RUTLAND — Overlook FARM has grown, having been planted as a concept and flourishing over the past year.
Carrying on an educational mission similar to that once conducted by Heifer International at the Rutland site of the Williams family farm, Overlook FARM uses part of the original location at 216 Wachusett St.
Starting with a few small programs, the effort has expanded.
“In our first full year of operation, we’ve had some exciting successes in hiring two part-time staff who have helped to expand both the garden and our educational opportunities,” Executive Director Jamie Aspenson said. “To date, our garden has produced over 600 pounds of produce for donation to local food pantries,” up from just over 100 pounds in 2021.
About two-thirds of the produce has gone to the Rutland Council on Aging, and the rest to the Templeton, Rutland, and Wachusett food pantries.
“Programmatically, we’ve continued offering our preschool program, Seedlings, and have expanded to include additional family programs and workshops for adults,” Aspenson said.
Assistance has come from various groups.
“We received a grant from the Health Equity Partnership of North Central Massachusetts to work with the third-grade science classes at Glenwood Elementary School,” Aspenson said.
“Our education and program coordinator, Amber Cardwell, went into the classrooms once a month, March to May, to teach lessons around soil science, plants and growing food. The pilot program culminated in June with a field trip to Overlook FARM, where the entire grade participated in a day of activities and fun in the garden. We hope to continue this work year after year with the third grade, and possibly expanding to other schools.”
Support has included grants from America’s Farmers Grow Communities program, the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, the Fred Harris Daniels Foundation, the Charles Farnsworth Trust, KidsGardening. org, the Arthur Ashley Williams Foundation, Baystate Savings Foundation, and the Frances Dewing Foundation.
“Working on the values that good food is good health, and both are human rights, this support has allowed our organization to focus on our goals of connecting the community to the food system through education and growing food for donation,” Aspenson said.
“The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Food Security Infrastructure Grant provided us with funding to purchase a high tunnel greenhouse to expand our growing season, a refrigerator to keep harvested produce fresh until donation dates, irrigation supplies, and other equipment that will assist in our continued expansion into 2023.
“Generous support from these foundations, along with folks in the community who have attended events (and) programs, and make financial contributions, is vital to our continued success as a very young nonprofit. We feel so fortunate to be welcomed by the community and sharing space with Lilac Hedge Farm as we continue establishing ourselves as a community resource in Central Massachusetts,” she said.
“Looking forward to the fall, we are excited to host our second annual Fall Fest, a fun, family event with free admission and opportunities to support the farm while celebrating the season.” The Fall Fest is slated for Oct. 22.
“We’re beginning a series of homeschool STEM programs for ages 6 to 10, and have some other programs on the calendar, including Natural Dyes on Oct. 1. As we move into 2023, we’re working on plans for day camps, expanded school partnerships and programs, and an even larger garden for more food production,” Aspenson said.
One recent large donation came as local farmer James Cooper directed a $5,000 Bayer Fund America’s Farmers Grow Communities donation to Overlook FARM. Overlook FARM will use the funds to support its work of providing agricultural education for the community and growing food for donation.
“We are so grateful to Jimmy and Heidi Cooper for helping to secure this donation for Overlook FARM,” Aspenson said.
“In our first full year of operation, it makes a big difference in supporting our mission of teaching the value of sustainable agriculture and promoting food justice, and allows us to focus efforts on providing a variety of educational opportunities while growing food for donation.”
In 2022, Bayer Fund revamped America’s Farmers Grow Communities program, making it easier for farmers across the country to find and fund the organizations and institutions that keep their communities thriving. This included doubling the individual donations to $5,000, up from $2,500 in previous years to provide a greater impact to local rural communities, the organization said when it awarded the donation.
For more than a decade, Grow Communities has partnered with farmers to direct funds to programs and organizations that contribute to their communities’ health and vibrancy, such as food banks, schools and youth agriculture programs. Since the America’s Farmers programs began in 2010, the initiatives have awarded nearly $65 million to such programs.
“Each year we hear from several nonprofit and school leaders, as well as farmers, about the ways Grow Communities has made a difference,” said Al Mitchell, Bayer Fund president. “Bayer Fund is proud to work side-by-side with farmers to identify local nonprofit organizations and schools that are improving rural communities in the areas of health and wellness, food and nutrition, and STEM and ag education.”
Online: Overlookfarmrutland.org.
