Natalie's Everyday Heroes: A circle of giving at Ozaukee County's Bonim Farms

 

OZAUKEE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Bonim is the Hebrew word for builders, and building is the mission of Bonim Farms in Ozaukee County. The farm employs young adults with disabilities, helping them build work experience. Growing as people by growing vegetables. 

"There you go! And then shake it off close to the ground," instructed garden manager Laura Aprill.

Tending to the garden at Bonim Farms takes a lot of hands.

"That's great. Perfect," Aprill said.

Pulling weeds is just one of the many jobs that need to get done.

"I come here a lot. I harvest. I do other stuff, too," said Mandy, one of the campers.

Mandy has been coming here to the JCC Rainbow Day Camp for 20 years.

"I like everything," she exclaimed. 

But it's just in the last four years or so that it's sprouted into something more.

"It just keeps growing, literally," said Lenny Kass, the executive director of JCC Rainbow Day Camp. "The mission is young adults giving back. And that's what makes them really feel good."

Bonim Farms grows all kinds of fresh produce.

Some of which finds its way to the Jewish Community Pantry in Milwaukee.

"It's essential," said director Heidi Gould. "It's something unique that other pantries in the area certainly don't have."

Gould says her guests request specific vegetables that the Bonim Farmers then grow.

"One of our missions at the JCC is related to our Jewish values of Tikkun olam, is repairing the world. And so being able to do that together and do good work is, just seems like a natural fit," she said.

The farm produces about 2,000 pounds of produce for three area food pantries.

"And you know, lettuce doesn't weigh very much! If lettuce doesn't weigh very much and we're talking 2,000 pounds, that's a lot of lettuce," Kass said with a laugh.

Along the way, there's some fun, too. Aprill teaches garden cooking. On the menu - smoothies made with raspberries from the garden and a bike blender.

"Do you want to be the first one to try it?" she asked one of the campers.

Giving a chance for these young adults to grow in every sense of the word.

"One, they get to see their friends. They're here with their coworkers. Two, they have a job. They get paid. Three, they're learning skills and four, they're giving back," Kass said.

This is a year-round operation. In the winter, they grow micro greens and package spices. They also come to fresh market Wednesdays at the JCC in Whitefish Bay to sell their produce, spices and cutting boards they also make.

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If you'd like to nominate an everyday hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].