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Many people come to the farm for the first time and say, “I had no idea you were even here!” They express their delight in finding us with comments about the food, the land, the farm, the barn and so many other things. It always makes me happy that folks enjoy being here, and I know a single visit will change their lives for the better. It’s also a reminder that we’re a hidden treasure and we need to do a better job of letting our community know we’re here and what our mission is. We look forward to sharing all the hidden treasures this beautiful farm has to offer for many years to come. To learn more about Stone Coop Farm’s treasures, watch this video and go on a quick treasure hunt! , Many people come to the farm for the first time and say, “I had no idea you were even here!” They express their delight in finding us with comments about the food, the land, the farm, the barn and so many other things. It always makes me happy that folks enjoy being here, and I know a single visit will change their lives for the better. It’s also a reminder that we’re a hidden treasure and we need to do a better job of letting our community know we’re here. A Time of Transition, Gratitude and Excitement Our transition to a non-profit working farm and learning center this year has been exciting and stressful. I have learned way more than I ever wanted to know about the IRS and the 501c3 process, and I’ve had to wrap my mind around a new source of income – donations and grants. What I didn’t know when I jumped into this venture was how long it takes to apply and receive grants, and how my messaging needs to change from “please support the farm” to “please make cash donations.” Another thing I didn’t know is that my time would be overtaken with paperwork, emails, fundraising meetings, event planning, etc. My joy in being a farmer had to be set aside so I could figure out how to be an Executive Director, including creating a Board of Directors and bylaws, and moving forward with state and federal filings. As an employee of this non-profit, not an owner, I even had to write my own job description. I’m not gonna lie, this has been my toughest year ever. But I am so incredibly excited about the future of this farm! Lessons Learned and New Goals My Blog from March 2018 – What Inspires You? explains my reasons for switching to a non-profit. If I had to do it again, I would have given myself at least 12 months to have everything figured out before the big switch. But I didn’t have that luxury. So here we are, eight months into the transition, getting ready for our largest fundraising event, our Donor Dinner. For the past 3 years, this event has raised money to help new farmers attend Michigan State Organic Farmer Training Program. Now it’s time to raise money to save our farm. We need $150,000. It’s a gigantic task, but and I know we can do it. You can help by making a cash donation or attending our fundraising dinner Sept. 22. We look forward to sharing all the hidden treasures this beautiful farm has to offer for many years to come. To learn more about Stone Coop Farm’s mission, watch this short video. Comments are closed.
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