THE FARM

The concept of The Farm is to have a piece of land in close proximity to The Bridge, where food can be grown to feed the participants as well as provide job opportunities, vocational instruction, and income from food sales. This will be the primary location for a full-scale commercial vermicomposting and Black Soldier Fly business as well as a hub for other businesses that will be launched.

Master Vermiculture technicians will be involved full-time at the facility and will provide ongoing training to participants who want to learn the trade and potentially start a franchise operation. The vermicompost produced will be used extensively at The Farm.

The Farm will also be a place for individuals who are coming out of prison and want to develop farming skills and/or establish and test out business models. There will be regular workshops on topics such as:

• Organic Vegetable Certification
• Establishing a CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture)
• Greenhouse Management
• Land and Soil Restoration
• Master Gardening and Master Composting certification
• Eco-forestry
• Permiculture

Although the primary purpose of The Farm is to provide food for the participants and develop agricultural skills, it would have numerous other benefits such as creating opportunities for cooperatives and other collaborations. Additionally, The Farm would create the ability for individuals to learn sustainable skills and be able to improve their quality of life through the production of healthy and whole foods.

The Farm could also be used for other purposes within the broader collaboration such as vegetable garden training for low income families, etc.
Ideally, The Farm would be 5-20 acres that could be purchased or leased and would have the following:

• 3-5 acres of arable land for the farming of crops.
• Hoop houses for Vermicomposting.
• Greenhouses.
• Space for raising animals such as chickens, goats, pigs, rabbits, etc.
• Large composting area and area for mixing soil for sale.
• Shed for tools, etc.

Depending on the size of the property, there might also be space to have several tiny homes to provide short-term housing for participants who want to pursue agricultural endeavors.