1. Farming Hope- Eau Claire
“Growing more than food, growing life”
Eva Riedesel; Kathleen Widmer; Kelly Peterson; Lindsey Pettit; Kaitlyn Moore; Jill Hecker Fernandes, RN, PhD | College of Nursing
Introduction
What have we done to aid in Eau Claire?
Farming Hope is an organization created in El Salvador, built on the premise that all human beings have potential. On a farm in Suchitoto, men and women who previously lived on the streets work to build new lives. The food grown at the farm goes back to the soup kitchen where these individuals first encountered an incredible woman, named Maria Trinidad, who continues to give back to her community and has changed countless lives through her passion for horticultural and vocational therapy. The Students were so inspired after visiting El Salvador for a nursing clinical immersion experience, they knew that Farming Hope was a project that could be replicated in Eau Claire. Since returning from El Salvador in April 2015, the students created an official university organization that has grown to more than 100 members across campus and in the community. In addition the organization has built a partnership at the Community Gardens, and has been working with individuals from Positive Avenues, The Wellness Shack, and the Community Table to bring this project to life. Homelessness, mental health, and food deprivation are prevalent problems universally. Farming Hope aims to decrease these prevalent problems by building vocational skills and purpose in these individual’s lives.   
Eau Claire Community Garden
Community garden located on Forest Street
Building vocational skills through shared gardening
Bringing community members to participate in the gardening and harvesting process
Growing food to take back to The Community Table
Positive Avenues
Day center for Eau Claire’s homeless population that offers support and a safe place
Painting pots, growing herbs
Hydroponics including lettuce and tomatoes
The Wellness Shack
Day center for mentally ill patients, support groups
Monthly health presentations on topics such as financial management, stress management, and cold/Influenza prevention
RESULTS
Through gardening and participating in projects, members are able to:
Gain a purpose
Feed themselves and others with healthy food
Gain valuable skills- including vocational and horticultural
Become knowledgeable in valuable life skills
Become motivated
Give back to their community
The Community Table
Eau Claire’s “soup kitchen” that provides healthy, non-processed meals without question to community members
Part of the food grown at the Community Garden is harvested and donated to The Community Table
Members from Farming Hope have helped to prepare and serve meals at The Community Table
Basic Facts
Homelessness and food insecurity in Eau Claire
In the Western Dairyland region of Wisconsin (including counties Eau Claire, Trempealeau, Buffalo, and Jackson) there was a homeless population of 423 people as of 2012
Of these 423 people, 255 were children
The Western Dairyland is ranked 15th in the state for levels of homeless population
Poverty rates in Eau Claire county are 15.7% compared to Wisconsin’s poverty rate of 12.5%, and the national rate of 14.9%
In % of Wisconsin’s Central to Southeast district, including Eau Claire reported food insecurity
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR HOW TO GET INVOLVED:
Please visit:
Farminghope.org Or
Like Farming Hope on Facebook