Weed Dating: Singles Meet Over Weeds
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At first glance, throwing a “Weed Dating” event appears to be a sneaky way to get gardens weeded for free. The trend sweeping across the country is a gardening spin on “Speed Dating” where singles gather and spend a few minutes with one person before moving on to the next person.
But it’s really a wholesome event for people who aren’t interested in the bar scene and curious about trying something new, says Molly Rockamann, Founding Director of EarthDance Farms in Ferguson, Mo.
“We thought it would be a fun way to get people to the farm who may not be interested in coming out for a normal volunteer day,” she says. EarthDance is a nonprofit that preserves the historic Mueller 14-acre farm in the midst of an urban area that has been organic since the 1800’s. It offers apprenticeships, classes, sells produce through CSA’s and farmer’s markets and offers a variety of programs for the public.
“Don’t plan this if free weeding is your only reason,” she warns, because planning takes a lot of time. Her goal was to create a fun social event and to get people to learn about the farm. Three EarthDance staff were present to run each weed dating event: Rockamann, Volunteer Coordinator Matt Lebon, and Marketing Coordinator Esther Kim, to pull off successfully. .
EarthDance staff organized participants by age groups, as Kim indicated on their name tags with icons of different gardening symbols. Every five minutes, Lebon rang a cowbell and participants moved to talk to a new person in their group. The last turn was a “wild card” for people to talk to anyone they wanted.
The weeding part of the event only lasted an hour. Rockamann also included a farm tour before weeding and a BYOB happy hour afterward for people to socialize.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Molly Rockamann, Founding Director, EarthDance, 233 S. Dade Ave., Ferguson, Mo. 63135 (ph 314 521-1006; www.earthdancefarms.org).
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Weed Dating: Singles Meet Over Weeds CROPS Weed Control At first glance throwing a “Weed Dating” event appears to be a sneaky way to get gardens weeded for free The trend sweeping across the country is a gardening spin on “Speed Dating” where singles gather and spend a few minutes with one person before moving on to the next person But it’s really a wholesome event for people who aren’t interested in the bar scene and curious about trying something new says Molly Rockamann Founding Director of EarthDance Farms in Ferguson Mo “We thought it would be a fun way to get people to the farm who may not be interested in coming out for a normal volunteer day ” she says EarthDance is a nonprofit that preserves the historic Mueller 14-acre farm in the midst of an urban area that has been organic since the 1800’s It offers apprenticeships classes sells produce through CSA’s and farmer’s markets and offers a variety of programs for the public “Don’t plan this if free weeding is your only reason ” she warns because planning takes a lot of time Her goal was to create a fun social event and to get people to learn about the farm Three EarthDance staff were present to run each weed dating event: Rockamann Volunteer Coordinator Matt Lebon and Marketing Coordinator Esther Kim to pull off successfully EarthDance staff organized participants by age groups as Kim indicated on their name tags with icons of different gardening symbols Every five minutes Lebon rang a cowbell and participants moved to talk to a new person in their group The last turn was a “wild card” for people to talk to anyone they wanted The weeding part of the event only lasted an hour Rockamann also included a farm tour before weeding and a BYOB happy hour afterward for people to socialize Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Molly Rockamann Founding Director EarthDance 233 S Dade Ave Ferguson Mo 63135 ph 314 521-1006; www earthdancefarms org
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