Farmer Flood Relief Fund – Flats Mentor Farm
All 270 immigrant and refugee farmers in our Flats Mentor Farm program have experienced significant or total crop loss from the excessive rainfall and flooding this season. Please consider providing a gift to help farmers recoup a portion of their losses.
An Update from World Farmers:
It’s been about three months since the devastating floods wreaked havoc on Flats Mentor Farm and across Massachusetts. We have been so grateful for the outpouring of support from individuals and communities who have contributed their kind words and financial support. This generosity is all the more appreciated, as farmers are realizing the extent of their losses - losses that have far exceeded initial expectations.
While the farmers had hoped to return to the land after the waters receded, ultimately, most farmers were unable to do so. In our consultations with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and UMass Extension, we identified that the flooding brought with it increased bacteria loads which would make certain crops, particularly those normally eaten raw, dangerous to plant for this year. Although we are thankful that next year’s soil will be safe again, this was another blow to FMF farmers as they could not replant or return to farming at the FMF landsite. Luckily, many of the commercial producers have land on other sites, which enabled them to grow enough produce for some of their markets, though for many, production rates were significantly reduced.
This was a devastating loss for farmers. They lost all inputs and “money spent” on their early season production, including seeds, seedlings and soil amendments, on top of an entire year of planned income, making the FMF Flood Relief Fund all the more relevant and necessary.
We will be closing the campaign on October 31st. We ask that you consider donating today to get us closer to our goal. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser with your friends and families.
We thank you sincerely and fully for your support.
Sincerely,
World Farmers Team
A message from Maria Moreira, our founder:
The impact of the rains has been, once again, devastating, with a total flood at Flats Mentor Farm in Lancaster, our largest landsite, and near total flooding at our second largest landsite.
All fields were completely submerged at Flats Mentor Farm (FMF), and all 214 farmers who plant on the 70 acres at FMF have lost 100% of their crops, and the 87 farmers supported on our second largest landsite have experienced 65% crop loss. The value of the loss is immeasurable and impacts not just the farmers’ livelihoods and food security, but also the communities who depend on the cultural variety of FMF crops.
The immigrant and refugee FMF farmers engage in labor-intensive farming with minimal machinery, and travel many miles to their farm sites weekly. The flooding has put their businesses and livelihoods at risk. The loss of income is compounded by the fact that at this point in the season, there may not be enough time left to replant. With how early the floods came, many were only able to get one harvest off the land, if that. Many FMF farmers were only a few weeks away from harvesting and selling their crops at local farmer’s markets and wholesale outlets. The sad reality is that FMF farmers are experiencing the second total loss of their crops in just three years.
Losses like this are insurmountable without community support, and as resilient and adaptable as the FMF farmers are, they will be unable to continue farming without help. World Farmers is honored to have close partners and friends who care deeply about the mission of World Farmers, the farmers we serve, and the work we build together. Our partner Liz O’Gilvie, Director of the Springfield Food Policy Council, has helped launch a Farmer Flood Relief Campaign for the farmers of Flats Mentor Farm. Funds raised during this campaign will be directed by the FMF Farmer Committee, an FMF farmer-led body, and 100% of all proceeds will go directly to the farmers themselves.
Please lend your support to the 270 immigrant and refugee farmers of Flats Mentor Farm by donating today. Your support will help them recover and return next year to grow our food once again.
You can give through our GoFundMe, by donating directly on our website, or by sending a check payable to World Farmers, Inc. mailed to our offices at 769 Main Street, Box 112, Lancaster, MA 01523.
With Gratitude,
Maria Moreira
Founder, World Farmers
