Natick Community Organic Farm Keeps “Growing On”

It’s been a cool spring, but the season and all the work it brings continues to heat up at Natick Community Organic Farm. “We’re busier than ever,” notes NCOF Executive Director Casey Townsend, “there’s been a huge demand for our food, our flowers, our seedlings, and our meat.”

Throughout, the Farm will be helping to feed Natick’s seniors and low-income residents hardest hit by COVID-19. Through a new pilot program, the Farm will be providing 10 Natick seniors with weekly, “senior-sized” portions of its certified-organic vegetables, giving seniors access to fresh, locally grown food. Sign ups have been coordinated by Natick Community Senior Center staff, and will be delivered by CSC volunteers, lessening senior’s risk of exposure. Seniors will pay $5 per week for the 20-week growing season, but receive $10 worth of food every week, through deliveries starting May 29.

“COVID 19 disrupted the Farm’s ability to run its pop-up farm stand at the Community-Senior Center this year,” notes Susan Ramsey, Director of Senior Center & Community Services for the Town of Natick. “Thankfully, the Farm’s staff struck on a brilliant idea of getting fresh, nutritious produce to Natick seniors by introducing a senior CSA. And our seniors will benefit from weekly farm-fresh deliveries at a very affordable price.”

CSA, short for “community supported agriculture,” is an arrangement between local farmers and consumers that helps to make vegetables, flowers, meats more readily available, more affordable, and more sustainable for both growers and buyers. Customers purchase shares directly from local farmers before the growing season begins. In return, they receive portions of the harvest throughout the growing season. As a business model, CSAs help out farmers by providing them with good prices, guaranteed income, upfront capital, and a known number of customers. Customers, in turn, get access to the freshest crops, the peace of mind from knowing who, how, and where their food is grown, and in most cases, extra produce or product, in return for their “investment.”

The Natick Service Council’s Food Pantry will be receiving five CSA shares of NCOF’s fresh vegetables, free of charge. “ “Fresh produce is particularly valued by NSC's clients,” said Carol Gloff, Interim Executive Director of the Natick Service Council. “The shares provided by the Natick Community Organic Farm will make it possible for even more of them to eat healthy.”
Both initiatives are going forward thanks to financial support from the Foundation for Metrowest’s MetroWest Emergency Relief Fund, and an emergency grant from the Metrowest Health Foundation. “The impact of the coronavirus has increased needs for so many in our community- access to affordable, healthy food is one of the major emergency needs we are seeing,” says Rebecca Gallo, Senior Program Officer, Community Engagement for MetroWest Health Foundation. “We are pleased to support NCOF to make CSA shares available to older adults and food pantry consumers in Natick. Local, fresh, healthy food is always important, but even more so in difficult times.”

“We’re thrilled to be able to make this work and extremely thankful for the support. ” says Townsend. “It allows us to use our expertise to feed more people in our community, in a way that allows us to stay on mission. That’s important as we work through the challenges we’re facing as an organization right now, such not having our teen labor force, and losing revenue from cancelled educational programs.”

NCOF’s grounds have continued to remain open daily for quick visits and for purchases, and will continue to be so long as people wear masks, respect the rules, and keep practicing proper distancing measures.

The Farm staff also continue to put their talents to work in creative ways. In addition to running an online meat store, where customers can reserve cuts of Farm-raised meat, they are now offering online educational programs like Live Chicks. There’s also a Community Marketplace, where you can donate and purchase crafts and gift cards to support the Farm.

And registration opens soon for the Farm’s Virtual Farm 5K, where all official registrants near and far will get T-shirts featuring a running chicken, wearing a face mask of course. Any resemblance of that chicken to farm staff scurrying around this spring is entirely appropriate, but purely accidental. Visit www.natickfarm.org for details.