Ayers Foundation Ongoing and Past Projects
February 2018
Dig Deep
Dig Deep is a community team challenge to grow the best produce (with help along the way from Master Gardeners and Farmers), with proceeds to benefit Ayers Foundation outreach programming for more fun with food and the environment.
Overview
Dig Deep is a community-wide basic gardening initiative to educate and gather for the purpose of helping people to understand our bodies’ connection with food, how it is grown, and the nutritional benefits of locally sourced food and sustainable agriculture.
Goals
- Create a fun learning environment to encourage even the most inexperienced to participate and gain a better understanding of how to produce some of their own food and where to acquire locally grown produce.
- Increase the activity levels of all ages and empower our community to work together towards common goals.
- Increase basic understanding of the nutrients/vitamins/antioxidants we gain from fresh, organic food and how they affect our everyday lives.
- Raise funds to further develop programming and workshops to promote, practice and teach sustainable agriculture, holistic nutrition, and healthy living as well as to increase the environmental literacy of our youth. Ayers Foundation passionately believes that creating a real-world connection to local food and farming is the best way to re-connect each of us to our bodies, good health, and the environment.
Specifications
Dig Deep will be led by the team at Ayers Foundation (Ayers) with the help of Hillandale Farm and other community partners. Hillandale Farm will provide the location for free workshops to instruct on the basic stages of gardening, and will be home to one of the community plots that will serve as a learning garden for any who wish to participate as part of “Team Ayers Foundation.” Individuals or organizations are encouraged to participate by working together to create more shared garden spaces, or join an existing team throughout the community.
“to all have a healthy and active life that keeps us connected, inspired, and growing together”
DIG DEEP AND REAP WHAT YOU SOW
If you’ve been thinking about starting a garden and just didn’t have the time, the knowledge or the yard space, then this is for you! Ayers’ program “Dig Deep” is all about learning new things, going outside your comfort zone, helping others, and exerting yourself to achieve new goals. Gardening is very rewarding and also demanding work if you do it alone, so let’s work together for one purpose - to all have a healthy and active life that keeps us connected, inspired, and growing together.
All funds donated go directly to the Ayers Foundation. Please visit http://www.ayers-foundation.org/our-mission/ to learn more about the organization and the overall mission. Membership is greatly encouraged.
All funds donated go directly to the Ayers Foundation. Please visit http://www.ayers-foundation.org/our-mission/ to learn more about the organization and the overall mission. Membership is greatly encouraged.
Hillandale Food Hub (DBA Farmers’ Community Food Hub)
A Micro-local Aggregator, Marketer, and Distributor of Locally and Organically Grown Farm Product
A Micro-local Aggregator, Marketer, and Distributor of Locally and Organically Grown Farm Product
The Hillandale Food Hub, a RI Benefit Corporation, is a consortium of partner farms cooperating to provide the highest quality organically-grown meats and produce to residents, speciality markets and hospitality businesses in the greater Westerly, Eastern CT, and Block Island area.
It is by design that most of the food handled by the Hub originates within 30 miles (South County, RI and New London County, CT) of its base of operations in Westerly, RI and is distributed inside a 25 mile radius of same. Due to limited high quality grazing lands and other factors, some proteins emanate from outside this radius but still from within the bioregion.
Partner farms and producers also support the Ayers Foundation through their respective expertise and knowledge by supporting educational programs that benefit HUNDREDS of students per year through experiential and service-based learning.
Phase I of the Hillandale Food Hub continues to demonstrate its success and is on track to aggregate approximately 90,000 lb. of whole food product in 2019. Phase II is underway, the Hobart B Ayers Meeting House, which will provide processing and storage space, function as our on-site retail outlet, and memorialize Hobart's life work as a mechanical engineer and dairyman. Some history on agriculture in South County will also be featured. Phase III is under development and will entail a larger commercial farm kitchen contributing voluminous value-added products to our bourgeoning, yet mostly local, supply chain.
Our partner Farms meet the highest standards in terms of food quality, freshness, land stewardship, and general care for what they raise and the communities they serve. Collectively, we transcend the contemporary understanding of organic agriculture to a holistic set of beliefs and practices that are centuries old, and needless to say, time-tested.
While the Ayers Foundation derives some of its revenues from this social enterprise today, it is anticipated that its financial autonomy will only increase with time due to the stake and role it will take and play in the evolution of the Hillandale Food Hub and food entrepreneurship.
It is by design that most of the food handled by the Hub originates within 30 miles (South County, RI and New London County, CT) of its base of operations in Westerly, RI and is distributed inside a 25 mile radius of same. Due to limited high quality grazing lands and other factors, some proteins emanate from outside this radius but still from within the bioregion.
Partner farms and producers also support the Ayers Foundation through their respective expertise and knowledge by supporting educational programs that benefit HUNDREDS of students per year through experiential and service-based learning.
Phase I of the Hillandale Food Hub continues to demonstrate its success and is on track to aggregate approximately 90,000 lb. of whole food product in 2019. Phase II is underway, the Hobart B Ayers Meeting House, which will provide processing and storage space, function as our on-site retail outlet, and memorialize Hobart's life work as a mechanical engineer and dairyman. Some history on agriculture in South County will also be featured. Phase III is under development and will entail a larger commercial farm kitchen contributing voluminous value-added products to our bourgeoning, yet mostly local, supply chain.
Our partner Farms meet the highest standards in terms of food quality, freshness, land stewardship, and general care for what they raise and the communities they serve. Collectively, we transcend the contemporary understanding of organic agriculture to a holistic set of beliefs and practices that are centuries old, and needless to say, time-tested.
While the Ayers Foundation derives some of its revenues from this social enterprise today, it is anticipated that its financial autonomy will only increase with time due to the stake and role it will take and play in the evolution of the Hillandale Food Hub and food entrepreneurship.
Project started in winter 2014
Plant Breeding for a Small Scale, Sustainable, Distributive Food Production System
Ayers has secured an agreement with Enza Zaden, a premier global plant breeding concern that places emphasis on regional and organic markets.
Goals are to improve an existing, superior-tasting, Dutch hybrid tomato, whose genetic plant traits make it particularly susceptible to foliar fungal diseases.
AYERS Foundation and its affiliated farms will trial the first generation of a targeted F1 tomato hybrid in order to provide essential feedback for ultimately producing the ideal tomato, one that has its traditional flavor, character, and locular structure preserved without sacrificing disease resistance.
A similar agreement is being sought with another Dutch firm, VOLOAGRI. And, in fact, some new tomato plant cultivars have already been secured and will be tested in 2015.
The importance of this work cannot be overstated. Revitalizing agrarian economies around the globe will stem from the attraction of fresh & healthy, great-tasting fruits, vegetables, and grains; the likes of which arouse humans' innate desire for wholesome, nutrient dense foods that are a pleasure to eat!
Goals are to improve an existing, superior-tasting, Dutch hybrid tomato, whose genetic plant traits make it particularly susceptible to foliar fungal diseases.
AYERS Foundation and its affiliated farms will trial the first generation of a targeted F1 tomato hybrid in order to provide essential feedback for ultimately producing the ideal tomato, one that has its traditional flavor, character, and locular structure preserved without sacrificing disease resistance.
A similar agreement is being sought with another Dutch firm, VOLOAGRI. And, in fact, some new tomato plant cultivars have already been secured and will be tested in 2015.
The importance of this work cannot be overstated. Revitalizing agrarian economies around the globe will stem from the attraction of fresh & healthy, great-tasting fruits, vegetables, and grains; the likes of which arouse humans' innate desire for wholesome, nutrient dense foods that are a pleasure to eat!
Project started in spring, 2013
Dedicated Farm-to-School Program in Westerly, RI
(May, 2013) AYERS FARM-TO-SCHOOL SET TO PRODUCE NEARLY 15000 POUNDS OF PRODUCE OVER THREE YEARS FOR AREA SCHOOL CAFETERIAS. HELP US SET THE PRECEDENT AND DE FACTO STANDARD FOR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND WELLNESS WHEREVER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS EXIST.
As of late 2013, AYERS Foundation is collaborating with the Westerly Land Trust to identify and allocate arable land for expansion of farm-to-school program. This kind of cooperation is a hallmark to community supported agriculture and the revitalization of agriculture in the state. If we as a township, state, and land are to reduce our addiction to the centralized industrial food production system, then we must begin with educating our youth by doing and sharing - it's that simple.
Farm-to-school is a concept designed around getting more locally grown food into school cafeterias while helping teach kids the benefits of growing and consuming farm-fresh food within the same community. In doing so, these programs can educate and inspire future consumers and producers.
Coupled with production, AYERS has successfully launched a food and nutrition lecture series that will eventually impact every school in the district. This program has garnered the support of the Westerly Schools' Health Department and will work in conjunction with nurses and other health and nutrition teachers to broaden students' understanding of health and wellness.
Nestled right on the shore of Quonochontaug Pond in South County, RI, we at Hillandale and AYERS are excited about forward progress, particularly due to its implications around small scale, "organic" farming in South County, the ecosystem services (e.g. protection of the pond) deliverable through sustainable agricultural practices, and the opportunity to inspire our youth to help proliferate farm-fresh food that's both good for the environment and the community.
Thanks to the Lewis Foundation, the Northeast Grassroots Environmental Fund, and over 100 individuals who include friends; family members; customers; and members of our community, we raised in excess of 14,000 dollars to secure the equipment and working capital to launch this venture.
As of late 2013, AYERS Foundation is collaborating with the Westerly Land Trust to identify and allocate arable land for expansion of farm-to-school program. This kind of cooperation is a hallmark to community supported agriculture and the revitalization of agriculture in the state. If we as a township, state, and land are to reduce our addiction to the centralized industrial food production system, then we must begin with educating our youth by doing and sharing - it's that simple.
Farm-to-school is a concept designed around getting more locally grown food into school cafeterias while helping teach kids the benefits of growing and consuming farm-fresh food within the same community. In doing so, these programs can educate and inspire future consumers and producers.
Coupled with production, AYERS has successfully launched a food and nutrition lecture series that will eventually impact every school in the district. This program has garnered the support of the Westerly Schools' Health Department and will work in conjunction with nurses and other health and nutrition teachers to broaden students' understanding of health and wellness.
Nestled right on the shore of Quonochontaug Pond in South County, RI, we at Hillandale and AYERS are excited about forward progress, particularly due to its implications around small scale, "organic" farming in South County, the ecosystem services (e.g. protection of the pond) deliverable through sustainable agricultural practices, and the opportunity to inspire our youth to help proliferate farm-fresh food that's both good for the environment and the community.
Thanks to the Lewis Foundation, the Northeast Grassroots Environmental Fund, and over 100 individuals who include friends; family members; customers; and members of our community, we raised in excess of 14,000 dollars to secure the equipment and working capital to launch this venture.
Helping to ensure the success of these programs and those to follow cannot be achieved without your participation.
The wealth of a nation rests on the health of its children!
Please email any questions or concerns to [email protected]