Today is the
Social Action Committee News
On Sukkot, the most perfect autumn day imaginable, nineteen intrepid Dor Hadashers, ages 3 - 65, assembled at Mildred's Daughters' Urban Farm overlooking the Allegheny River in the city of Pittsburgh to "help put the farm to bed" for the winter. During a fascinating tour of the 5+ acres that have been operated as a farm since 1875, we learned how it serves as a model for small-scale sustainable organic farming in an urban environment. We were assigned the job of weeding and harvesting the "teen garden", an herb and blueberry patch developed by teen apprentices during the summer. Here's what a few of our volunteers had to say about the experience. Liz Phelps said, "Thanks again for organizing a project that we could bring our kids to -- believe it or not, we've had a hard time finding volunteer opportunities that they can be a part of.
Joshua Phelps says: "I liked the weeding because it was fun, and I knew it was helping them." His older brother Benjamin said, "I liked harvesting the lime basil because I liked using the clippers, and it smelled good."
Annette Werner, who came with her daughter Gaby and two friends adds "It was wonderful to be out on a gorgeous October morning, learning about and helping at an environmentally conscious small farm."
"I benefited from this mitzvah in many ways", says Judy Grummet. "It gave me an opportunity to meet and spend time with new people in the congregation. I was able to give to the community and learn about the existence of this wonderful project in our city. And personally, I loved discovering something new about the neighborhood I grew up in"!
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