Crop Mobbers at work!
There’s a new opportunity in DC for anyone who enjoys working outside, wants to learn more about farming, or just likes to hang out with other farmy types. Originally started by some farmers-at-heart in North Carolina, “crop mobs” have been sweeping the nation since The New York Times published an article about them - and there’s one starting up right here in DC. Think “flash mob” rather than “angry mob”: crop mobs descend en masse onto a local farm for a few hours, where they get a phenomenal amount of work done while having a ball.
Basically, a crop mob is just a group of people who enjoy getting together to do farm work, whether to get some exercise and fresh air, learn more about farming, contemplate an agricultural career, or get ideas for their gardens. For farmers, it’s an opportunity to get those jobs done that you’re always putting off until next year, or haul in an unexpected bumper crop of beans. Farmers and crop mobbers collaborate to organize one farm visit per month. The farmer, in exchange for the help, generally provides a hearty lunch to the hardworking volunteers. Everyone returns home a little richer from the experience.
If that sounds fun, you might want to check out one of these events this weekend:
Saturday morning (3/27) an unusual “pre-season” crop mob will help build birdhouses at Fresh and Local CSA in Shepherdstown, WV. The birdhouses will be placed around the vegetable rows to lure insect-eating birds into garden patrol. Carpools leave DC at 8:15am, return 2:30pm.
Sunday afternoon (3/28) there’s an informational meeting for anyone that wants to learn more about the crop mob idea – for those who’d like to meet people and have the opportunity to ask questions in person before diving in and committing to a full day on the farm. Hopefully, we’ll also be able to share ideas about what farms we’d like to visit and what experiences we’d like to have over the 2010 season. The meeting will be from 3-5pm at Busboys & Poets 14th & V. If you have thoughts or ideas for farms to visit, but can’t make the meeting, send an email to peopleforthepotomac at gmail, or comment on this post, or post on the Facebook group’s wall.
To learn more about the DC Crop Mob and both events, visit the DC Crop Mob Website or the DC Crop Mob Facebook group
And stick around after the Sunday meeting to catch a free screening of:
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DIRT! The Movie
5:00pm Sunday, March 28, Busboys & Poets, 14th/V
Yeah – it’s a movie about dirt. If that sounds uninteresting, consider this bold quote by Franklin Roosevelt: “The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.” Or this one, author unknown: “Man – despite his artistic pretensions, his sophistication, and his many accomplishments – owes his existence to a six inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.”
Dirt is not only important; it’s also awesome. That’s why DIRT! The Movie takes you inside the wonders of the soil. This is the story of earth’s most valuable and underappreciated source of fertility – from its miraculous beginning to its crippling degradation. Bringing to life the environmental, economic, social and political impact of soil, the film shares the stories of experts from all over the world who study and are able to harness the beauty and power of a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship with soil. What we’ve destroyed, we can heal.
This movie was shown as part of the DC Environmental Film Festival last weekend – if you missed it, now’s your chance! It’s not part of the Crop Mob events, they just happen to be in the same place. You can attend either or both.
If you want to see the movie, be sure to reserve a spot by emailing dirt@communitycinema-dc.org or call 202-939-0794.
DIRT! can be found at Bullfrog Films.