VOLUNTEER
FARM HISTORY Frank Fernandes buys 60 acres now occupied by the Dartmouth YMCA and Sharing the Harvest Community Farm In 1896. Dairy Farming was the dominant form of agriculture Gulf Hill Dairy farmed by Fernandes family for over 75 years, 18961961. 1925 Barn was built that is now the central building for the Y. From 1961 to 1972 Clement family raised beef cattle In the 1970’s barn was remodeled into the Twin Silos Restaurant 1982 Gulf Hill Dairy land purchased by Trustees of Apponagansett Bay Trust 1985 donated to Children’s Museum 2001 Dartmouth YMCA acquired land and facilities 2006 Sharing the Harvest Community Farm established to alleviate hunger on the Southcoast of Massachusetts
Sharing the Harvest Community Farm is fueled by our incredible volunteers. During the COVID-19 Crisis, Sharing the Harvest has made significant changes to how we incorporate volunteers to ensure safety and wellbeing. As we are currently not able to offer drop-in hours, we have established a signup system for volunteering that is structured to ensure that social distancing, handwashing and other safety procedures are followed while welcoming volunteers to provide much-needed assistance in planting, weeding, harvesting, washing, and packing produce and eggs for our community. If you would like to receive an email with the weekly volunteer sign up please reach out to: sharingtheharvest@ymcasc.org Together, we can fight hunger and improve the lives of our local children and families.
GROWING HEALTHY FOOD TO FIGHT HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 2006
DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE CAN NO LONGER ACCEPT DROP IN VOLUNTEERS.
@STHFARM
276 Gulf Road Dartmouth, MA 02748 508.993.3361 sharingtheharvest@ymcasc.org
YMCA SOUTHCOAST
ymcasc.org
COVID-19 & FOOD INSECURITY Before COVID-19 food insecurity was the lowest it had been in more than 20 years. yet 35.2 million people, including 17 million children, were food insecure.
OUR MISSION Sharing the Harvest is a volunteer-driven community farm established in 2006 as a grassroots effort to fight hunger and help feed our neighbors in need. All produce and cage-free eggs are donated to 20 local hunger relief programs throughout the Southcoast region. Sharing the Harvest Community Farm is a collaboration between the Dartmouth YMCA and the United Way of Greater New Bedford’s Hunger Commission.
WHO WE SERVE New Bedford: ARC, Catholic Social Services, Harbour House, Harmony House, Home of Hope, M.O.L.I.F.E., PACE, Red Cross, Reflections, Salvation Army, Sister Rose’s House, St. Anthony of Padua
Nationally, more than 50 million people, including 17 million children, are projected to have experienced food insecurity because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fall River: Citizens for Citizens, Salvation Army, Veterans’ Association
Food Insecurity in Bristol County was projected to increase from 9.9% in 2018 to 15.9% at the end of 2020. The rate of children experiencing food insecurity was projected to increase from 13% in 2018 to 24.8% in 2020.
Dartmouth: Dartmouth Council on Aging
Wareham: Damien’s Place
Fairhaven: Fairhaven Council on Aging
2021 GOALS Harvest 70,000 pounds of produce Improve soil health and productivity with introduction of no-till systems Educate our community about regenerative farming practices Engage community through service and youth opportunities Cultivate meaningful partnerships