Op-Ed: Rockland Farm Alliance Welcomes Spring, Schools

Sue Ferreri is the Executive Director of the Rockland Farm Alliance

As we begin the year, I am filled with gratitude for everything that we have accomplished together at the Rockland Farm Alliance last year. We made it through the strange winter and it's spring... we get to grow towards the future.

Your generosity has allowed us to continue to think creatively about the issues that matter most to us. I want to include you on our growth and our goals.

This year we are welcoming schools in Rockland County, such as St Dominic's, BOCES, Link, Bardonia, Theills Elementary, Strawtown and more to our farm. We began our Agricultural Education programs to enhance our mission of connecting through real food from the soil up. And they keep growing!!

We are enhancing our property by adding a new fence for our animals; our hope is to build an animal program to bring more rescue animals to our property and build a animal therapy program for children. To lessen our carbon footprint, this year we will be adding solar panels and a composting toilet to the farm!

Last year, we gave over 2 tons of food, gifted over 36 weeks of summer camp through our Project greens program. Project greens this year is going to be our biggest giving year yet, not only are we are to give food and education, but we get to build on each of these programs with support of our partners like Orange and Rockland and you!

We will be opening farm market earlier this year, on Mother's Day weekend with our plant sale and Mother's Day Market. This weekend we will be paying tribute to a woman, named Donna McClure, who dedicated her time on the farm to heal from her cancer treatments. In her honor, we will be donating back 100% to people going through cancer treatments by giving them access to fresh organic foods and volunteer experiences to heal. I hope you get to join us for our Beet Cancer Together Walk!

This spring season, I hope you will consider making a contribution to the Rockland Farm Alliance. Your support has a direct impact on our local community and helps educate the next generation of agricultural leaders. To make your gift, please visit our secure website or call our office at (845) 634-3167.

As always, thank you for supporting your local community through the Rockland Farm Alliance and being an enthusiastic member of our programs in Rockland County.

We are looking forward to another successful year together. We look forward to see you soon!