If you've ever shopped at a farmers' market, you might have already tried some fresh produce grown by organic farmers at the Yarrow Ecovillage Community Farm.
Now the farmers need to build a barn this summer to store their tractor, pack organic greens, and hold barn dances.
It's their next big project and they're reaching out to Chilliwack and beyond for a little assistance.
"We need your help to launch our next big project — a barn raising!" said farm manager Tamara Bonnemaison.
She and husband Joel Skrepnek own Osprey Organic Farm. They have been farming organically for five years, and moved to the ecovillage last year.
In the old days a community would often come together for a frantic weekend to build a barn.
Now it's being attempted with a warm invitation to the larger community to get involved in the project in a novel way, before the construction even starts.
The community farm has been transformed into a local hub of sustainable food, attracting people who want to celebrate and learn more about how it's done.
"The whole idea of the community farm is bringing people together."
So they launched a crowd funding campaign this month with Peerbackers.com to build their barn. With the element of community-building so crucial to them, the crowd funding model was seen as a good match for the ecovillage farmers.
"We have only 45 days to raise $30,000 from many small donations," Bonnemaison says.
So far they have raised more than $2,400.
The funds will pay for a post-and-beam barn kit, which comes with pre-cut lumber and pre-drilled holes for screws.
The campaign runs until June 5, and they're offering some tasty incentives for project donors, including the honour of having a barn dance in their name, and a glittering dinner for two at the farm.
Even a modest $15 donation yields a packet of coveted seeds from their heritage varieties of vegetables, and any level of support is very much appreciated.
"Anyone who donates gets invited to our barn raising parties, and can get great rewards such as seeds from our farm, fresh produce, or invitations to fun events like a Pumpkin Picking Party."
See more at www.peerbackers.com/projects/community-barn-raising. They put together a charming little video to show you what they're up to.
For more details or a tour of the farm, contact Tamara.bonnemaison@gmail.com
or 778-374-0321.
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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