Hello Friends of the Orchard!
We are nearing the last month of our fundraising drive! Because we center our fundraising around the Arizona charitable tax credit, we are aiming to meet our fundraising goal of $20,000 in the next month. As of right now we have raised $6,600, and are on our way to meeting that goal, thanks to you! If you are interested in donating, or have any questions about the Arizona charitable tax credit, please see our FAQ blog post, or donate on our website!
Today we would like to tell you more about the motivation behind the work the Orchard undertakes in striving to fulfill our mission:
“Within the context of a working farm and educational outreach, our mission is to create and implement programs which provide direct service and advocate for change in the systems of food, personal wellness, education, and the stewardship of all species on Mother Earth.”
What small choices go into upholding our mission in everything we do?
–Livable minimum wage: From farm to table, workers in the food supply chain often earn minimum wage, or less in the case of immigrants or the incarcerated labor force. The Orchard is small, yet we commit to a minimum of $15/hour for both our full time farmer employee and contract workers serving various Orchard projects.
–Organic, local produce: As evidenced by our booth weekly at the Spaces of Opportunity Farmers’ Market, products sold by the Orchard must “pass several tests”. They must be:
- Organically grown.
- Sourced as local as possible. This starts with Miguel grown produce of course, then Spaces farmers, etc. Our organic pecans are grown in Sahuarita, AZ. as the closest source for organic pecans. Coffee of course isn’t grown here but must be grown sustainably and from known farms around the world (not passed through brokers who pay the grower very little), etc…
- Whole food derived from plants. The science is clear regarding the circle of wellness from planet to animal welfare to human health and reversal of chronic diseases.
- As best as we can determine, the product of fair treatment of all workers in the supply chain.
–Advocacy & Action for Youth: We work with children daily, mostly from the Lassen Academy of Science and Nutrition. In doing so, we plea for a shift in school curricula that engages children in real work.
Now online! Help us act on the above by shopping at our humble market! We are at the Spaces of Opportunity farmer’s market every Saturday, 9:00am-1:00pm. In a hurry? Shop online and pick up your purchases ready to go Saturday morning
We are so grateful to everyone who has already chosen to donate and uphold these values through their support. If you have any questions about donating or volunteering in the work we do, please do not hesitate to reach out!
-Orchard Community Learning Center Team