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Gamble Creek Farm is partnering with the New Gate-Field School next year to create something new—a sister farm program. This Sister Farm Program is an innovative approach to grow food for local families and incorporate the Maria Montessori vision of having students participate in a working farm.
The Sister Farm Program includes two components: a community supported agriculture (CSA) program where Gamble Creek Farm delivers freshly–harvested produce each week to the school, and a New Gate-Field School Community Garden in which the students can work and learn by growing on site. A CSA is gaining popularity around the country—you pre-pay for the produce, which sustainably supports the farm costs, connects you to the farm, and opens you to experiencing its joys and challenges. In addition to the CSA we will work together to build an on-campus experience for the students that incorporates a community garden. Over time, the Sister Farm Program will evolve to meet the needs and interests of the farm and New Gate Community.
This coming School Year—2010-2011
· Together develop a community garden that fits with existing efforts, educational goals and curriculum, and the school’s site and abilities.
· Deliver farm produce to the New Gate-Field School weekly at student pick-up time for families that choose to participate in the CSA memberships.
A CSA membership (also called share) is available in two sizes: Full (pick up every week) or Half (pickup every other week). CSA shares are one large box of fresh veggies (6-8 types) usually worth more than $30 from Gamble Creek Farm in Parrish with a newsletter, recipes and farm happenings. The farm produces both hydroponically-grown and organically-grown vegetables.* We need 40 families to join the CSA to begin the Sister Farm Program this fall to cover farm growing and delivery costs. Prices for the 28-week season are:
- Full Share (28 weeks) : $550 + a one-time delivery fee of $50
- Half Share (14 weeks) : $310 + a one-time delivery fee of $25
We are excited to pilot this program with the New Gate-Field School and know that the Montessori model is an excellent match for Gamble Creek Farm as a not-for-profit training farm. The Sister Farm Program will enhance the school, the farm, the students, and even be just simply convenient —pick up locally-grown vegetables when you pick up your child.
Click here to sign up for a New Gate-Field School CSA share
*The CSA share will consist of a mixture of hydroponically-grown and Certified Organic vegetables, as we have both types at Gamble Creek Farm. The hydroponically-grown crops are included to add more vegetables to your share, as many crops are too delicate to grow under Organic Certification rules in Florida soil. The hydroponically-grown crops need extra plant food in the little pots to get to harvest, but all other farming inputs are approved for use on Certified Organic production. If you have any questions about the difference between hydroponically-grown and Certified Organic production, call our office at 941-981-0111.