Service Day: Workday at St. Joe Nature Area

Please join us for a service day at St. Joe Nature Area!

While our October work day was very successful at removing some evergreens from the Prairie, the rain prevented us from going after the problem species that require poisoning to prevent re-sprouting. We're hoping for dryer weather this time.

We will be working in the Prairie, primarily removing woody plants to preserve the prairie aspect. We will pull and cut/treat autumn olive, buckthorn, oriental bittersweet and honeysuckle, cut other woodies.

Bring your own loppers, saw, and gloves, or use theirs. Bring a water bottle and plenty of energy!

There are bathrooms at the meeting area.

The Farm at St. Joe's was the first hospital-based farm in Michigan. The 2-acre farm has 2 hoop houses, a handicap accessible hoop house for therapy, community gardens, and an outdoor classroom. While The Farm produces about 10,000lbs of food annually, they are more concerned with growing a healthy community by empowering people through food, education, and relationships.
As part of their mission to create a just, robust local food system, The Farm has created the collaborative "Farm Share," a community supported agriculture program (CSA), which is offered at St. Joe's Ann Arbor and Oakland campuses. Farm Share members receive boxes of seasonal fruits and vegetables from local farms on a regular basis. The program generated $150,000 of revenue for local farms in 2020. Memberships are available for purchase on a sliding scale. Food insecure families are provided with free or reduced cost membership. Other programs include horticultural therapy, youth education, staff community gardens, and a produce to patients program.

Join the Farm as a farmshare member or volunteer and learn more about sustainable farming and healthy eating.

Attendees will be required to sign St. Joe's volunteer waiver.