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kferyanitz
- I am trying to start a unique community farm....
Hello!
My name is Kandie Feryanitz and I am in the process of gathering information, ideas, referals, and donations prior to submitting a grant proposal. I want to start a community farm and to encourage small farms to start community farms themselves.
The farm I'd like to start would have many components including education and training in the ag industry, a community garden/ food bank, and an education and resource center. As a woman who has worked in agriculture for over 15 years I have seen first hand the growing problem of rapid turnover. I feel this has many causes including lack of experience and commitment, poor communication skills,and poor benifits and pay, just to name a few....
I'd like to train individuals in all aspects of farming (both old and new methods tailored to the individual's needs), animal husbandry, livestock care and production, organic farming, computer skills, communication skills, resume' writing, interviewing for jobs, negotiating a benifits package, and even some management courses.
I believe that this will be a win-win situation. Employees win because they are well trained and will be well compensated, they have learned valuable skills that they can use at work and skills they can use outside of work as well. The employer benifits by recieving qualified, well trained help that will stay long term, thereby reducing or eliminating the problem of rapid turnover. This saves the employer valuable time and money checking resume's, interviewing prospective employees, training them, and having to find replacements when they quit. Time IS money! I think I can save them both.
I also want to start a community garden/ foodbank and an education and resource center. I want to teach such things as self sufficiency, job skills, self esteem, gardening, canning, freezing, preserving, growing herbs for food and medicinal purposes, etc. I also want to talk to other farmers and encourage them to start community farms where they live. I think this would solve two problems. First, it would insure that all citizens had access to nutritious fresh produce, meat, dairy products, honey, etc... and that no one would go hungry. Secondly, it would insure that the small farm would stay in business by providing a market for its goods. I think if the government would subsidize a program like this it could accomplish three things; substantially reduce or eliminate the foodstamp program, ensure that no citizen goes hungry, and ensure small farms could stay in business and thrive in this type of environment.
In case you're wondering why I decided to take on a project like this the answer is simple. I am tired of seeing poverty, homelessness, and hunger. It shouldn't exist in such epidemic proportions, especially not in America, the wealthiest nation in the world. I can't sit back and do nothing knowing there are people who are homeless or live in substandard housing, that families are slowly starving to death on a daily basis, that children die from hunger and malnutrition, that people eat out of dumpsters. This is unnacceptable! Now one person can't solve the world's problem, but I can do my part. If we all do our part we can solve these problems. Remewmber "If you're not part of the solution then you're part of the problem!". That's a fact. If you'd like to join me in solving these problems, or if you have advice, ideas, or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me. You can e-mail me at kferyanitz@yahoo.com. Also, you can e-mail me if you'd like the rest of my contact information. I am in the process of setting up a website and hope to post the link here soon. Please help your fellow man.....Thanks!
