Here’s to Our First Year…
and all those who helped make it happen!
As December nears its end, we are taking stock of our first year at Good Heart Farmstead. From fire to rain to summer sun, one thing is certain: the community that has sprung up around the farm is truly the heart of Good Heart. We are infinitely grateful to all those who donated in the spring after our neighbor’s barn burned down, grateful for our CSA members who let us grow for them all spring, summer and fall, grateful for the volunteers who came to help in the field and do chores in the first weeks after Waylon was born, and grateful for those who came to help raise the new barn, which will be our farm store, food storage, and office space. So much to give thanks for!
Our mission here at Good Heart Farmstead is to grow healthy, whole foods and to make them available to people of all income levels, increasing the accessibility of local food to low-income Vermonters. In 2013, we were able to subsidize 5 shares, and thanks to a donated share, we supplied the Worcester Food Shelf Community Lunch with fresh greens each week through the summer season. As we move into 2014, we hope to reach more low-income community members with fresh, local food. Next year, we will be accepting 3SquaresVT EBT cards (food stamps) to help increase access to CSA shares.
We are also continuing our partnership with NOFA’s Vermont Farm Share Program, which helps subsidize CSA shares. For every dollar Good Heart raises, NOFA will match us (*up to $750), and the result allows us to offer shares up to 50% off for income-eligible Vermonters. As we approach the year’s end, please consider giving a tax-deductible donation to the Farm Share Program. You can donate online (please be sure to specify Good Heart Farmstead in the “Farm Share Designation” box) or mail a check made out to NOFA-VT Farm Share Program with Good Heart Farmstead in the memo.
Another way to give is through the Good Heart Fund. This fund allows you to give directly to the farm in order to support a sliding scale for low-income CSA members. The Good Heart Fund creates a stable, long term fund to support access to local food for low-income community members from season to season. Donations to this fund are not tax-deductible, but are deposited in a separate Good Heart Fund account. To donate, make checks out to Good Heart Farmstead with “Good Heart Fund” in the memo. Any amount makes a difference, and we greatly appreciate your support in growing a healthy community!
As we enter January we will be busy pouring over seed catalogs and planning for next season. 2014 CSA shares are available now–see our CSA page for more information! May your new year be filled with joy, peace and plenty of good food.
Cheers,
Katie and Edge