In most of the world the trend toward fewer and larger farms held by fewer people correlates with population movement away from the village to the city. If,..."the solution begins with the village..."as 'Abdu'l-Baha said, then we have been moving away from the "solution". Instead of paying "special regard to agriculture", as Baha'u'llah advised, we have scarcely noticed as the farmer has become an endangered species. However, there are current movements in agriculture that are making possible a reversal of this trend, that is, making the small farm economically viable again. Thousands of successful organic farms testify to the fact that a fulfilling livelihood can be made from only a few acres of land intensively and intelligently cultivated. This is done without a heavy investment in machinery or chemical additives, while enriching the life of the land rather than depleting the life.
Eco Ag Service for Youth provides an information link between youth and ecologically oriented farms and gardens. Eco Ag Service for Youth will match young people between the ages of 18 and 25 with farms that need a helping hand. In exchange for the help these farms will provide room and board, in most cases a stipend and/or a share of the produce and a first hand experience of the knowledge, skills and techniques necessary to run an ecologically oriented farm. Eco Ag Service seeks to encourage youth to pay special regard to agriculture and to learn about growing food in ways that promote community and sustain natural resources. Eco Ag Service is a non-profit corporation originating in 1993 as a pilot project of the Agriculture Seminar of the North American Association for Baha'i Studies. Eco Ag Service for Youth has matched apprentices to host sites in Virginia, the Carolinas, Michigan, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the Rep. of Ireland ,Costa Rica and Barbados.
I understand that the function of the Eco Ag Service's Ecological Agriculture Service for Youth program is to provide an information link between prospective youth apprentice volunteers and prospective host sites, which may be farms or large gardens. I understand that, although Eco Ag Service will facilitate communication, it is my responsibility to make specific and final arrangements directly with the prospective host site. These arrangements will typically include such things as expected term of stay, expected work hours and work days, free time, room and board arrangements, and possibly a living allowance or stipend for longer term apprenticeships.
Eco Ag Service will interview, screen and attempt to match prospective apprentice workers with the needs and nature of host sites, which will also be screened and qualified. Eco Ag Service will offer an orientation program to prospective apprentices. Eco Ag Service, however, cannot guarantee the compatibility between the apprentice and the host site, nor can Eco Ag Service guarantee that the experience will conform to all the expectations of the apprentice.
Eco Ag Service will require written proof of health insurance coverage from all prospective apprentices.
I have read and understand the above and I release and hold harmless Eco Ag Service from all responsibility and liability for any damage, loss or injury to myself or my property that may result from arrangements or agreements, whether verbal or written, that I make with the host site personnel.
I, furthermore, understand and agree that, in addition to the disclaimer in the above paragraph, if, for any reason, legal action is initiated or brought about by me, or on behalf of me, against Eco Ag Service, then that legal action will be initiated, brought about or take place within the State of North Carolina, USA, according to the statutes of the State of North Carolina.
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Mail to: Eco Ag Service for Youth, 339 Country Club Rd. Mount Airy, NC 27030, USA
Email:EcoAg @main.nc.us; Jobradley@infoave.net ; Omerritt@aol.com
Phone: Winnie Merritt, 336-786-8411; John Bradley, 336-789-3930;