Volunteering at Restoration Farm in Old Bethpage

Have you ever volunteered at a farm? Well, if you have not, you should check out Restoration Farm in Old Bethpage.

The farm is a CSA, which stands for community-supported agriculture. Anyone can purchase a share in the farm. The members’ money helps the farmers run the farm. The members get produce, and depending on the share, they can pick up produce every week or every other week.

I volunteer on Saturday mornings at the tin house, which is where the farm stand is. The tin house is also where members come to check in and pick up their share of the produce. I am responsible for setting up the check-in table for the Saturday CSA before the members do their pickup. Then members come in and I find their names in the member binder. Some members get eggs, so I bring them from the refrigerator.

I love to volunteer because it feels good. I like helping people. I get to see friends at the farm sometimes. Volunteering also helps me to learn about how the CSA works. People are able to get fresh vegetables that are all-natural and have not ever had pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers. The people who have shares and buy from the farm get to eat great-tasting produce! Restoration Farm has monthly volunteering days shown on its website.

Volunteering is a serious commitment. To be a good volunteer you need to take your responsibilities very seriously. When you say you are going to be there, you must show up on time. Sometimes it is hard to wake up on Saturday mornings. If you are the kind of person who likes to sleep late on the weekends, this is not a good thing for you to do.

Volunteering makes you feel good inside. I think everyone should try to do it.

Info: 140 Bethpage-Sweet Hollow Rd., Old Bethpage, restorationfarm.com

Patricia King's fourth-grade class, Bowling Green Elementary School, Westbury