Do you know we have a dedicated team of six volunteers this season? They are an integral part of what makes our CSA program successful, ensuring you receive your veggie shares each week. Every Wednesday morning, this committed crew joins us bright and early at Big River Farms. From 6:30-8:30 a.m., they help us help pack over 220 CSA boxes full of freshly harvested organic produce grown by our hard working farmers. We couldn't do this work without them!
Meet Ann Hill, one of this year's CSA volunteers, and learn more about why it's meaningful to her.
How did you first learn about Big River Farms and The Food Group?
A dear friend of mine volunteered in the past and loved it.
What makes volunteering meaningful to you?
I grew up in a farm community in Iowa and, especially during this current time of uncertainty, it is wonderful to reconnect with the earth and all that it can produce. I am grateful to volunteer with an organization that provides quality agricultural opportunities to those who are underrepresented in the production and distribution of nutritious, fresh, delicious foods. More people should have access to growing fresh, healthy food!
What’s your favorite part about volunteering?
I love arriving early in the morning to see what has been harvested and is ready to pack into CSA boxes. There is always something I don't recognize, and I look forward to trying out new foods and recipes. I have eaten more kale and Swiss chard this summer than in the rest of my life combined!
How would you sum up your experience in 1 word?
Grounded (both spiritually and physically).
Why is supporting your community with nutritious, culturally connected foods important to you?
I have worked for Feed My Starving Children for 15 years and understand that nutritious food, particularly for children, is at the root of family and community success. My heart has been broken watching children eat biscuits made of dirt or chew on one small piece of cassava as their meal for an entire day. I want to do something to make a change, both locally and internationally. I also know that as Americans, it is not our right to tell other cultures the right and wrong things to eat. Rather, we need to celebrate all cultures and get behind the idea that every child in every country deserves a nutritious meal and a gentle touch every day, regardless of their background, faith or color.
What’s the most unexpected CSA item you’ve seen that you've packed?
Garlic scapes....delicious! I am all about garlic scape pesto!
What do you do when you’re not volunteering?
I work for Minnesota nonprofit Feed My Starving Children and volunteer with African Children Today (ACT), a nonprofit run completely by professional women who volunteer their time in support of women and children in southern Uganda. ACT provides quality education for 1,500 children at primary and secondary schools, creates sustainable jobs, and provides a market for handcrafts made by 300 artisans.
