, AND ENJOY OUR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE PICNIC AREA. WE ALSO ENGAGED 15-30 VOLUNTEERS EACH MONTH, HOSTING WORKDAYS ON THE FARM. DURING OUR MONTHLY WEEKEND WORKDAYS VOLUNTEERS ACCOMPLISH NUMEROUS FARM IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS STAINING OUR CHICKEN COOPS, REPAIRING SHEEP PENS, FILLING ACCESSIBLE RAISED BEDS WITH POTTING SPOIL, AND IMPROVING THE FARM'S GREENHOUSE AND ADJACENT OUTDOOR PLANT AREA USED FOR PROPAGATION AND PLANT SALE. THE FARM INCREASED ITS VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTION AND ADDED PRODUCTS TO OUR LINE. THE FARM'S VOLUNTEERS SUCCESSFULLY PRODUCED FOOD AND FLOWERS, FOR WEEKLY SHARES, TO 55 CUSTOMERS IN OUR 2023-24 SEASON.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $330.7K