Partridge Creek Farm volunteers pose during a Farm Fresh Friday market event recenty. The organization has given away hundreds of pounds of fresh produce in return for volunteer services over the last several weeks during their COVID-compliant events. (Courtesy photo)

ISHPEMING — The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped a local organization from creating community opportunities to grow and learn. In fact, the challenge seems to have only deepened the resolve of the people at Partridge Creek Farm.

The nonprofit educational farm located in downtown Ishpeming has been dedicated to improving local access to fresh produce, building a healthy community, and promoting education on sustainable food systems.

PCF has taken a page out of a government-funded activity called the Power of Produce, wherein children ages 4 to 12 receive a $2 token to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables, increasing family participation at farmers markets.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, PCF staff and volunteers decided to set up a program of their own and Farm Fresh Fridays was born, PCF spokesperson May Tsupros said.

Under the program, people will receive vouchers in return for some sort of effort at the farm.

“So what we decided to do is take that model of the Power of Produce and bring it to Ishpeming,” Tsupros said. “So every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. we have a venue of volunteer events. And in exchange for people’s time to come to that (volunteer) event we give them a voucher (that allows them) to come on Farm Fresh Friday to get a free bag of produce.”

Safety protocols have been put in place at both the volunteer events and the Friday market to mitigate any coronavirus spread, she said.

“We do it in a COVID-compliant way so the produce is harvested, washed and packaged with gloves and masks on, and we pack it into paper bags. So nobody is coming and picking through stuff. Everything is in the fridge packed and ready to go,” she said.

The organization is planning to launch a COVID-compliant tool kit to ensure safety protocols for anyone who comes to PCF events or farm stands.

“So it is very by the book, temperatures being taken, very clear procedures,” she said. “We even have videos and literature to share before they come.”

And in just two Farm Fresh Fridays, over 50 individuals have been on the receiving end of hundreds of pounds of produce so far.

“It’s been wonderful, we have harvested over 200 pounds of produce this year, and that’s a big deal because most of that has been greens, and 200 pounds of greens is a lot of produce. So once you start getting into the potatoes and tomatoes, the heavy produce, it is going to be a lot.”

The events have been popular with old and young alike, she said.

“It’s a win-win because we get help and a lot of our events are educational. We teach them how to weed; we’re painting with them; we are teaching them some sort of garden skill, usually,” Tsupros said. “And, of course, we don’t turn people away. So if people don’t have a voucher, we still invite them to the next event and ask that they come. And when an older person comes and they aren’t able to come and dig up weeds in the garden, then we still obviously will give them free produce. We want to make sure that everybody, including people who don’t normally have the dollars or who have been affected by COVID, can get it for free if they need to. A program like this is really important so that we can get access to healthy, fresh food to everybody, no matter who they are.”

The next volunteer opportunities are a read-in on from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the School Garden on the corner of South 3rd Street and Cleveland Avenue; a garden educational workshop from 4 to 6 p.m. on July 29 at the PCF Incubator site on North 1st and Euclid Street, and a Volunteer Work and Thank You potluck at the Inspiration Orchard on the corner of York Street and East North Street.

Tsupros said she hopes residents will plan on joining organization leaders for the Partridge Creek Farm Showcase from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 12.

“We have an Eventbrite, it’s free, it’s a self-guided tour and then there is a ceremony and (state Rep.) Sara Cambensy is going to be speaking at it. And we are going to reveal a big announcement for the expansion of one of our programs,” she said.

To sign up via Eventbrite, visit https://bit.ly/3eu6Rfk on the web.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.