“FaVoRs” and Westchester Land Trust

Harvest Fresh Produce for Local Residents in Need

Bedford Hills, NY – On Sunday, September 10^th, members of FaVoRs, a volunteer club of local families who spend time volunteering together, enjoyed a picture-perfect afternoon to harvest fresh produce from Westchester Land Trust’s (WLT) micro farm at its headquarters in Bedford Hills. Doug DeCandia, FB4W’s Food Growing Coordinator, and Dr. Shaun McCoshum, WLT’s Preserve Manager & Educator, co-facilitated the afternoon outing.

A local leader in the protection of environmentally-important open space, WLT promotes sustainable agriculture which can provide both ecosystem services and quality of life benefits.  Westchester Land Trust is one of five area non-profits, institutions, and agencies partnered with FB4W to grow much-needed food exclusively for the nearly one in five individuals who are hungry or at risk of hunger in Westchester County.

Local FaVoRs families worked in the long garden rows to pull potatoes from the nutrient-dense soil and pluck tomatoes from the vines. Young volunteers (ages 2 on up!) volunteered alongside their parents, grandparents, and friends. All fresh produce was donated to Food Bank for Westchester’s (FB4W) Food Growing Program which services dozens of food pantries throughout the County.

“Our family loves participating in FaVoRs because it exposes  us to non-profits in our own backyard and gets our children involved,” said Sarah Webb. “I drive past the Westchster Land Trust’s headquarters nearly every day and didn’t know what it does or the significant impact it has in providing fresh produce to local foodbanks.”

Volunteers, led by Westchester Land Trust’s professional staff, are an essential part of Sugar Hill Farm’s success—helping to raise 2,670 pounds of vegetables in 2016 alone!  Through hands-on experience, participants—like FaVoRs Families—become informed advocates on the impact of their work at the individual, community, and regional levels.

ABOUT FAVORS

FaVoRs is a Volunteer “club” for families who want to engage, involve, and educate their children in the concept of “doing good”. It’s for any family that wants to give back to our amazing community in a way that is easy, organic, and fits with your family’s busy lifestyle. Founded in December 2009, FaVoRs has helped dozens of non-profits with all manner of projects — from trail clearings to sorting donated clothes to writing notes to soldiers. Membership is open. Contact FaVoRs for more information: westchesterfavors.org

 ABOUT WESTCHESTER LAND TRUST

Based in Bedford Hills, the Westchester Land Trust works with public and private partners to preserve land in perpetuity and to enhance the natural resources in Westchester and eastern Putnam counties—a densely populated region under persistent threat from the pressures of development.   Through the use of conservation easements and outright acquisition, WLT’s efforts benefit the long-term health of these communities by safeguarding air quality, food supply and community character, as well as critical watershed areas.  One of the first land trusts in the nation to receive Accreditation through the Land Trust Alliance, WLT which was founded in 1988, has preserved almost 8,000 acres of open space. More than 700-acres of land are owned by the organization which are free and open to the public year round. For the fall calendar of free family and community events, please visit: westchesterlandtrust.org and connect with WLT on Facebook & Instagram (@WestchesterLandTrust) as well as Twitter (@WLT_NY).

Caption: From left  to r – Lily Reuben (age 5), Harry Trotta (age 3) and Hadley Webb (age 4) helped harvest fresh produce for local residents in need at a FaVoRs outing hosted by Westchester Land Trust at their headquarters in Bedford Hills.