More than 80 guests sat at long tables to enjoy the first annual Garden Dinner Gala at Clarkston Family Farm, Sept. 13.
The gala raised funds for the farm’s Pathways to Possibilities Project, increasing access to the farm, garden, and teaching spaces for all ages and abilities.
“It truly takes a village and our team at the Clarkston Family Farm could not be more proud of the way our entire community embraced our farm,” said Chelsea O’Brien, Clarkston Family Farm executive director. “So many friends of the family farm came out that night to support our mission and to make certain everyone is welcome, safe and happy at the our non-profit education farm. Our team is truly grateful. The night was filled with laughter, celebration, purpose, gratitude and abundance. We can’t wait for next year!”
More than 40 students volunteered as artists, musicians, comedians, chefs, and servers at the event, catered by Executive Chef Jakobi Voorhies and The Fed. Sarah Schneider, owner of The Fed, worked with the Clarkston Family Farm team and event planner Sarah Johnson of Fete and Finery to create the event. The restaurant also offered a cocktail cross-promotion that same evening at their place on Main Street and donated at proceeds to the farm fundraiser.
Brioni’s Cafe and Deli and Rudy’s Market donated supplies, and Buscemi’s provided three types of wine. Moscovic Building Company and Oral and Facial Surgeons of Michigan provided wine, hard cider, and microbrew from Parker’s Hilltop Brewery. Ace Hardware contributed picnic tables and Bordine’s provided a discount on fall color annuals. Nicole Reno Bielak at Reno Photography donated photography services.
The Cookbook Class offered a generous donation along with their young chefs’ handcrafted appetizers. Troop 199 and the Clarkston High School Construction Tech program helped build and set up 17 picnic tables, 84 place settings, 500 feet of string lights, and yards of freshly harvested garland.
Bittersweet Farms, Wally’s Organics, and Clarkston Family Farm harvested and donated organic produce for the farm-to-table dining experience. Every dish from appetizers to desserts contained an ingredient grown within five miles, harvested within 24 hours of serving, and/or cooked over an open pit fire.
After expenses, they raised about $6,000 for an ADA ramp to the Green Room, an inside classroom and climate controlled growing space at the farm, as well as an expanded wetland boardwalk for ADA access to the Discovery Pond.
“We hope to continue to fundraise to create a crushed gravel pathway that will allow wheelchair access to our Hopeful Hoophouse, our Giving Tree Orchard and our Outdoor Cooking Lab as well as a second hoophouse we will call the Healing Hoophouse specifically designed for our special needs community,” O’Brien said. “Visit our website and donate to the Peacepoles for Possibilities Project. A $50 donation or higher will allow your family’s name to be painted on our farm’s eight-foot-tall Peacepole beautifully painted by professional artist Dana Blust.”
To be added to the invitation list for next year’s Garden Dinner Gala, contact O’Brien at kc.ob.2000@gmail.com or add your contact information at Clarkstonfamilyfarm.com.
– Phil Custodio