I am re-doing my estimate of volunteer hour needs based on the weediness and soil conditions of our farm. I now figure it takes 40 hours per week per acre plus 4 hours with a rototiller per acre to operate The Red Barn Community Farm during 5 months of the year. With 6 acres under tillage for the Food Bank, that means 240 volunteer hours per week plus 24 rototiller hours. This is with the soil all prepared in the spring and ready to plant. Preparation time is extra. We're just talking abut planting, weeding, watering and harvesting here.
If we can get volunteers who will offer 4 hours per week, we need 60 volunteers -- all at 4 hours per week. We also need 2 rototiller operators each contributing 12 hours per week to keep the weeds under control.
The Red Barn Community Farm is in the Lowell Neighborhood, Everett, WA. It lies in the 100-year flood plain of the Snohomish River. The soil is rich bottom soil, Puget Sound Silty Loam. It has been well drained with ditches and a drainage canal. The farm is part of a 400 acre area owned by the City of Everett. 2011 is our first year as a Community Farm.
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