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email this page to a friendProgram Calendar — WISP FAQ

  1. What is WISP?
  2. How is WISP different from The FARM Institute summer camp?
  3. Why WISP?
  4. What will the garden grow and for who?
  5. What will my child learn?
  6. How do the logistics work on West Tisbury Market Days?
  7. How do you register?

1. What is WISP?
Have you ever had a slamming lemonade stand or kicked butt at a school bake sale and wished there was more of that kind of action in your everyday life? Do you like to take initiative and create new things? Do you want to grow good food for your community? Do you love working in the garden? Are you interested in selling what you grow? Have you every wondered how farmer’s get their food out into the hands of the people? If you nodded yes to any of these questions then WISP is the adventure for you.

W.I.S.P. (Work, Income Sharing Project) is a program for students in middle and high-school. The program will focus on a particular farm work project called the market garden. Students will spend their time working to plan, plant, cultivate, harvest and market the produce from a 3-acre production garden. The produce from this garden will be sold at the West Tisbury Farmers Market and to local restaurants, and a portion of the harvest will be donated to the local Island Food Pantry. Students will receive a percentage of the income from the Wednesday West Tisbury Farmers Market sales. In this program, students will not only learn about gardening, and its related topics (soil health, botany, pest management etc.), but entrepreneurial topics as well (marketing, sales and customer service). They will also learn about the dignity of labor and the satisfaction of growing healthy food for their community.

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2. How is WISP different from The FARM Institute summer camp?
WISP is different from FARM Institute summer camp because it is a Work Income Sharing Project tailored specifically for children ages 11-15 centered around our production garden. Though there is still a tuition fee for the program, your child will receive a “paycheck” at the end of the week. The paycheck will reflect a percentage of the revenue generated from the Wednesday Farmer's Market sales, typically $20-50 per week.

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3. Why WISP?
WISP is a meaningful project that will offer your child engaging market garden experiences and dynamic entrepreneurial challenges. Since WISP has such a strong public interface element, it will naturally build bridges for its participants allowing them the opportunity to positively and responsibly share their creative energy with the island community.

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4. What will the garden grow and for whom?
A variety of yummy fruits and vegetables and colorful flowers for our farm community, the larger island community and for families in need.

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5. What will my child learn?
Planning, launching and maintaining a business of any size builds skills and teaches lessons that integrate a host of educational goals. A list of some of the educational possibilities WISP has to offer your child follows:

  • Communication Skills:
    Collaborate with Peers to Make Decisions and Problem Solve • Writing CSA Newsletters • Conducting Consumer Surveys • Educating Public about Sustainability
  • Leadership Skills:
    Delegate Tasks • Organize Hands •Ability to Think Creatively •
    Passion to Actively Pursue Opportunities • Vision • Initiative • Innovation • Integrity
  • Social Skills:
    Sense of Self- Worth • Earning Potential • Confidence • Self esteem • Reflection • Respect and Trust for Others
  • Marketing Skills:
    Artist Design Logos and Product Labels • Write Effective Ads • Maintain Relationships with Customers and Business Partners
  • Job Skills:
    Keep Detailed Records • Accounting • Product Pricing • Expenses and Revenues • Use Tools and Scales • Present Desirable Product • Hard Work • Horticultural Knowledge

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6. How do the logistics work on West Tisbury Market Days?

LOCATION:
The West Tisbury Farmer’s Market
Grange Hall, State Road
West Tisbury, MA 02575

Wednesdays
Drop Off: West Tisbury Farmer’s Market between 8:30- 9:00am
Pick Up: The FARM Institute @ 3pm (regular time)
Note: Market starts at 9:00am, therefore the closer to 8:30am you can drop off the better and less hectic for everyone. **After the market, the students will be transported with staff by cab back to TFI.

Saturdays
Some Saturday Markets will be available.

7. How do you register?
Please review the 2008 Summer Program brochure.

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The FARM Institute - Post Office Box 1868 - Edgartown, Massachusetts 02539 - (508) 627-7007