Monitor Barns Farm
The mission of MBF is to feed our community by working as a sustainable business, providing education and training for our youth, and contributing to the charitable food system for those in need.
Monitor Barns Farm
Welcome to the Food and Farm Program at VYCC
The Food and Farm Program at Vermont Youth Conservation Corps seeks to teach youth about the source of their food, how it is grown, and the value of maintaining a healthy lifestyle while providing fresh produce locally and to those who are food insecure. We believe all members of our community should have access to fresh and healthy food.
VYCC High School Leadership Program and Conservation Crews
Members from VYCC Conservation Crews, and students in our High School Leadership Program play an essential role on the farm as they contribute in a multitude of ways. Through their work, they learn valuable technical skills in relation to growing and harvesting a variety of crops, food preparation and preservation, and animal husbandry. In addition, their participation in Food Security initiatives provides valuable experience and profound understanding of the link between food production, education, community development, and hunger and nutrition issues in Vermont. Some of the work completed by crews includes:
Members from VYCC Conservation Crews, and students in our High School Leadership Program play an essential role on the farm as they contribute in a multitude of ways. Through their work, they learn valuable technical skills in relation to growing and harvesting a variety of crops, food preparation and preservation, and animal husbandry. In addition, their participation in Food Security initiatives provides valuable experience and profound understanding of the link between food production, education, community development, and hunger and nutrition issues in Vermont. Some of the work completed by crews includes:
- Creating raised beds for vegetable production, studies, and sale
- Greenhouse construction, and management
- Composting systems design, construction and maintenance
- Gleaning produce for donation to food charity system
- Planning, planting, irrigating,weeding and harvesting crops
- Processing surplus produce into value added products
- Canning / preserving produce
Food and Farm Program Internships
To strengthen and support the VYCC, the Food and Farm Program, and our mission, we provide a variety of internship opportunities. There are a variety of ways to get involved. Join us in serving Vermont's youth, caring for the environment, and growing food for those in need!
To strengthen and support the VYCC, the Food and Farm Program, and our mission, we provide a variety of internship opportunities. There are a variety of ways to get involved. Join us in serving Vermont's youth, caring for the environment, and growing food for those in need!
We are currently accepting Food and Farm Intern applications! Learn More Here!
You may also contact our Food and Farm Program Coordinator Paul Feenan directly to share and receive more information. (802) 434-3969 ext. 133
2012 is shaping up to be a BIG Year
As the farm at VYCC gears up for the 2012 growing season, we are looking back at the successes from 2011, one of the most challenging growing seasons in recent years! Our Food and Farm Team worked extremely hard with your support to provide fresh high quality food to our community and build valuable partnerships in the fight to end hunger in Vermont! Here are a handful of our accomplishments:
- Over 4000 pounds of food donated in an effort to alleviate food insecurity in our community.
- A close working relationship with VYCC High School Leadership Program resulting in $6000 of student-raised poultry donated to local food shelves.
- A successful CSA program providing more than 18,000 pounds of food to our community.
- New infrastructure which will only help to increase our food donating power including a walk-in cooler, cultivating tractor, farm truck, farm barn, and heated propagation greenhouse.
2012 brings new faces to the Food and Farm Program Team. Paul Feenan has come on board as Program Coordinator with a strong background in agricultural education, program development, and food production. Tucker Andrews will remain with VYCC as Farm Manager, bringing all his experience to the 2012 growing season. Together with a strong team of interns and volunteers we are poised to make a major impact on food access in Vermont.
We will continue to offer our high quality Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares to new and returning customers. There will be a few changes in this program as we do our utmost to provide CSA members more purchase power, flexibility, and choice. Meanwhile, we are redoubling our efforts to provide fresh, nutritious and locally grown food to Vermont families in need. Our goal for 2012 is to provide farm-fresh, local food to 80 families for 4 months. That’s the equivalent of 360 months of fresh, nutritious, local food, totaling 1,500 pounds, delivered directly to the tables of recipients!
To do this we’d like to introduce our new Food Security Initiatives:
Help us grow and deliver fresh, nutritious food to families in need by becoming a Cultivating Member today! Your contribution will provide three months of fresh vegetables to a family in need.
Are you a Health Care Professional concerned about food access and nutrition? Would you like to make a positive contribution to these issues? Partnering with us to provide the Health Care Share will put fresh nutritious food directly on the tables of families in need.
Celebrate healthy families in our community with the Holiday Harvest Basket. Help us make this holiday season a nutritious one for all.
Together we have the Power to Achieve Food Security in our Community!
Please feel free to contact us directly as we are always looking to share and receive information about food production distribution, and food security issues.
I loved gardening! I thought about implementing a community garden into my hometown somehow so everyone could benefit from fresh veggies and a little hard work weeding! My favorite part was probably the pickling. When I got home I tried my hand at pickling beets! I can't wait to see how they turn out. Not only is gardening good for the stomach, it's therapeutic to the heart and mind. -Amber, LEAP Crew
