The Greenhouse - Computer Lab
         Programs at the Farm
 
Ray Angers Community Farm Begins Greenhouse Education and Computer Lab
                                                 Instruction Programs
 
    The Ray Angers Community Farm is one of those hidden treasures located on a curvy mountain road in West Newfield, Maine, with an incredible view of Mount Washington.  Here approximately two hundred free-range chickens roam and Hereford cattle graze in the fields.  Residents harvest their own wood; cultivate vegetable gardens; hay the fields, and keep busy with various projects including small engine repair and wreath making.  A pig stall is presently being constructed in anticipation of the arrival of some pigs.  The Farm is owned and operated by the York County Shelter Programs and it provides a home and vocational program for eight formerly homeless men and women.  It is a peaceful place with an emphasis on community and stewardship of the land.  Many of the products from the Farm, such as the eggs and the vegetables, have been utilized by the feeding programs at the York  County Shelter Programs.
 
    Several individuals, agencies and businesses in southern Maine have volunteered to become involved in a community project that will introduce horticultural instruction and a computer training program to benefit the residents of the Ray Angers Community Farm.  Residents at the Farm will be growing a large selection of herbs, perennials, and vegetable seedlings for the first time in the greenhouse during the upcoming winter and spring.  
 
 
 
 
Residents are busy working on the construction of a shed to house the wood furnace that was donated to heat the greenhouse.
 
 
 
 
Jim and Maureen DiSilva from DiSilva Trucking generously donated a pickup truck to be used on the Farm and with the greenhouse project.  It has proven to be invaluable.
Limington Lumber Co.
East Baldwin, ME
Win Smith Sr. and Win Smith Jr. of Limington Lumber have generously agreed to donate the lumber for the exterior walls and roof of the shed that houses the wood furnace to heat the greenhouse.
Thanks to the efforts of MetroCast’s Assistant Marketing Manager, Sarah LaPointe, MetroCast has agreed to install and provide high-speed Internet at the Farm for a computer lab training program.
Stan Smith from The MacSmith in Scarborough has donated a great deal of time in sharing his computer expertise for this web site and technology program.
 
Long-time volunteer and York County Shelter Board member, Carol Adams, (above photo) and her husband, Richard Azeez, have generously agreed to donate a computer, digital camera, video camera, and 4”x6” photo print maker.  The donation of any functioning laptop or desktop computers that can access the Internet and the donation of any functioning printers and used digital cameras would be greatly appreciated so that group instruction can take place in a computer lab setting at the Farm.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Several young adults from the Life Works Program of Waban Projects helped to volunteer to dig a ditch for the greenhouse.
A special thank you is extended to Seth Emmons of Kennebunk for donating pots and greenhouse supplies.
Park Seed Company in South Carolina agreed to donate a horticultural manual and some herb seeds for this project.
Ted Heselton volunteered to design the plans for the construction of the shed for heating the greenhouse.
Roger Winn volunteered to weld part of the
wood furnace for the greenhouse that needed repair.
Jim Smith of Lowe’s in Biddeford
arranged the donation of building materials for the benches in the greenhouse.
Dave Hicks from Seacoast Hardwood donated 2x4’s and insulation for the utility building for the greenhouse.
A special thank you is extended to Anchorage By The Sea who has agreed to donate desks and chairs for the computer lab at the Ray Angers Community Farm
Bill Simmons donated two Internet-accessible computers for the computer lab at the Farm.
 
Anyone owning a hoop greenhouse that they are no longer using is encouraged to consider donating it to the horticultural program.  Volunteers are willing and available to dismantle it and take it away! Area residents who may have some greenhouse supplies to donate are encouraged to contact Mary Doyle at 207-324-1137 at the York County Shelter Programs or  at 207-793-2759 or by email at:  bdoyle@psouth.net
 
A special thank you is extended  from the Ray Angers Community Farm to everyone who is willing to help in this community project that involves the incorporation of horticulture and technology and, most importantly,  a willingness to help others.
 
 
Richard Walker (on left), Jake Dupuis (center) from Walker’s Refrigeration and Russell King (on right)
volunteered their mechanical expertise for the greenhouse project.
A special thank you is extended to everyone who has offered support to the greenhouse - computer lab project at the Farm.
A special thank you is extended to Paul Poulin for the donation of insulation for the greenhouse and Leesa Joiner for agreeing to become involved in the computer lab program.
A special thank you is extended to Bob Corey of the Griffins Greenhouse and Nursery Supplies in Gray, Maine for his contribution of soil for the germination of seeds.
Liz Carr of Pinetree Garden Seeds in New Gloucester donated a large selection of seeds.
Seth Emmons of Kennebunk has donated an incredible amount of  trays, garden pots, and
fluorescent lights to the greenhouse project.
Joanna Sylvester of Memory Gardens in Alfred has donated a large number of pots and trays to the greenhouse project.