YCMA Willow Pond Farm Continues to Connect Community

BRENTWOOD, NH — Willow Pond Farm is one of the oldest Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA farms in New Hampshire. Established by a group of residents from Brentwood in 2004, the farm was leased by the YMCA in 2016.

Considered a part of YMCA's Camp Lincoln, camp director Mark Cadman and farmer Erika Gorgenyi have worked tirelessly to bring affordable locally grown organic produce as well as youth education programs through the farm, to the community. In addition to this, the farm regularly donates a portion of its harvest to St. Vincent De Paul in Exeter.

Gorgenyi sums up neighborhood impact when she stated, "[Willow Pond Farm] builds community because people come together around food. They're coming to pick up their share, they're engaging in conversation, learning about where their food comes from and learning about how to prepare their food."

And that's where the Y comes in. They are well positioned to offer a lot more education and connection about healthy living and serving your community. So we can, for example, host classes about how to use the food that comes from the garden and how to preserve it and how to cook it and just better ways to eat healthy in general.

The community farm grows a range of organic vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers each season, with regular harvests every week. The full list of produce can be found online. Members are welcome to chose from two convenient pick up locations in either Brentwood or at the Exeter Area YMCA. Registration to participate in the 2017 season began in early February, with options to purchase either a full or half share from the farm. Willow Pond is also now offering financial assistance for where families are unable to afford CSA shares.

Rhonda Berstein, director of Development added, "No one will ever be turned away from any YMCA program due to an inability to pay."

A portion of every harvest made at Willow Pond is also donated to local food pantry St. Vincent de Paul in Exeter. On average, St Vincent De Paul provides food to thirty four households in the community on a regular basis. Willow Pond donations offer healthier organic options to these households.

Executive Director Molly Zirillo told me that these contributions are "a critical part of what we can offer in the summer months. This increase the variety of healthy options we are able to make available to our clients."

Through the YMCA's Camp Lincoln, Willow Pond is working to get children interested in where their food comes from. In 2016, nearby Phillips Exeter Academy students were lucky enough to take part in farm activities, with an AmeriCorps group. A specialty camp run by the YMCA for kids in grades five through nine began last year.

Camp Director Mark Cadman explained, "We're trying to connect kids to the earth a little bit more and connect kids to where their food comes from."

Children participating in the two week camp spend half of their day at Camp Lincoln helping care for farm animals and the other half learning hands on how a farm works through gardening, seeding, transplanting, and visiting local farmers markets. Registration for the 2017 camp session are now open.

Cadman observed, "It certainly is a project that's still evolving, but I think we have a strong start in providing education for all ages within the community on local, fresh and healthy eating options."

Submitted by Jessica Raver