What is one of the first steps required to get 150,000 pounds of fresh, organic produce to local food banks? Plowing the soil, of course. On Saturday, April 7 (weather permitting) from 10am until 3pm, four to six teams of drivers and plow horses will do just that as they help ready the fields at Mother Earth Farm for spring planting.
Emergency Food Network operates the 8-acre organic farm, managed by Canyon Little. This annual event exemplifies the spirit of the program. Mother Earth Farm grows more than 40 varieties of vegetables, as well as fruit trees. Bees are kept on site to pollinate, and their honey is collected for distribution as well. Vegetables grown at Mother Earth Farm are harvested and delivered fresh to feed programs around Pierce County, often on the same day that it is harvested.
An average of 110,000 children, seniors and adults visit feeding programs in Pierce County each month. In 2011, Emergency Food Network provided 13.1 million pounds of food valued at $16.1 million to 67 food banks, meal sites, and shelters throughout Pierce County.
Attendees of the Draft Horse Plow are encouraged to check EFN’s website (www.efoodnet.org) for rescheduling of this event due to inclement weather, as the teams of draft horses are unable to plow the fields in muddy conditions.
Directions to Mother Earth Farm: Take HWY 512 (to Puyallup) and follow signs east to Highway 410 East (Yakima/Sumner) exit. Follow 410 to second Sumner exit (Valley Avenue/Orting-Highway 162); and turn right at stoplight at end of exit ramp (toward Orting). Drive approximately 1.9 miles (past Alderton and Spooner Farms) to 102nd. Look for gravel road on left – Mother Earth Farm sign will be at entrance to 102nd. Farm is at the end of the gravel road on the right.
Mother Earth Farm
15208 102nd St E, Puyallup 98374