The Farm at Stonehill's Community Partners
Since its inception in 2011, The Farm has donated an average of 10,000 to 12,000 pounds of fresh, organic produce to our community partners each year. Our produce reaches the tables of about 3,000 individuals or families each season, 400 each week, who may not otherwise have access to fresh, organic produce due to a number of social, economic, and geographical barriers.
The Farm at Stonehill donates all produce grown to four community partner organizations each week:
- My Brother’s Keeper
- The Table at Father Bill’s MainSpring
- The Easton Food Pantry
- The Old Colony YMCA David Jon Louison Center
In times of surplus, The Farm is able to offer fresh food donations to additional partners in the community, including Evelyn House in Stoughton, and Catholic Charities in Brockton. We rely on our community partner's knowledge of the adults, children and families they are serving through their emergency food programs, homeless shelters and family centers.
Produce Harvested
90-95% of all produce harvested is made available through one of our community partners. The pounds of produce fluctuate from year to year based on climate and the varieties we plant!
| Year | Harvest |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3,740 pound of produce (Small is Beautiful Covid-19 Season) - 1/2 staff - 1/2 farm grew soil under cover crops |
| 2019 | 8,500 pounds of produce |
| 2018 | 12,944 pounds of produce |
| 2017 | 9,399 pounds of produce |
| 2016 | 8,670 pounds of produce |
| 2015 | 15,168 pounds of produce |
| 2014 | 12,546 pounds of produce |
| 2013 | 12,416 pounds of produce |
| 2012 | 9,845 pounds of produce |
| 2011 | 12,593 pounds of produce |
| Total harvested to date | 105,821 pounds of produce |
Many of the people we serve have access to food. Whether it be from a free lunch program or an item off the dollar menu of a fast food restaurant, there are ways for people to fill their stomachs. What we are concerned with at Father Bill's and MainSpring is offering a wide variety of food, meeting the nutritional needs and standards we would like to set for our very own families. Through our relationship with Bridget and the Farm at Stonehill, we have been able to introduce many fresh produce items that we would not have otherwise had the ability to offer our guests. We have also become more able to accept items that are not delivered in bulk as a teaching tool for the folks who participate in our food service training program. Thank you for all you do, and we look forward to expanding on this fantastic relationship.