Fund-Your-Farm Campaign
Donations can be mailed to Barrington Farm School, P.O. Box 41, Barrington, RI 02806,
or made online through PayPal or Venmo:
Barrington Farm School, the only working farm left in Barrington, provides unique opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to gain skills in composting, preparing beds, sowing and nurturing food crops, and experiencing the joy of neighborhood farming. Barrington Farm School is a community-based, volunteer-driven, non-profit organization that depends on local support to achieve its mission.
Let’s highlight some accomplishments in 2023:
● Our new Farm Manager, Mark Phillips, prepared the high tunnel to extend our growing season, which enabled a significant increase in vegetable yields. From March into November Mark, along with our volunteer coordinator and volunteers, managed the workload using regenerative farming methods.
● Education programs included K-12 farm field trips, Transitions Program, Eagle Scout projects, events for developmentally-disabled youth and adults, girl scout troops, homeschoolers and senior projects. BFS is a student resource for high schoolers volunteering for community service hours by performing farm, field and composting tasks. Virtual presentations about bees and honey were given by our Master Beekeeper for elementary school students.
● We donated fresh-picked, pesticide-free vegetables weekly to a local food pantry, enabling food-insecure families access to fresh nutritious produce from June through October.
● “Fuel for the Farm” – food scraps processed into compost – came from drop-off sites in town, Barrington Public Schools, and businesses. Through August 2023, the food waste total was close to 20 tons, ahead of last year’s pace which ended up processing over 25 tons.
● Infrastructure – Fencing and irrigation are crucial for efficient farming so an expanded irrigation system and additional fencing were added. A new shed was constructed by the Compost Crew, and ventilation for the seed house and high tunnel was installed–just a few of the many accomplishments throughout the year.
● Farm Stand – We were able to purchase a large commercial refrigerator that has kept our produce fresh on even the hottest days. Molly, the Farm Stand’s first paid intern, says “…working at Barrington Farm School was an enlightening experience…there is always so much to learn!” With that same enthusiasm she kept the stand clean and stocked with fresh produce every morning. Thanks, Molly.
Next year, with your help and support, we will continue strengthening farm operations to ensure responsible stewardship of your farm! Your gifts to BFS will help us expand paid internships; support infrastructure with a new well, provide heat for the seed house, expand cultivation with additional deer fencing, and broaden our educational programs. Our goal is to raise $50,000. We hope you will join us.
Donations can be mailed to Barrington Farm School, P.O. Box 41, Barrington, RI 02806,
or made online through or PayPal or Venmo:
Financial partners help us grow!
