Educational Farm Foundation of Moapa Valley

February Event - Moapa Valley Food Swap

2011-11-23T14:18:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 11 - 1pm to 3pm

The second quarterly Moapa Valley Food Swap will be held at the Old Overton Gym on February 11.

Please join us for our food swap! Share your edible creations and meet your neighbors at this event, sponsored by the Educational Farm Foundation of Moapa Valley. For more information, check out the How it Works page.

To register:

November Event - Moapa Valley Food Swap

2011-10-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

Saturday, November 12 - 1pm to 3pm

The first quarterly Moapa Valley Food Swap will be held at the Overton Community Center on November 12.

Please join us for our first food swap! Share your edible creations and meet your neighbors at this event, sponsored by the Educational Farm Foundation of Moapa Valley. For more information, check out the How it Works page.

To register:

Moapa Valley Food Swap - How it Works

2011-10-20T20:39:00.000-07:00

What is a food swap?

A food swap is part silent auction/part village marketplace/part fun-loving open house where your homemade, homegrown, and foraged creations become your own personal currency for use in swapping with other participants. Diversify your pantry while meeting your friends and neighbors!

Who can participate?

We welcome everyone, as long as you bring something you made, grew, or foraged yourself! You must pre-register to attend. If you plan to bring a family member or friend, please register them, as well. And if you’re coming alone, don’t worry – most of us were strangers to begin with and meeting new friends is part of the fun!

Where is it held?

The Moapa Valley Food Swap is currently held at the Old Overton Gym in Overton, NV.

What do people bring?

All swap items must be homemade, homegrown, or foraged by you. Think baked goods, jam, pickles, spreads, honey, vinegar, granola, pasta, fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, homemade sausages, backyard eggs … you name it! Bring as little or as much as you like. You can bring a bunch of one thing or multiples of a few different things. The possibilities are endless! If possible, you should also bring samples for others to try.

Keep in mind that swappers will be examining and picking up your goods, so be sure to package them in a way that protects the food and makes it clear the amounts you want to swap. We encourage reusable, earth-friendly packaging whenever possible.

What happens during the swap?

We expect the swap to last about 2 hours.

Each swapper displays his or her wares on tables, along with a sheet filled out for each item and a few lines under the item. The first part of the swap is devoted to walking around, examining, talking, and sampling items from the other swappers.

Then, everyone writes on the sheets of paper the items they would like to swap. For example, if Margot has some jam you’d like, you may write on her sheet of paper what you’re willing to swap for it. Multiple people can put in swap offers for the same item.

Finally, everyone goes back to his or her original sheets of paper, looks at the offers, and finds people to swap with. These offers are just a starting point for conversation; there’s no guarantee you will get what you “bid” for and, likewise, you are under no obligation to trade with the people who wrote on your paper. If it sounds intimidating, don’t worry, our swappers are quite friendly and it’s all done in a spirit of fun.

The Honor Code

This is a community event; however, participants must pre-register. It goes without saying that participants are using the highest cleanliness standards in their own kitchens and gardens to prepare their submissions. Nevertheless …

• By participating in this event, you are acknowledging that the food items being traded are not necessarily prepared in any “approved” kitchen or space inspected by any government agency.
• By participating in this event, you are also acknowledging that you will use the highest standards of cleanliness in food preparation.

A few notes:

• This is purely a swap – no selling or exchange of money is allowed.
• If you don’t want to swap, gifting is also encouraged.

Water Less, Grow More Micro Loan Application

2011-04-22T08:17:00.000-07:00

Micro Loan Application

Please return the application to:
Education Farm Foundation of Moapa Valley
P.O. Box 1499
Logandale, NV 89021

Water Less, Grow More Mico Loan Program

2011-01-25T18:56:00.000-08:00

Edible gardens are beautiful and also an enjoyable and economical form of gardening. By growing your own vegetables and herbs, you’ll save money while encouraging your family to eat healthier. Regardless of where you live and your yard size, you can include a raised vegetable bed for minimal cost and effort. Convenient, simple to understand and ready-to-assemble kits from True Value make it easy. Material from UNR Cooperative Extension can help you along the way to Water Less, Grow More, thus creating an opportunity to learn about healthy Living and Growing in our arid landscape.

Program Goal:
Provide economic opportunity to individuals/groups so they can increase the effectiveness of their water and land resources. It is also the goal to create a more healthy, vibrant economic atmosphere and increased market activity which benefits the entire community and increases social capitol.

Program Objectives:
1) Provide access to capital through a micro-loan program
2) Provide enterprise opportunities for sale/barter of the product resulting from efficient growing techniques.
3.) Provide partnering between the plant/material supplier, the educational materials at UNR Extension Service, other educators and experienced Local growers.

Program Description:
During the 2nd quarter 2010, EFF started a new micro-credit loan program available within the combined communities of Moapa and Moapa Valley. The program is under the direct supervision of The Educational Farm Foundation of Moapa Valley (EFF). Clients can receive loans of $100.00 or $250 each to create or expand their growing ideas. The target of the Water Less, Grow More program in 5 years is to have the program grow to around 100 clients and $10,000 worth of loanable capital.

What is Microcredit?
Microcredit is the extension of very small loans to people. The typical size of a loan to one of Water Less, Grow More clients is $250.00. Our targeted clients will show entrepreneurial spirit and all applications will be considered regardless of age, sex, race, financial or employment status and/or traditional credit score methods.

The key purposes of The Water Less, Grow More micro-credit program are to:
1. Encourage entrepreneurship, financial responsibility, resource appreciation and management
2. Increase personal income by cutting water usage and grocery expenses by supplementing good, fresh and healthy food source for our clients
3. Promote healthy and responsible living and growing in our arid lands
4. Promote partnering with the community that will ultimately bring about a local farmers market or bartering of goods.

Take this opportunity to get your garden ready with financial and educational help from The Educational Farm Foundation of Moapa Valley.

Check Us Out on FaceBook!

2009-12-17T08:09:00.000-08:00

A bunch of photos just uploaded highlight what is going on at the last remaining school owned Ag Farm in the state of Nevada.

CLICK THE FaceBook LINK TO THE LEFT and it will take you there

Watch YouTube CCSD Property Cleanup!

2009-10-26T17:03:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8h4EvlXk8s

Click this link and watch a YouTube Video highlighting the wonderful project that was the brainchild of MVHS Farm Manager Kevin O'Toole, CCSD Trustee Chris Garvey, Partners In Conservation Elise McAllister and Lindsey Dalley and 330 various Volunteers.

Question: WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU ADD THE FOLLOWING?

19 DAYS + 13 YOUTH GROUPS + 333 VOLUNTEERS + 1,325 VOLUNTEER HOURS + 8 PIECES HEAVY EQUIPMENT + 6 CORPORATE-CONTRIBUTE PARTNERS - 100 TONS DEBRIS REMOVED AND A 30 ACRE CCSD PROPERTY SITE RESTORED?

ANSWER = $15,000 Infused into school programs and $4,000 reserved funding and best of all

EMPOWERING MOAPA YOUTH AND COMMUNITY and that equals PRICELESS!!!

About Us

2009-05-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Educational Farm Foundation of Moapa Valley is a group of volunteer agriculture supporters in Moapa Valley who have gathered together with a common goal to preserve and enrich the educational opportunities of agricultural projects and of the last remaining school owned agricultural farm in the state of Nevada.

The Foundation was formalized in 2008, utilizing the base that had been set by the Friends of Pirate’s Cove. The Friends of Pirate’s Cove was also a volunteer based organization, working with the Clark County School District, community, and government groups to develop the Moapa Valley High School farm into an education, historical, and conservation minded development.

The Educational Farm Foundation will continue to strive for a vibrant K-12 educational program that also will inform the surrounding community and visitors about the importance of historical and regenerative practices of agriculture in our lives. Our management team consists of a Board of Directors working closely with school advisors and members of the public.

Located roughly 70 miles north just off of Interstate 15 from Las Vegas, Moapa Valley township includes the unincorporated communities of Moapa, Warm Springs, Logandale, Overton, Overton Beach, and Stewarts Point and number approximately 13,000. Only a few working farms exist where once was largely an agricultural and ranching area. The Moapa communities now find they are becoming a bedroom community of Las Vegas and have continued the work to preserve farmland and the last school farm in the State of Nevada.

The schools in Moapa Valley consist of two elementary, one middle school and high school and they all get involved with the farm. Elementary and Middle schools enjoy the farm as a field trip destination and the middle and high school both have an agricultural component in their courses. The high school educators can see the positive educational impact by the growth of students signing up for classes that are affiliated with the farm.

The Education Farm Foundation of Moapa Valley is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about farm activities from “dirt to dinner.” We work to enhance the education opportunities by utilizing the Moapa Valley High School farm and their related courses.

Vision

2009-05-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

We will have a permanent working farm that serves as a model for farmland preservation and education.

Contacts

2009-05-02T07:59:00.002-07:00

Chris S Green, President
chris@mvdsl.com

Karen DeJoria, Secretary
karen@mvdsl.com

Darlene Millington, Treasurer
darscott@mvdsl.com

Elise McAllister, Board Member
picorg@mvdsl.com

Victoria Coston, Board Member
vcoston@co.clark.nv.us

Carol Bishop, Board Member
bishopc@UNCE.unr.edu

Whitney Donohue, Board Member
donohue@mvdsl.com

Glen Hardy, Ag Advisor
ghardy@mvdsl.com

Bryant Robison, Local Advisor
edna@comnett.net

MVHS Contacts:

Grant Hanevold, MVHS Principal
gah307@interact.ccsd.net

Hal Mortenson, MVHS Assistant Principal
HLMorten@interact.ccsd.net

Kevin O'Toole, Farm Manager
khotoole@interact.ccsd.net

Lori Terril, Culinary Arts
llterril@interact.ccsd.net

Craig Woolfly, FFA Advisor
CDWolfle@interact.ccsd.net

Clark Hardy, Construction Tec
cmhardy@interact.ccsd.net

Mary Bullock, Culinary Arts
MEBulloc@interact.ccsd.net

Where is Moapa Valley?

2009-05-02T07:59:00.001-07:00

Moapa Valley is located approximately 65 miles north of Las Vegas on I15. The combined communities of Logandale and Overton are called Moapa Valley and lie in the unincorporated Clark County. This has historically been an agricultural community and still has some working farms. The last school farm in Nevada is located right here in Moapa Valley.

Our Mission

2009-05-02T07:59:00.000-07:00

We provide resources that support agricultural educational opportunities that keep people connected with the earth.

Belief Statements

2009-05-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

We believe in providing resources and educational opportunities for people to participate in regenerative agricultural practices.

We believe in helping people understand where their food, fiber and other products come from that are necessary to sustain their daily lives.

We believe in showcasing the historical importance of agriculture in Moapa Valley.

We believe in fostering partnerships and engaging the public.

We believe in being fiscally responsible and financially sound.

Construction Begins on the Straw Bale Structure

2008-07-18T20:24:00.000-07:00

Construction begins on the Straw Bale Structure Spring 2006.

This building was brought about as a result of a Grant recieved from the Conservation District of Southern Nevada. Great partnerships were founded as this structure went up. Contributions of material and labor from local construction companies along with a great deal of students work made this building a reality.

Moapa Valley Ag Farm Is Open For Visitors 2006

2008-07-18T14:05:00.000-07:00

February 10th 2006 was a great day at the Farm for about a hundred residents. Visitors were treated to hamburgers, hotdogs and a drink cooked and provided by High School students. Students hosted a variety of stations where visitors could learn about many aspects of farm life. There was lots to do: milking demonstrations, calf roping, plant your own vegetables and a great presentation about feeding Americans in the future.

Conservation District of Nevada Visits MVHS Ag Farm

2008-07-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

The combined high school groups of Construction Tec, Culinary Arts and FFA are great hosts to the Conservation District of Nevada during a fall 2005 tour.

A recent tour of Nevada Conservation District members was a complete success. Members from all over Nevada were treated to an afternoon in Moapa Valley visiting the LAST REMAINING SCHOOL OWNED FARM IN NEVADA. Principal Sheri Davies was the lunchtime speaker at the Conservation District Convention in Mesquite and introduced members to the goings on at the farm and the desired direction.

Once at the farm, the 75 members rotated through student operated stations demonstrating different aspects and goals of the farm. The tour then moved to OLSHACS where Beezy Tobiasson spoke about local agricultural history and demonstrated how a community can work with other educational and governmental organizations to preserve and revive historical and educational programs. (reference Old Logandale School Historical and Cultural Society housed in CCSD held but privately renovated facility)

Local volunteer organization Friends of Pirate Cove, served Pomegranate Punch, and MVHS Culinary Arts students made fresh Pomegranate Blintzes while visitors watched. One goal of the visit was introducing activists in the state of what can happen when a community gets involved with preservation of local historical and educational elements.

Elise McAllister, Moapa resident and board member of the Conservation District of Southern Nevada was pleased to showcase the Ag Farm and the Straw Bale Structure. It is important to note the straw bale structure is a result of a grant written by this Conservation District.

Nevada Conservation District members were extremely impressed with the development and direction of the farm and enthused about spreading this type of Agri-Culinary educational business throughout Nevada.