Spoutwood Farm Recovery Fund
Donation protected
May Day Fairie Festival Cancellation Prompts Spoutwood Farm Center to Launch Extensive Recovery Effort
For the first time in the 26-year history of the May Day Fairie Festival, Spoutwood Farm was forced to cancel. Due to the relentless rainy conditions, troubles with mud began in the parking area on Saturday morning at Forbes Farm, the neighboring field that accommodates the thousands of festivalgoers. Similar conditions on the Festival grounds at Spoutwood Farm, progressed throughout the day, and the decision was made late Saturday to cancel the remainder of the festival altogether due to serious safety concerns. The extremely muddy and wet conditions ended the annual celebration early.
The May Day Fairie Festival is not only a fun, annual celebration, but it is also the primary fundraiser for Spoutwood, a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational farm. The Fairie Festival supports the Farm's overall operations year-round and the consequences have yet to be fully realized. Because the Festival has always been a rain-or-shine, past years have suffered because of rain and low attendance. This cancellation, however, is unprecedented and well beyond a usual weather setback. Not only did the Festival experience a low turnout on Friday and Saturday, but they also had zero income on Sunday due to the cancellation, and they were prompted to pay partial vendor fee refunds, as well as refunds for advance sale ticket holders who were unable to attend. Repair and maintenance costs will also contribute to the overall losses leaving the estimated financial impact at a devastating deficit of approximately $100,000.
Operations costs for Spoutwood Farm Center include general farm maintenance, the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, the operation of the teen CHEFS program, animal care, grounds keeping, all staffing, and upkeep of the various buildings and equipment, such as the Observatory, Frodo Straw Bale building, office, barn and other outbuildings. Without recovery assistance, the cancellation and subsequent deficit will also either delay or altogether derail future plans including the development of a formal library from the thousands of nature books collected throughout the years, and the launch of a complete roster of educational outreach programs.
In spite of the current devastation, Spoutwood Farm Center is determined to recover and thrive and the annual May Day Fairie Festival celebrations will continue. The recovery effort is already underway with a general fundraising campaign, with donations being gratefully accepted on the website HERE and through the GoFundMe campaign HERE. The Board of Directors and the support team for Spoutwood are also researching and pursuing appropriate grants that aid non-profit organizations, and discussing the possibility of hosting a different fundraising event some time in 2017. All donations to the 501(c)(3) are tax deductible.
Additionally, participating in the Spoutwood Farm Center Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program also supports the Farm and aids the recovery effort. The CSA provides a weekly supply of fresh, local, naturally grown vegetables as well as egg and cheese options for 24 weeks of the growing season. CSA shareholders pay in advance for a regular medium or large supply of vegetables. Shareholder commitments allow the Farm to grow the best quality produce without the economic worry that besets modern agriculture.
Sign up for the CSA HERE . Pick-ups begin on May 25th and registrations will continue through mid June.
ABOUT SPOUTWOOD FARM CENTER
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational farm, Spoutwood Farm Center demonstrates, promotes, and advocates for our interconnected sustainable partnership with Nature. Spoutwood Farm Center is a place of beauty, respite and renewal, inspiring people to reconnect to Nature by honoring the living web of our particular place on Earth, through celebration, wonder, and stewardship. Spoutwood’s heart-felt belief is that, through fresh, locally grown food and effective plant-animal-people partnerships with the land, we will build a vital, just, and sustainable world for the 21st century. To learn more about Spoutwood Farm Center, please visit http://www.spoutwood.org or find us on https://www.facebook.com/spoutwood/.
SPOUTWOOD FARM CENTER MISSION
Spoutwood Farm Center demonstrates, promotes and advocates for our interconnected sustainable partnership with Nature.
SPOUTWOOD FARM CENTER VISION STATEMENT
Spoutwood Farm Center is a place of beauty, respite and renewal, which inspires and teaches people to reconnect to Nature by honoring the living web of our particular place on earth, through celebration, wonder, and stewardship. Spoutwood’s heart-felt belief is that through fresh, locally grown food and effective plant-animal-people partnerships with the land we will build a vital, just and sustainable world for the 21st century.
For the first time in the 26-year history of the May Day Fairie Festival, Spoutwood Farm was forced to cancel. Due to the relentless rainy conditions, troubles with mud began in the parking area on Saturday morning at Forbes Farm, the neighboring field that accommodates the thousands of festivalgoers. Similar conditions on the Festival grounds at Spoutwood Farm, progressed throughout the day, and the decision was made late Saturday to cancel the remainder of the festival altogether due to serious safety concerns. The extremely muddy and wet conditions ended the annual celebration early.
The May Day Fairie Festival is not only a fun, annual celebration, but it is also the primary fundraiser for Spoutwood, a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational farm. The Fairie Festival supports the Farm's overall operations year-round and the consequences have yet to be fully realized. Because the Festival has always been a rain-or-shine, past years have suffered because of rain and low attendance. This cancellation, however, is unprecedented and well beyond a usual weather setback. Not only did the Festival experience a low turnout on Friday and Saturday, but they also had zero income on Sunday due to the cancellation, and they were prompted to pay partial vendor fee refunds, as well as refunds for advance sale ticket holders who were unable to attend. Repair and maintenance costs will also contribute to the overall losses leaving the estimated financial impact at a devastating deficit of approximately $100,000.
Operations costs for Spoutwood Farm Center include general farm maintenance, the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, the operation of the teen CHEFS program, animal care, grounds keeping, all staffing, and upkeep of the various buildings and equipment, such as the Observatory, Frodo Straw Bale building, office, barn and other outbuildings. Without recovery assistance, the cancellation and subsequent deficit will also either delay or altogether derail future plans including the development of a formal library from the thousands of nature books collected throughout the years, and the launch of a complete roster of educational outreach programs.
In spite of the current devastation, Spoutwood Farm Center is determined to recover and thrive and the annual May Day Fairie Festival celebrations will continue. The recovery effort is already underway with a general fundraising campaign, with donations being gratefully accepted on the website HERE and through the GoFundMe campaign HERE. The Board of Directors and the support team for Spoutwood are also researching and pursuing appropriate grants that aid non-profit organizations, and discussing the possibility of hosting a different fundraising event some time in 2017. All donations to the 501(c)(3) are tax deductible.
Additionally, participating in the Spoutwood Farm Center Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program also supports the Farm and aids the recovery effort. The CSA provides a weekly supply of fresh, local, naturally grown vegetables as well as egg and cheese options for 24 weeks of the growing season. CSA shareholders pay in advance for a regular medium or large supply of vegetables. Shareholder commitments allow the Farm to grow the best quality produce without the economic worry that besets modern agriculture.
Sign up for the CSA HERE . Pick-ups begin on May 25th and registrations will continue through mid June.
ABOUT SPOUTWOOD FARM CENTER
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational farm, Spoutwood Farm Center demonstrates, promotes, and advocates for our interconnected sustainable partnership with Nature. Spoutwood Farm Center is a place of beauty, respite and renewal, inspiring people to reconnect to Nature by honoring the living web of our particular place on Earth, through celebration, wonder, and stewardship. Spoutwood’s heart-felt belief is that, through fresh, locally grown food and effective plant-animal-people partnerships with the land, we will build a vital, just, and sustainable world for the 21st century. To learn more about Spoutwood Farm Center, please visit http://www.spoutwood.org or find us on https://www.facebook.com/spoutwood/.
SPOUTWOOD FARM CENTER MISSION
Spoutwood Farm Center demonstrates, promotes and advocates for our interconnected sustainable partnership with Nature.
SPOUTWOOD FARM CENTER VISION STATEMENT
Spoutwood Farm Center is a place of beauty, respite and renewal, which inspires and teaches people to reconnect to Nature by honoring the living web of our particular place on earth, through celebration, wonder, and stewardship. Spoutwood’s heart-felt belief is that through fresh, locally grown food and effective plant-animal-people partnerships with the land we will build a vital, just and sustainable world for the 21st century.
Organizer
Victoria Ribeiro
Organizer
Glen Rock, PA
