The Pointer UW-Stevens Point Student Newspaper
On March 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Student Involvement and Employment Office hosted a volunteer opportunity at Central Rivers Farmshed.
Photo contributed by Brewster Johnson.
The opportunity is part of Service Saturdays, and volunteers worked with Growing Collective members. Students assisted in everyday tasks around the facility, such as inventorying plant containers and setting up tables in the greenhouse.
“Service Saturday brought the joy of true community development to all who volunteered and a deep sense of belonging,” said Brewster Johnson, student volunteer. “It was an educational experience that respected the values of Farmshed.”
The Growing Collective’s mission is to strengthen the local food community and support Farmshed’s Greenhouse Project. According to Farmshed’s website, hundreds have volunteered to assist in transforming the Sorenson’s Garden Center.
Olivia Ehlers, Americorp Farm to School community outreach member for Farmshed, led the Service Saturday. A recent graduate at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, she is among a handful of other college students interning at Farmshed.
Photo contributed by Brewster Johnson
Led by volunteer coordinator Taylor Ann Christiansen, Farmshed Fridays also bring in students and community members, Ehlers said. Cleaning pantries and re-potting plants are just a a few of the tasks volunteers can help with, and there is an optional potluck offered afterward.
“Monthly community potlucks bring together a lot of university and community members of all ages,” Ehlers said. “It’s good to see the students involved with local food initiatives and interacting with the community.”
Additionally, dietetics and nutrition students can complete practicum hours by volunteering through the Farm to School program, Ehlers said.
Nicolette Ratz
Contributor
nratz112@uwsp.edu
