Rather than write about my own thoughts and opinions about this, I would like to "borrow" part of Cassandra Morris's wonderful piece about Muir Ranch. You can find the rest of her story here at Patch.
"Plump and zesty tomatoes that burst in your mouth, apricots that leave a sweet lingering taste and basil so fragrant you’ll think you’ve never tasted the real thing can all be found at Muir Ranch, John Muir High School’s urban farm.
Students and volunteers cultivate fruits, veggies and flowers on 1.5-acres behind the school, and offer their fresh produce and friendly faces to the public on a subscription basis. Subscription info can be found below.
The ranch opened last summer and was maintained by four classes of students during the fall and spring semesters at the high school. This summer, about a dozen students are working as paid interns, and the program is expanding its membership services, also known as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).
Part of Muir Ranch’s mission is to create jobs for students and teach skills like business management and sales, but the program also aims to provide affordable produce to the community and promote healthy eating.
“At the end of the day, my kids are learning to grow food and getting a paycheck,” said Mud Baron, Muir Ranch’s Project Director."
So, what's not to love about this? Another "solution" presents itself to our community!
Jobs for youth? CHECK!
Addressing obesity and health issues in youth? CHECK!
Affordable? CHECK !
Investing in our local community? CHECK !
Another local source for all of us to get good, affordable, healthy food ? CHECK !
Help our local schools? CHECK !
So, as we in this community begin (hopefully) to gather the recent interest and passion about what is actually taking place here, and begin to look for solutions and positive ways to get involved, here comes another opportunity to do more than argue.
I know there wil be the naysayers, I can see the posts now.
"It's still too expensive." (go in with a neighbor, or someone else who posts the same issue)
"It won't solve the real problems" (We have to start somewhere, find common endeavors that just about everyone can get behind, put one foot in front of the other and start moving forward)
"Why not that other organization?" (Tell me who they are!)
What else? I know there will be more.
I signed up yesterday for their CSA. It will be another year before my new vegetable garden goes in. This is the perfect solution for my family and it gives back to the community and to an awesome program!
How many who post here, can sign up for the Muir Ranch CSA?
How many can sign up by Sunday evening at 10pm?
Please post here if you are going to sign up and if you would prefer to share with someone, post that as well. And for those with transportation issues, maybe we can work together on pickups.
I am going to start working on some sort of website. In the meantime, spread the word...
