We haven’t been sitting still in 2020!
We’re especially thankful as we reflect on the gifts and growth we have enjoyed at the Patterson School Foundation this year. Despite the pandemic, yet inspired by it and our commitment to resiliency, we have encouraged and enabled five farmers to grow a variety of market vegetables, mature their sustainability skills, and have provided affordable housing for many. We are also thrilled to report that amidst the small business challenges, we have a record number of culinary entrepreneurs honing their cooking, baking, and marketing skills, thus courageously pursuing their career goals!
Scriptures teach us to ‘ask and ye shall receive’; and my brother and I have comedically modernized this into our frequently exchanged phrase: ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get’! So it’s with this belief that I share an update on the Patterson School Incubator Farm’s last “Giving Tuesday Now” ask, which occurred in May due to the Covid pandemic. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that Samuel Ogilvie of Wilkesboro, a Patterson School alumni, would call to donate three entire greenhouses! Thanks in no small part to this generous donation, the last giving Tuesday was a rousing success for Patterson!
Your other gracious contributions helped us afford other farming expenses such as needed plumbing, orchard care, plowing assistance from Brother Brady, and continued improvements and expansion of our greenhouse’s packing area. Contributions have creatively manifested in a variety of ways, including Ed Winebarger transforming 1/5 acre of grass into an organic garlic plot. After amending and tending with exemplary Incubator Farming mentorship, he harvested and helped us sell $1800 of garlic for our first annual IF fundraiser. By this example, Ed, the garlic man in the headline photo, inspired our latest IFers, Sara Yates and Mike Hedge, aka Hedge Family Farms, to offer to do the same Garlic Growing Fundraiser for Patterson’s IF Program this coming year!
Now that we have three incredible greenhouses, and incubator farmers desirous of using them, we’d really appreciate your help outfitting them with the needed hardware and plastic, as well as the equipment and labor costs. The costs for getting our greenhouses in working order will be approximately $20,000. As Sam and others have shown, your contributions from greenhouses, to garlic to greenbacks, can greatly benefit us in growing Patterson’s educational and agricultural legacy! Thanks so much for your creative, generous, and ongoing support!