Alternative Community Farmer/WPB.FL

Lake Woth ,Florida.

Reported by :Blogger Tony Dagher  BA,CFMG

The sun was shining in another  beautiful fall Florida day.

There was Ms.Taylor ,a  photographer from the Palm Beach Post and another camera man from a local TV -channel 5-snapping shots and interviews  respectively !.I was there  reporting and interviewing for my Local Harvest blog alongside  with the media.Why not having farmers reportes ..to touch base with reality from an urban farmers perspective.I felt proud  taking part  in  another  COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER event.

There,I was  witnessing something different which  rarely catches the eye of the common observer:A landscaping  crew of  managers -regional-operational-adminstrative and more office STAFF -in addition to arborists,technicians,trainers-sweating in the sizzling Florida sun with hands and shirts covered with dirt and mulch.

They were  mostly white colar staff DOING some LABOR INTENSIVE PHYSICAL WORK  by volunteering at the Lake Worth Resource Center .Tell me about farming and gardening being a trade for the under paid and overworked , a job looked at as demeaning by some!May be it is the right time now to introduce URBAN FARMING in our school programs for the general public as something to be PROUD OF:GROWING YOUR OWN ORGANIC FOOD LOCALLY!

They were  beautifying the city of Lake Worth by planting their donated trees,ornamental shrubs and flowers,and spreading environmentally friendly Melaluca mulch at the LWRC.ALL DONE FOR FREE!THAT IS UNCONDITIONAL COMMUNITY LOVE IN ACTION!

They were  giving demonstrations on using equipment and TRAINING the Lake Worth Resource Center job seekers for careers in landscaping.

The Trainees were mostly Hispanic non-documented migrant workers.But there were others who are documented citizens who came to learn as well.They were being taught HOW TO: Operate landscaping equipmen,applying safety gear, spray, mulch etc.

Just finished ,was  an indoor multi media Brickmans University  power point presentation fascilitated by  M/S Katerina Albertson the director of employee development ,assisted by Boca Raton operational manager Mr.Martin Tapia . Among other important things,we learned about the UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF MOWING:

1-BRING IN BIG MACHINES FIRST.

2-USE NON-EXCESSIVE WEEDING

3-KEEP THE GRASS IN THE GRASS ,NOT ON THE SIDE WALK.

Brickman group was celebrating the Founder's Day by volunteering and giving back to the community.

As in today,back in 1939 ,Mr Theodore Brickman founded the company with head quarters in GAETHERSBURG-MARYLAND.Today the Family owned and operated company ,a home for more than 10,000 employees nation wide ,is headed by grandson and CEO SCOTT BRICKMAN.

This community celebration by reaching out and giving back should be a LESSON to all.Present was   a crowd of more than 100 volunteers , jobseekers ,company satff and officials  spearheaded by Brickman regional manager Mr.Mark Swanson,Lake Worth  Commissioner Susan Mulvehill , LWRC president and directors Lisa and Don Wilson,and Brickmans WPB branch manager Mr.Brendan Dooley .Let us give a hand and volunteer .Let us celebrate by beautifying and enriching our community.Let us news report the POSITIVE and spread more awareness aboutPRODUCTIVE  HORTICULTURE .

For more info about the LWRC visit :

http://www.thementoringctr.org

Fotr more information about Brickman ,visit:

http://www.brickmangroup

For more info about our blog visit:

http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M20618