Become
a Member
The focus of Sweetwater’s mission is to educate our
community. Our memberships support this mission by providing the farm
infrastructure and the garden/classrooms where people can come and learn.
Information on becoming a member of Sweetwater Farm can be found here.
Become
a Volunteer
We welcome those living in the Tampa Bay area to come out to the farm
as volunteers to learn hands-on about organic farming. As a volunteer,
you can help with all farm tasks including planting, harvesting, and
weeding. You can also work on committees. Either way, volunteering contributes
greatly to the success of the farm. Volunteers are welcome any time
the farm is open, usually Wednesday through Sunday from 8:30-4:30 during
the season, November-May. For more information about volunteering on
the farm, please call 813-887-4066 or email organicintegrity@msn.com.
Remember, your farm experience will be more rewarding if you become
involved!
Teams
Like any organization, Sweetwater needs the active
support of its members and others. We welcome your participation on any
of our teams.
EXECUTIVE TEAM
- Composed of Board of Directors Officers
- Develops farm structural, organizational, and financial direction
- Participates in farm expansion opportunities
- Takes limited action between Board meetings as may be necessary
in emergency or other urgent situations where time is of the essence.
FINANCES TEAM
- Participates in fund raising projects
- Pursues corporate funding opportunities
- Seeks funding sources, writes grants, etc.
- Establishes and maintains endowments program
MEMBERSHIP TEAM
- Coordinates member’s interests with opportunities at the farm
- Plans and promotes activities to build farm ‘community’
- Works to maintain full membership
COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
- Responsible for web site look, feel, and content
- Responsible for media communications, announcements, public relations,
etc.
- Networks with other like-minded organizations
- Promotes the farm at fairs, festivals, etc
- Advertises the Sweetwater Sunday Organic Market
FARM OPERATIONS TEAM
- Chaired by the Executive Director
- Composed of farm staff, apprentices and volunteers
- Responsible for the day-to-day running of the farm
EDUCATION TEAM
- Develops education programs and curriculums
- Seeks resources for our education programs
- Assists Education Coordinator
SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM
- Plans and coordinates special events like Pesto Festo, Planter’s
Ball, and gourmet dinners
- Identifies other possible fund raising events
MARKET – SALES TEAM
- Responsible for expansion of the Sweetwater Sunday Organic Market
- Introduces new products
- Recruits like-minded vendors
- Investigate selling items on our web site
LEGAL TEAM
- Assists the farm in legal matters
- Maintains the farm’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
- Monitors the farm’s compliance with the IRS’s requirements
for tax-exempt status and other applicable local, state and federal
laws and regulations
Grants
and Donations
As a non-profit group, Sweetwater Farm is well positioned
to benefit from grants that focus on community development, agriculture,
and education. We are actively seeking grants and donations from like-minded
organizations and individuals interested in promoting what the farm
stands for. Please contact our Board President to discuss donation opportunities.
During the 2004-2005 season, Sweetwater received a $5,000 grant from
the Allegany Franciscan Foundation to help develop curriculums for our
educational programs. This allowed us to develop materials and resources
for School Tours and Farm Field Trips.
 FUNDRAISERS
Pesto
Festo
Pesto Festo is Sweetwater’s main fund raising event,
held annually at near the close of the season in May. It is an evening
of great food, music and fun. We harvest fresh farm basil and salad
greens, which magically transcends into pesto served over pasta, and
the freshest salad you’ve ever eaten. We add bread, dessert and
beverages as well. There is a silent auction of over 60 items, organic
wine tasting and sales, and plants and used books for sale. There is
always some wonderful entertainment, whether it be The Urban Gypsies,
a 4 member musical group of contemporary high energy music, or Shanna
Banana for the kids. An event like this takes lots of energy and volunteers
to be a success.
Planters
Ball
Our Planter’s Ball is a big potluck event where everyone brings
their favorite dish to pass. We have organic wine tasting and sales
and some great musical entertainment.
Adopt-a-Fruit-Tree
Program
The board-approved Adopt-a-Fruit-Tree program provides an
opportunity for people to contribute $25 to be used for the purchase
of fruit trees for the farm. Plans are to continue clearing the Sweetwater
"delta" and planting the trees close to the water. Donations
can be left at the farm, or contact Rick.
Site
Rentals
Outdoor meeting facilities are available at the farm for meetings, picnics,
or fundraisers. Please contact our Board President for more information.
Sweetwater
T-Shirts
They’re here and they’re absolutely BEAUTIFUL!
New, 100% Organic Cotton Sweetwater t-shirts. Our heartfelt thanks to
artist Tracy Copes for donating the original art used on the shirts
(AND our new farm brochures)! They’re on sale at the farm for
$15 and will make great gifts for the holidays!
Books
Soil Biology 101 – Now available through Sweetwater:
"Soil Biology Primer", a 49-page introduction to the living
component of the soil. Learn how the biology of the soil contributes
to agricultural productivity and to air and water quality. There are
chapters about the food web, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods,
and earthworms—a veritable "zoo" beneath our feet! Published
by the Soil and Water Conservation Society, this is the text Rick uses
when he teaches "Introduction to Organic Farming." See Rick
or farm staff to purchase this $15 booklet.
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