Back in November, Stearns partnered with the MetroWest YMCA to apply for a Food Security Infrastructure Grant from the state and earlier this spring, it was announced that we were awarded $30,000 to help renovate our wash station and increase our storage capacity. The renovations will make processing the food we bring in from the fields much more efficient and will help make our farm operations more sustainable. This will not only help us process food for our CSA members but will also improve our ability to distribute food to the charitable organizations we partner with throughout the community.
We are currently in the process of installing a carport which will provide a shaded and dry area to work under. We’ve also purchased a barrel root washer from Grindstone Farm to help the crew save time washing our root vegetables. Updating our tables and adding another large tub will give us more space to either dunk or spray the crops and enough room so that we can have two people working at once. Lastly, we are installing a new walk-in cooler to give us more storage space for our produce.
All in all, it’s a big project that will make a world of difference for Stearns Farm. It is crucial to have an efficient way to wash our crops so that we can ensure a long shelf life for our members and for those who receive our donations. These changes will also help us save time so we can work on other tasks in the field. The area leading up to the CSA pickup pavilion will look a little different when you visit the farm, but it’s going to have a positive impact on the day-to-day operations of the farm well into the future.
Thank you to our board member, Amy Miller, who helped make this happen. We were thrilled to collaborate with the MetroWest YMCA and are so grateful for your help and support with getting this grant!
Until next time,
Ember
