Phoenix Community Farm receives Strosacker grant

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The Phoenix Community Farm is working to meet the basic need for fresh, healthy products. They grow and share their products and educate and empower our community to grow healthily together. The farm received a US $ 10,000 grant from the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation to upgrade infrastructure and equipment. Thanks to a growing partnership with Windover High School, Phoenix Community Farm gained access to an empty, fallow field adjacent to the Windover parking lot and turned it into a vibrant 1-acre farm to improve food security in Midland County. Now, a grant from the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation is helping to protect the products by raising funds for a taller, more stable fence to keep wildlife out of the garden. “We knew that replanting our community farm within the city of Midland would be quite a hassle and expense. But the location next to Windover High School has given so many new people access to the farm and opportunities to work. “Said Beth De Vries, a nurse and founder of the Phoenix Community Farm. “We are very grateful to be part of a community that has volunteered nearly 500 hours this spring to bring the property back to life! Much easier during the growing season. ”This year, Phoenix Community Farm launched a new Adopt-a-Row program that allows community members to take over a 3 x 35 foot lot to grow produce for the season. Participants can keep some of the products for their household and donate the rest to community distribution.The 14 available ranges were quickly adopted and the program expanded to accommodate 16 households and the Head Start preschool program that were interested to learn to grow their own food. The Charles J. Strosacker Foundation in Midland was founded in 1957 by Charles J. Strosacker, one of the pioneers of The Dow Chemical Co., a charitable, scientific, or educational organization. “The Phoenix Community Farm serves community by offering products through the Arnold Center’s Midland Fresh mobile pantry and also through a grocery store and shares in the Windover High School parking lot, which is stocked with fresh, healthy produce on Thursday mornings. The farm has also been able to share products with summer students at Windover High School and will continue to share them with the school in the fall. “We are grateful that our cooperation with the Phoenix Community Farm gives our students access to healthy, local food,” commented Marcella Mosqueda, Principal / CAO of Windover High School. “Fresh salad was a great addition to our summer lunch menu. We are excited about the continued opportunities for county access to the farm through our CTE Culinary Arts Program. ”The Phoenix Community Farm will be the non-profit booth at the Midland Area Farmers Market on Wednesday, August 4th. There are regular volunteer opportunities on the farm. Information on how you can get involved with the Phoenix Community Farm can be found at www.phoenixcommunityfarm.com.

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