Earthdance

BEGINNING FARMER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AT AN ORGANIC FARM SHOOL.

INCREASING PARTICIPATION AT AN ORGANIC FARM SCHOOL

RCDG - VALUE-ADDED PRODUCT MARKET DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

GROWING THE FERGUSON FARMERS MARKET THRO

CN FARM TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENTAL

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM

FERGUSON COMMUNITY FOOD ASSESSMENT PROJECT

TO SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING.

RCDG - VALUE-ADDED PRODUCT MARKET DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

TO SUPPORT A RESIDENCY PROGRAM FOCUSED ON IMPROVISATIONAL DANCE.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: PLEASE PROVIDE A ONE-PARAGRAPH SUMMARY (4?6 SENTENCES) OF YOUR PROPOSED VISTA PROJECT THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: ? A DESCRIPTION OF YOUR ORGANIZATION?S MISSION ? THE CNCS PROGRAMMING PRIORITY AREA THAT YOUR PROJECT ALIGNS WITH ? A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT GOAL(S), INCLUDING WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE PROJECT ? THE NUMBER OF VISTAS AND LEADERS (IF APPLICABLE) YOU ARE REQUESTING AND AN OVERVIEW OF THE MAJOR ACTIVITIES THEY WILL PERFORM ? THE ESTIMATED TIME REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT EARTHDANCE ORGANIC FARM SCHOOL?S MISSION IS TO GROW FOOD, FARMERS, AND COMMUNITY, ONE SMALL FARM AT A TIME, THROUGH HANDS-ON EDUCATION AND DELICIOUS EXPERIENCES. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE CNCS HEALTHY FUTURES FOCUS AREA. THE VISTA PROJECT WILL SEEK TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD AMONG LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS OF FERGUSON, MO; TRAIN NEW FARMERS AND GARDENERS TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR MORE FRESH, LOCAL FOOD; AND PROVIDE YOUTH IN FERGUSON AND BEYOND WITH FARM-BASED EDUCATION, SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES, AND JOB TRAINING. THE PROJECT EXPECTS TO BENEFIT 72 ASPIRING GROWERS, 2400+ YOUTH, HUNDREDS OF FOOD PANTRY CLIENTS, AND THOUSANDS OF LOCAL FOOD CONSUMERS. OVER THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS, 2018-2020, FIVE VISTA MEMBERS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT BY PERFORMING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS DEVELOPING FOOD SAFETY AND POST-HARVEST PROCESSING PROTOCOLS TO IMPROVE TRAINING OF BEGINNING FARMERS; CONDUCTING OUTREACH TO DIVERSE GROUPS IN FERGUSON, TO SPREAD AWARENESS OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AT EARTHDANCE; REFINING FUND-RAISING PROTOCOLS AND SYSTEMS AT EARTHDANCE, TO BETTER THE ORGANIZATION?S FUNDRAISING CAPACITY; REFINING VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AT EARTHDANCE, TO ENGAGE MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN REWARDING SERVICE; AND BUILDING A STRONG ALUMNI NETWORK AMONG EARTHDANCE GRADUATES TO SUPPORT THEIR ENDEAVORS GEARED TOWARD INCREASING ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE IN THE ST. LOUIS REGION; AND DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE DIVERSE CLIENTELE IN ORDER TO ENABLE INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, PARTICULARLY LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS, TO BENEFIT FROM EARTHDANCE?S OFFERINGS.