Emergency Food Network, (EFN), has been working since 1982 "to see that no person in Pierce County goes hungry." Mother Earth Farm, a project of Emergency Food Network, supports a 3-fold mission: to raise a significant amount of organc food for EFN to distribute to needy people in Pierce County and surrounding areas; to educate each other about the fine art of organic farming and the importance of being stewards of the land and ecosystem; and to enhance a sense of community and diversity based in 'good earth'. By encouraging volunteers from all sectors of society, the farm brings people together from different backgrounds and cultures and provides an environment that fosters learning and nurturing "our place" as we weave this web of life.

Description:
EFN serves more than 600,000 low-income individuals annually through its distribution warehouse and the volunteer-driven Mother Earth Farm and Cannery Project.

In 2005, EFN distributed more than $10 million worth of food at no cost to more than 74 food banks, hot meal sites and shelters in Pierce County. It harvested more than 125,000 pounds of fresh produce from the 8-acre organic Mother Earth Farm in Puyallup and processed more than 100,000 cans of fruits and vegetables at the Cannery Project in Kent.

For every dollar raised, EFN is able to distribute $11 worth of food and other essentials to local feeding programs. It is the only non-profit emergency food distribution center in the country able to take food from the ground to the table of those in need.

History:
EFN was formed in 1982 to centralize food collection and distribution to food banks and feeding programs throughout Pierce County. The Mother Earth Farm was established in 2000 by EFN to help fill the need for fresh produce at food banks and hot meal sites.

The Mother Earth Farm is an 8-acre organic farm located in Puyallup just off Valley Avenue and 102nd. Going into her 6th growing season, the farm provides fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers. The produce is harvested in the morning and made available to local food programs by the afternoon. Fresh produce is one of the items most often lacking at food banks, so the Mother Earth Farm fills an especially important need. Planting, harvesting, cleaning, and packing are done by one staff person and an incredible force of volunteers.

Contact person: Carrie Little, Farm Manager, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (253) 984-9368

Address:

(Warehouse Location) 3318 92nd Street South Lakewood, WA 98499-9328 (See a map)

Directions:

From I-5 take exit 127 and follow the signs to South Tacoma Way--Northbound. Stay in the right hand lane and continue north to 92nd Street South (7-11 store at the corner). At 92nd Street turn right. Go east on 92nd. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: Corner of 92nd & S. Tacoma Way, 5 minute walk