White Barn Farm Water Leak Fund

Watch the news story done on July 15, by NBC Boston here: https://www.nbcboston.com/on-air/as-seen-on/farm-hit-with-surprise-water-bill/2430381/

White Barn Farm had an underground water leak on one of the frost free hydrants providing town water for washing produce. All irrigation and greenhouse watering on the farm is provided for by a well installed in 2016. Wrentham only sends out water bills every 6 months, so an enormous amount of water leaked into the sandy soil under the hydrant, unbeknownst to the farm. In May, when the $15,000 water bill arrived, the farm quickly investigated, heard a leak at a hydrant behind the barn and used the backhoe to dig a big hole and discover the faulty piece of metal that was responsible for the leak and replace the hydrant. Wrentham has a formula used to give water bill abatements in case there is a leak. Unfortunately, after this abatement was given, we were still left with a massive bill of $11,585. The next step was to ask the Board of Selectman for a further abatement. There will tentatively be a proposal to bill us at cost of the water treatment and pumping through our system - if approved at the next meeting on August 10, there would possibly be a credit of $6000 issued. We feel that is fair, though unfortunate, and hope the Board of Selectman will approve this proposal. In the meantime we paid the $11,585 with funds collected from our CSA program, in which members pay up front for a vegetable share, distributed each week during the growing season. We are in our peak labor cost part of the season - keeping the farmstand adequately staffed, getting vegetables and flowers harvested and washed, weeding, seeding, transplanting, cultivating, pruning tomatoes, and on and on and on. The unexpected expense has really left us in a cash flow pinch. Several community members have suggested starting a gofundme page or expressed that they would like to help defray this crazy unexpected water expense. With much trepidation, we are initiating this fundraising campaign. Every little amount helps (even $5!)and we thank you in advance for donating if you're able and spreading the word . . .

Your support is so appreciated (but not at all expected!). All funds will go towards the operating costs of the farm.