Several years ago, a few members of the community mobilized to encourage the town to pass the Community Preservation Act, whereby we taxed ourselves 3% of the property value to set aside funds to preserve land and historic properties. It is with these funds that the Town purchased the property on 50 Winthrop Street for almost $975,000. The property currently consists of 15 acres of hayfields, wetlands and forested land with an unoccupied farmhouse, a garage and a dangerously dilapidated barn. The barn must be deconstructed before the public can visit the land, and the house is not yet inhabitable. In 2007, Heather Scott, the founder of The Medway Community Farm, first shared the community farm concept with the Medway Community Preservation Committee. Having studied the Natick Community Organic Farm and Newton Community Farm, she believed that this model would work and led the effort to launch the not-for-profit Medway Community Farm. By November 2008, The Community Farm Initiative officially established the non-profit, Medway Community Farm, Inc. and received State non-profit status and by January a Board of Directors was established. From January until March we worked on the RFP to lease the land from the town for the purpose of establishing a Community Farm. Our plan was accepted. However, the major hurdle remains that the Selectmen have clearly indicated there will be no financial support from the Town, ever. In February 2010, a part time farm manager was brought on board to develop a crop plan and this summer the plan was executed to provide the Medway community with fresh vegetables for sale from our road side farm stand and Town Farmers’ Market. This was done solely with the help of volunteers recruited from the community and surrounding areas and by utilizing ¾ of an acre of land. In addition we have rented several plots to grade 4 students and to the senior center to increase revenue. To date we have 30 dedicated volunteers who take direction from our part time farm manager, have networked with local farmers who help with heavy equipment and are now poised to use the remaining land to increase our crop production in 2011. Our project proposes to establish a working, educational, community organic farm. Our grassroots effort is requesting funds to cover the cost of tools required for day to day operations to plant and harvest our crops with the help of community volunteers who will help us achieve our long term objectives to: - Grow Food We propose to extend an offer for full time employment to our part time farm manager so she can dedicate herself to growing herbicide- and pesticide-free food on 2 acres in 2011 and beyond. Although food will continue to be sold at the onsite farm stand and Town Farmers’ Market, next year we propose to generate funds through the sale of Community Supported Agriculture shares. - Educate The education committee will continue to build on the relationship with the Medway Public School K-12 system, Boy/Girl Scouts and Community Service Learning program and Medway Senior Center to provide an opportunity of actively growing food on their designated plots. We are also planning afterschool programs at the farm for fall and spring. Tours of the farm, which now include an apiary, will describe the benefits of organic farming practices and non-pesticide insect control, to name a few activities we have in mind. Volunteers have also suggested they would offer courses relating to food from the farm in continuing education programs. We will continue to have our close affiliation with the biology students at Wellesley College. - Sense of Community The project will continue to provide unique volunteer opportunities for the general public to become involved with the farm that could include, farm chores, teaching or joining one of the farm’s committees to map out nature trails and plan social and educational events at the farm. We have had an incredible response from the community which reinforced the need for such a community farm. Over 30 volunteers were signed up to help prepare beds, plant harvest and sell crops. Public events include dinners on the land and festivals. Our first community 5K run fund raiser on Earth Day was a resounding success with over 200 registered runners/walkers that supported the farm. - Property Stewardship The project is responsible for the stewardship of the leased 7 acres and buildings. With the help of professional volunteers under the direction of one of our board members, the dilapidated barn was torn down. Now the public can visit the farm safely. Our efforts will now focus on rehabilitating the farm house and garage on the property, provided we can raise sufficient funds. The house will become a Community Center with the living quarters for the farm manager and/or aides in the future.