Oh January, where have you gone! They say time flies when you are having fun, and that truly holds true for us at Next Step Farms. Our exciting news is that NSF will be adding WEDNESDAYS to our normal open days! We seem to be on track to do that beginning in March. It is wonderful to watch independence and self-advocacy growing each day. I LOVE getting messages from family members about at home accomplishments! It brings tears to my eyes every time.
Community Work days this past month was with the helping hands of Intrepid, Mr. Buggs Pest Control, and Providence Baptist Church. Targeted goals were achieved in record time and new friendships were made. In February, our goals include tree removal and making mulch, and prepping garden bed sites. For the trees, we need chain saws to remove the trees that the fence folks say are in the way. We are looking to rent or borrow a wood chipper to reserve some of the trees for mulch, and for others we will place in the burn pit. We need to begin smoothing the area where the garden beds will be located. If you can help with any of these equipment items, rental or donated, and/or you can join us on February 11, please sign up and let us know. We are asking volunteers to sign up so that we know how to plan. This will also enable us to communicate directly with you instead of a mass email to everyone. See Upcoming Events for the link.
Clients are continuing to amaze us with their gains of independence: Verifying bank deposit amounts, planning monthly menus, making quart after quart of pickles, and endless jellies. It truly shows that when we find purpose within ourselves, we find contentment. Currently, we have pickles and a variety of jellies in stock at our temp location. Delivery and shipping is currently not an option for these items, please come see between 9-2 or email us to schedule an appointment to get yours today. The vision of Next Step Farms is only successful when we intermingle and learn to value one another.
Construction is exciting! Doors, windows, siding, and roof colors have been selected. We anticipate the lumber to be delivered in early February with farming immediately following. Siding will follow in the weeks to come and then the inside begins! We will need help with site cleanup and odd tasks. We are attempting to cut the cost as best we can with many volunteer hands. Please join us in making sure this cost is not passed on to our clients. Fundraising and awareness are how we achieve that goal. Some of the work we will be handling ourselves, but even that requires money to secure supplies. We need you NOW. There are 21,000 individuals in Madison County alone that would benefit from a program to give them purposes and hands-on skills. See the need and know that Next Step Farms is answering that need. But we cannot do it alone. We need to lock arms with private and corporate sponsorship. Contact us at info@nextstepfarms.org to help be the answer to that need.
