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Local resident proposes volunteer-run community farm near Rockland Park
Summary
Jarrett Fox asked supervisors for permission to use county land near Rockland Park and modest startup funding to launch a volunteer-run, no-till organic community farm intended for native-plant restoration, school education programs and donated produce. Staff said Valley Health has offered preliminary seed funding and staff will work with Fox on a formal proposal.
Jarrett Fox presented a plan to establish a volunteer-run community farm near Rockland Park, describing restoration, education and food-donation goals.
Fox said the project would use no-till organic practices, serve as an education hub for local schools and regional visitors, and donate harvests to Warren County food banks. "In the first year ... I could produce, between 2 and 3000 pounds of food," he told the board, calling that a modest start the project would scale over time.
Fox said the farming effort would rely primarily on volunteers, with the hope of adding one paid position only if grants and other funding lined up. He said he is forming a nonprofit and has identified potential grant opportunities but asked the board specifically for permission to use an available county parcel and for consideration of minor seed funding.
A staff member told supervisors Valley Health has expressed interest in providing "seed" funding and that staff can work with Fox to develop a formal proposal and pro forma if the board signals support. Board members asked about acreage (Fox said under two acres in production initially, with a longer-term aim of restoring roughly an acre to native plants) and potential partnerships with 4-H and other community gardens.
The board did not take formal action at the meeting; staff said they would coordinate a follow-up, prepare a formal proposal and, if appropriate, bring an item back for formal consideration.
