The Helpers Farm
Our thriving community farm offers a healthy ecosystem, nutrient dense soil, and provides jobs to happy workers so we can produce beautiful organic fruits and vegetables to nourish and support the community.
The Helpers Farm works in partnership with local agriculture school programs to teach students more sustainable farming techniques and encourage surrounding farmers to farm naturally, without the use of pesticides, transitioning farms in the surrounding communities to a healthier environment and a healthier food system.
Our current priority is to raise another $20,000 to expand our farm by another 10 acres.
As our farm grows, more food will grow, and therefore we intend for our profits to grow! Profits from selling produce helps to fund the operational expenses for our orphanage! Currently farm profits fund 62% of the annual operating costs at the orphanage. The expansion of the farm will provide a sustainable income stream to help decrease the reliance on outside donations.
LEARN:
As a sustainable farm, we work in partnership with with seven educational institutions including high schools and agriculture schools that take field trips to the farm. We support other local farmers to consider sustainable agriculture, and we share our best practices.
GROW:
Our farm currently consists of 10 organic acres. We are growing cabbage, green peppers, carrots, okra, watermelon, tomatoes, cassava, cauliflower and more.
FEED:
We partner with the local government school feeding program by providing produce for free school lunches.
The Helpers Farm Team
The farm currently employs 21 farm workers.
Stephen, our fearless leader, was trafficked as a boy. He was forced to work in a restaurant earning no wages, he had no opportunity to attend school himself. His mission in life is to give orphaned and neglected children the opportunity to attend school. He has farmed since he was a boy.
Edward, our Farm Manager, had his education funded by our programs and he now wishes to give back.
Teaching Farm
The Helpers Farm serves as a community teaching farm for farmers and educational institutions.
Local farmers and educational institutions are invited to the farm to learn from our team about our organic, regenerative best practices. Attention is also placed on cultural practices.
We have a working Partnership with University of Cape Coast, School of Agriculture; Kwadaso Agric College, and six senior high schools within the region and the community.
Our Founder Erin Douglas was invited to share about The Helpers Farm on the award winning podcast “The Urban Farm” with host Greg Peterson.
In This Podcast: Some people know their mission from a young age. Others, like Erin Douglas, find their direction as they go. With a desire to travel as her guide, Erin left her corporate job and traveled through Africa. An epic moment in Ghana inspired this novice farmer to create a non-profit farm that feeds residents, provides jobs, funds education, and supports an orphanage. Erin shares how she created a sustainable community model that could benefit societies all over the world.