Come volunteer with us at Common Roots Farm!

by Geoff Palla, Engagement Coordinator

Volunteering at Common Roots Farm is a great way to get your hands in the soil and make a meaningful impact in creating a farm for people with and without disabilities.

Volunteers are able to get involved in a variety of ways including bed prep, weeding, planting, harvesting, watering, animal care and much more. Volunteerism is a great way to meet new people, learn new skills, gain insight, grow personally, and help build a better society.

To get started, visit the Volunteer page on our website and follow the instructions. Once your application is complete, we’ll ask you to sign up for an orientation before your first day of volunteering.

Upcoming orientations will be held at the farm on:

• Wednesday, February 9th, from noon to 1:00 p.m.
• Saturday, February 12th, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, February 16th, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
• Friday, February 18th, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

I’m the Engagement Coordinator for Common Roots Farm, and I’ll be your point of contact for your volunteer experience here with us. If you have any questions, please email me at geoff@commonrootsfarm.org.

Thank you, and see you out at the farm!

We are all the leaves of one tree. We are all the waves of one sea. – Thich Nhat Hanh

by Heidi Cartan, Executive Director

When is the best time to plant a fruit tree? Seven years ago. And the next best time is now. You’ve probably heard this saying and though our farm didn’t exist seven years ago, having an orchard has been part of our vision from the beginning. With room for 65+ fruit trees, Common Roots Farm will soon create a “Tribute Orchard,” offering a way for those connected to our farm to honor their loved ones who have passed away.

A variety of apples, persimmons, plums, pomegranates, avocados, and citrus trees will form a living tribute that produces food for our community for years to come. The orchard also means our customers will enjoy a greater variety of fresh food, and our farmers can broaden their skills while learning how to care for these trees. We will also be able to produce more shelf stable products like applesauce, plum jam, and crabapple jelly.

Thanks to discounts generously offered by Trees of Antiquity and Four Winds Growers, some of our trees have already begun to arrive. A gift that lasts for generations and adds to the beauty and productivity of our farm seems a fitting way to provide tribute to those who’ve gone before us. We also want to include an art installation that both memorializes the names of individuals honored and becomes a place of reflection and solitude within the orchard.

Right now, our future orchard is growing a cover crop of oats, rye, bell beans, vetch, and field peas. This mix, known as humus builder, adds both nitrogen and organic matter to our soil, contributing important ingredients for the health of our future trees.

If you would like to remember a loved one by contributing to our Tribute Orchard, please visit our website for more information. We will share our progress with updates featured in this newsletter, including an announcement about the dedication of our Tribute Orchard slated for this summer.

As always, thank you for being part of our farm and the opportunities we are creating here at Common Roots.

The farm is thrilled to announce that our 2022 trainee application is now live!

by Nina Vukićević, Farm Manager

 

Each year, the farm welcomes trainees to live on the farm and to spend an entire growing season with us. Trainees have the opportunity to learn every aspect of our operation and are a critical part of our crew. If you’re interested in learning how to farm alongside folks with and without disabilities, please check out our online trainee application to learn more.