From our FounderDear Friend of the FARM,
The dream of the founders of the Farm Institute in 1999 was to have an educational farm on Martha’s Vineyard. For thirteen years the meaning and strength of that vision has been growing.
Emma Hall-Bilsback is our dream come to life. Emma started coming to the after- school program at the farm in 2002 when she was still in elementary school. She took part in summer programs too, and by the time she was 14 she was a counselor.
“I fell in love with agriculture at the Farm Institute,” Emma tells us. The meaning of that began to take shape in high school, as she got involved in sustainability, and local food issues.
Emma graduated from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in 2012. This year, she used her prestigious Vision Fellowship award to spend time in Ireland on a sheep and cattle farm, before she starts at Hampshire College. Her international travel has fostered an interest in exploring agricultural practices in underdeveloped countries. She also has a growing interest in agricultural policy. We would be proud but not surprised to find her someday as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Emma’s dreams are our dreams, and we are grateful for your help in making them come true. Please continue your support through your donations, volunteer activities and by sending the children you love to our programs.
Sincerely,Sam FeldmanFounder and Chairman
News from the FARMEducating and engaging children and adults in sustainable
agriculture through the diverse operations of a working farm.
Clockwise from top: Emma in the Agriculture Fair; Emma teaching at the FARM; Founder Sam Feldman with Emma at 2012 Meals in the Meadow
Zeus and Apollo take grain out to the chickens with a little help from some friends
Summer on the FARM Summer on the Farm is the most magical time of the year. Over 1000 campers come to learn about agriculture and food production. They help with the Fourth of July Parade, Meals in the Meadow and the Agriculture Fair. Campers pitch in and help with daily chores, learning from our laying hens, meat birds, pigs, cows, sheep and gardens important lessons about work ethic, leadership and teamwork that last a lifetime.
Planting seeds for a better future one child at a time
“Both my daughter (age 8) and my son (almost 10) could not stop talking about their daily experiences at camp...when we ate dinner they talked about the meal
and related it to anything they could at the farm.”~Camp Parent 2012
Whippersnappers kept Zeus and Apollo busy this sum-mer! They were a daily part of morn-ing chores doing everything from taking grain out to the fields and moving compost after mucking stalls, to moving the turkey house and trans-porting children out to visit the cows. Drover Scottie Browning works the team every day year round. Zeus and Apollo make special appearances at island community events to give rides and help teach the public about draft-animals and their use on a farm.
Campers and camp parents spread the message at the Edgartown 4th of July Parade
The FARM ProjectThe summer of 2012 was the second year of the Farm Project for youth development. The 2012 group was an all Island effort. Three island youth--Lee Felix, Kaila Newton and Emerson Hazell--along with crew leader Katie Mayhew and coordinator Emily Duncker spent the summer visiting and working at a variety of Island farms, taking part in the gleaning program, delivering food to nonproft organi-zations and getting a real sense of the work of agriculture and how it can benefit our commu-nity.
Residential Programs Since 2009, the Farm Institute has hosted groups of urban students for two day, two night residential farm visits. The stuents cook and eat at the FARM, and spend the day doing chores, attending/workshops and also having some fun, spending the nights with TFI’s wonderful partners at the HI-Martha’s Vineyard Hostel. Schools have been primarily with the Uncommon Schools network of charter schools in New York and Boston, with a highly diverse student population and close to 80% qualifying for free and reduced lunch.
For Uncommon Schools, the spring trips are not just for fun. They are part of a rigorous catch-up academic curriculum and environment that says “every-one goes to college.” Few of the students have ever been on a farm. Gathering eggs, rounding up chickens and sheep, leading the oxen, weeding the garden, making dinner from food they harvest are new experiences.In 2012 TFI had over 240 students come with the program. “We’re transformers involved in the practice of practical magic, and if we do it right, not only do we transform a seed into a plant that we can eat or watch an animal grow, we change each other and it’s magical, “ says TFI Executive Director Jon Previant.
Programs that make a difference
Pilot ParcelsIn the spring of 2012, The Farm Institute initiated the Pilot Parcels Project. Funded by the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NESARE) branch of the USDA, the project provided five farmers or farmers- to-be with one acre of garden space, along with some financial support, access to water, technical assistance and education. The project con-tributed to the Island’s goals for food self-sufficiency by providing both land and a low-risk envi-
ronment for agricultural innovation. Lily Walter, Pat Brown, Teri Praskach Dan Herhalski, Alex Rentumis and Katrina Nevin worked with TFI Garden Manager Rebecca Sanders to explore questions about soil health and crop sustainability and shared their results with other island farmers and gardeners.
Financial Report
To Do List--Done!
2010 2011 2012
Breeding Cows 4 18 20
Breeding Ewes 4 21 40
Laying Hens 60 250 300
Meat Birds 600
A field trip group is learning to plant seeds in the greenhouse.
A cow and calf pair
There’s always plenty to do in the Friendship Garden!
Marsha and Patrick Ahearn David Auerbach Andrea and David Baum Helen Benham Judy Blume and George CooperBuff and Jay Bonanno Leigh B. Braude Richard and Sheila Brown Karen and David Brush Ryna G. Cohen Jim and Leslie Cory Jennifer and Philip DuBois Dr. and Mrs. Donald FoleyMark Gimbel and Dede WellesMolly and Eric Glasgow Mary Jane Grant Alan and Kathy Guarino Beverly and Stuart Halpert Linda and Glenn Hearn Phyllis and Peter Heerwagen Courtland and Otto Hoernig Lou and Ginny Hoynes Robert Jackson Alice and Jerry Jacobs Linda and Gerald JonesKatama Association
$1,000 to $2,499
Shepherd
AnonymousJoan and Bill Connolly Thea Duell and Peter CookLeigh Feldman and J. Michael Kelly Leslie and Hans Fleischner Becky Kidder Smith & Thomas SmithTara and Bob Levine Kathy and Ed Ludwig
$2,500 to $4,999
Donors January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011Cultivator$10,000 and Above
Mr. Sam Feldman Julia and David Fleischner Michael and Pat Kidder Marilyn Meyerhoff Claudia Miller The Dirk E. Ziff Foundation Nan and Frank Wezniak Genevieve and Jerry Wyner
Harvester$5,000 to $9,999
Ann and Kenneth Baum Will and Donna Elwell David Murphy Beth O’Connor & Jonathan ChatinoverPhilip Evans Scholarship Foundation Jon Previant Bette and Richard Saltzman Judith Scheuer & Joseph MellickerKenneth T. and E. Pixley Schiciano Jennifer and Jonathan Soros The Kohlberg Foundation
Maria MacKentyCarol Ann MalinowskiClara MaynardKristina Kinsman MaynardMichelle McNiffMegan MendenhallJoanne OlsonDylan RiceLinda and Greg Rice Alex SchweitzerLaine Scott Barbara SmithBart SmithAmy and Tom SullivanLila SullivanLindsay TranceRemy TuminJulie Verost
Dickey BrownJon BrownJoe CleinmanChristopher ConwayMelinda and Mark DeFeoEmily DunckerAnn FloydTory GeraldScott HershowitzEmma Hall BillsbackBeth Ann HillerSara HoffmanJeremy HouserColin KadisRob KaganDrew KinsmanPhyllis Kugler
Afternoon chores, Meals in the Meadow, special events, livestock overnights
and more. Our volunteers rock!
2011 Volunteers
We depend on our donors and volunteers. Thank you!
J. Mandume Kerina Katie Kidder and Tom KentCharlotte and John Klein Peter and Barbara Krengel Michael Kutsch and Tammy CoselliC. Kevin Landry Kathy and Jerry Lichtstein Ellen Liman Julie and Scott Lively Joe and Deborah Loughrey James Marrow and Emily RoseMartha’s Vineyard Multisport, Inc. Erica & Robert Mason Cathy and Scot McCulloch Carla and Paul McDonough Meredith and Jonathan Meeks Daniel and Grace Melrod Nancy and Herbert Milstein MV Savings Bank Kim and Barrett Naylor Louise & Roger Neuhoff Mr. and Mrs. William Boatner Reily Staples Foundation for Learning Susan and Barry Tatelman The Aileen K. & Brian L. Roberts Foundation The Liman Foundation Londa Weisman and Sidney KnafelNancy Wolf and Jacob RosengartenJohn Wolff and Helle Szkobel-Wolff
Joan and James Malkin Maurice Amado Foundation Georgiana and Eric Noll Permanent Endowment of MV Point B Realty, LLC Robin Shanus Joan and George Thomas Winnetu Oceanside Resort
Gardener
Haymaker $500 to $999
Kim and Neil Augustine Bernier’s Up-Island Market, Inc. Nikki Brown Bernadine and Michael Caruso Richard Creighton Paul and Christine Crotty Vera Eberstadt Jill and Mark Engerman Flatbread Company Dr. & Mrs. Jack Fruchtman Mary Greely Eleanor Groel Sarah & Geoffrey Gund Jonathan Hines Mercedes Kelso Ms. Andrea & John Keough Michael and Elizabeth Klein Nancy Kramer Jonathan and Deanna Laird Ms. Suzanne Lanzone Soraya Mariel Thomas W. and Sara G. McCargo Berneda and Dr. Louis Meeks Elaine and Howard Miller Mark Milstein Melissa and William Mueller Catherine Overholt Edith and Robert Potter Lee Previant Peggy and Richard Quagliaroli David Richter Deb and Steve Rusckowski Jane Seagrave Felice Shapiro Sharky’s Cantina Carly Simon Julie and William Skinner Megan Sokolowski Mark Solomon Swartz Foundation George and Beverly Szakacs Laurie Walker
Amy & John Weinberg Giang and James Wyner
Planter$100 to $499
Myrna and Bruce Cummings Mr. John Curelli Stephanie and David D’Angelo Victoria Danberg Susan & Ken Dobular Kim & Chris Drew Andrea and Michael Dubroff Barry and Kathleen Dunn Edgartown National Bank Judy Erdman Shari and Brandon Falchiere Beverly and Morton Fearey Woody Filley Alfred and Jennifer Fournier Dennis and Catherine Francis Robert Gagel Mr. John Greene Bob and Marty Gross Sharon and Angelo Guadagno Elizabeth and Lee Guittar Christian Halby Deborah Hall Lisina and Frank Hoch Jane Rosenthal Horvitz Inez and Allen Janger Riena and Ted Johnson Colleen & Kevin Kane Daniel Kaplan Allan R. Keith Elisabeth Keller Raymond and Lillian Kellman Lynne and Robert Kenney Richard Kiley Oleanna Klein Charles and Heather Klinck Ms. Suzanne Koorse Karyn Kusama Kristen Kusama-Hinte David LaMonica Melvin Landew Rose Marie and Charles Leitner Karla Lewis Susie and Jon Lindenberg Lucas Caroline MacMoran Anne Maitland
Agnes Malinowski Martha’s Vineyard Family Campground, Inc. Matching Gifts Program Ernest Mendenhall Tina Miller Trudi Mishara Susan and Robert Mitchell Michelle Molloy Daniel Moulthrop Kathy and Rock Mullens Barbara and Chris Murphy Laura Murphy MV Chamber of Commerce Robert Nash Bethany Newell My & Christian Nguyen Sally Anne Nicholas Joseph O’Connor Judith and Arthur Obermeyer Kate Olmsted Our Island Club Hadley and Brad PalmerMary Ellen and Francis Partel Bill and Pat Phelan Michael Pollan Provimi North America, Inc. Ms. Edith Radley Allyson Reed Anne Roberge Marc Rosenbaum Steven Sack Shelia and Steve Schlageter Isabella Scott Mr. Thomas Seeman Ms. Andrea Seltzer Kathryn Shedrick Snider Family Fund South Mountain Company Foundation Vicki Sparks Reinke Stephen A. and Harmony C. Spongberg Robert Spurr Kathy and Bruce Stuart Charlotte and John SuhlerMaurya Sullivan Denise and Art Swanson
Beth and Howard Swartz Kimberly Syman Dana Tang Francoise and Jay Theise Teri Trotter Gael and Laurel Ulrich Thatcher Ulrich Wendi and Roland Van der Meer George and Nancy Verost Robert Vogel Adele H. Waggaman Gail and John Wasson Alan Weiner Joseph and Maria Weingarten Sande and Joel Weinstein Mrs. Hope Whipple Dr. & Mrs. James Wolff Judy and Marvin Zeidler David and Nancy Zwiener
Sprout$50 to $99
Luisa Acevedo Dr. and Mrs. Siamak Adibi Richard & Dianne Alexander Dwight and Judy Armstrong Avon Products Foundation Maria and Jesse Aweida A. James Barnes Audrey Batista Vieira Dawn Bellante Mr. Richard Berkley Sandy Besas Louise and Henry Bessire Robyn Birdwell Jeannie and Howard Borggaard Joseph and Elizabeth Bower Mrs. Helen Bowring Hadley Boyd Betty and Alexander Boyle Courtney S. Brady Geralyn and Scott Breig Karen Bressler Peter and Nancy Brooks Theodore and Nancy Brother Deb and Dave Brown Jonathan and Nicole Buchman Ms. Kitty Burke Ryan Cabral Michele Casavant Chilmark Chocolates Todd Clear Dr. & Mrs. Jordan Cohen Dr. & Mrs. George Cohn Carolyn and John Connors Kara Connors Anthony Constant Constellation Energy Group Em-ployee Fund Molly Cook Joel Copperman Anthony Cortese
Norma and Norman Bridwell Eileen and Jim Buckham Joan Clark Linda Smith Cohen Theresa and Jerome Collins Mr. Michael Connolly Deneen Convery Betty-Jo & Jim Corridon Wes Craven Bob and Toni Cunningham Bridgett and Peter DiBonaventura Peter Dormont Lisa Epstein Deb Erdman Rosanne and Ed Fitzmaurice Betsy and Andrew Forrester Gestalt International Study Center Herb Gibson Nora Hansen George Haubner Jennifer and Sam Hocking Yvonne R. Jackson Courtney and Parker Johnson
Catherine and Richard Kaplan Mary Kiniry Marianne and Ralph Krause Phyllis and Richard Kugler Liza Landsman-Gold Minjoo Lee Vivian Lewit Tina and Paul Marchese Edward Meagher Patricia and Ray Noeker John Petersen Elizabeth and Richard Pew Susan and Dan Plaine Matt Price Kathleen Redmond Phil and Suzanne Reppert Laura Roskind Leah Smith Karin Stanley Kristi and Alan Strahler Rose Styron Detta and Joseph Tate Priscilla Thors Rachel Vanderhoop James Weinstock Arthur Williams Ed Woods Phil Zweig
Amy and Tom Doyle Alexandra Duffy Katie Fahey Dr. Eva Fleischner Eliza Fortenbaugh Rebecca Foster Nina Freund Christopher Fried Joe and Sue Gannon Diane Holt Laurie Howick Doria Hughes Jane Inman Lucinda Jenney Anne Kaplan Francine Kaufman Phyllis Kennedy Chrissy and Drew Kinsman Lewis and Lucie Kleinhans Becky and Darren Langis Marion H. Lavy Linsey Lee Leslie & Bill Lichtman Kimberly and Gregory Martin Ann and Alton McDowell Martha McNally Alice and Doug Moore Brendan Murphy Suzanne Nissen Jacqueline Noel Deborah Nussbaum Maureen O’Shaughnessey Gregory Pepe Maria Perez-Brown Tracy Poe Edith Prescott Amanda Reinfeld Jeffrey Roche Mary Ross Ms. Jean Schoppel Barbara Schram Dan Shertzer Anne and Mark Shusterman Judy and Mark Sklarz Linda and Gil Smith Sally and Peter Snipes
Seedling$1 to $49
Dear Friends & Supporters,
Teaching, farming, and teaching about farming—I suppose there are more challenging tasks to be found, but these are the two we’ve embraced. The rewards are rarely financial—see our 2010 results—and sometimes subtle: smiles on the kids’ faces as they figure out the chicken and egg relationship, or demonstrative: the screams and shouts as the baby lamb stands up without falling over. But the rewards are there, accessible and indelible: learning changes people, and learning about life on a farm is a life-changer for many. Every moment on a working farm is a teachable mo-ment, and all of us love the sharing that teaching requires. I thank every person and organization listed here for your support, and I request that your financial support continues and even increases. But this year I have an additional request—when you stop by to drop off or pickup your young farmer, stay awhile. Find me or one of our staff and let’s visit about teaching, farming and the complicated but real rewards of both. Looking forward to our conversation,
Jon Previant, Executive Director
From the Executive Director
Claire Spear Alison Stewart Jonathan Stonbely Gretchen Thompson Vineyard gardens Michelle Waterman Mitchell and Ronnie Weiss Allison Wheeler Norma Zack Lisa Zaharoni Israel Ziegenhorn
Alison Auerbach Ted and Nancy Balcomb Walter Bode Jessica Bradlee Joyce and Alan Brigish Kristi Budd Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Cavanaugh Laurie Chamberlin Thomas Chmielewski Jeannie Clement Lynn and James Conroy Pamela D’Amato Richard M. Divver Elissa Donovan
John CurelliSam FeldmanGlenn HearnMike Kidder
Sam Feldman, Chairman of the BoardFrank Wezniak, PresidentJonathan Chatinover, TreasurerHoward Miller, ClerkBill ConnollyJulia FleischnerLeslie FloydGlenn HearnChuck HughesMike Kelly Mike KidderTina MillerGenevieve Wyner
Jon Previant, Executive DirectorChrissy Kinsman, Development DirectorSidney Morris, Education DirectorJulie Olson, Farm ManagerRebecca Sanders, Garden ManagerShaina Dulberg, Education CoordinatorScottie Browning, Farm Hand
Taz Armstrong, Farm Hand
Photo Credits:Julie Olson, Chris Weber
With many thanks to everyone who helps us grow
Location:14 Aero Ave., Edgartown, MA 02539
Mailing Address:P.O. Box 1868, Edgartown, MA 02539
(508)627-7007 www.farminstitute.org
The FARM Institute Staff
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The FARM Institute Board of Directors
The FARM Institute Founders
Jane LoutzenhiserCommunity Liaison(508) 627-7007 ext. [email protected]