Last year,Clark partnered with the Kingston Land Trust and Family of Woodstock’s healthy-kid program Kingston Cares to offer a hands-on, agriculture, stewardship and nutrition education program called “Dig Kids.” About a half-dozen community teens were paid to farm and harvest a community garden at the Everette Hodge Center, learn about the nutritional components, how to cook and prepare the foods and mentor younger kids in the ways of gardening. This year Clark is hopeful to staff her farm and farm stand with the Dig Kids. “I love the work of farming, especially urban farming because it is so varied,” said Clark. “One minute I am planting seedlings in the ground and the next I’m talking it up with customers at the farm stand. Working with kids and teaching them the ways of food growing is a bonus. They have so much curiosity and ask amazing questions.”
About 25 percent of the produce grown from the farm goes to Queen’s Galley Soup Kitchen, said Clark. Clark throws weekend work parties, with the first one scheduled for March 10, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., (barring any inclement weather) to clean winter trash out, and sprucing up the beds and mulch. For more information, visit southpinestreetcityfarm.org.
