Caitlin Hearn and Amanda Langhals

AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associates at Case Western Reserve University

Who are we?

Who are we serving?

Unique Populations We Serve

• High school students from low-income backgrounds

• Adults with developmental disabilities

• Refugees from Bhutan, Burma, Tanzania, and Liberia

• College students and university community

Innovative Practices

Solar Panels are used to power the timer for the water system.

Drip irrigation systems decrease time spent watering and limit water waste.

Biodegradable weed controls shorten time spent weeding, and prevent plants from being taken over by weeds.

Greenhouses and hoop houses extend growing season.

Buried fences keep pests out and protect crops from being eaten.

Covering plants with clay to keep pests out.

CWRU Farm

Drip Irrigation

• Controlled by solar panel-powered timer

• Homemade system cost less than $1000 to build

Solar energy converter and battery

Solar panel Hoses

Soil Quality Detectors and Weed Controls

Soil ProbeAnti-weed Paper

New This Year

• CSA Program• Farmers Market

Cleveland Crops

Greenhouses and Hoop House (High Tunnel)

Green Corps

Green Corps Open House

GREEN

CORPS

OPEN

HOUSE

Refugee Response

Refugee Response Open House

Refugee Response Open House

Refugee Response Open House

New This Year

Educating Mexican and Iraqi high school students about leadership through civic engagement

Lessons Learned

• Break out of the bubble!• Patience • Role of community partners in

service• Working at more than one site

provides crossover experience• Impact that small service can

have on others in the community

What Next?

Amanda• Continuing CWRU Farmers Market into the fall• Opened my eyes to working with disabled

children and adults as potential career.

What’s Next?

Caitlin• Continuing the CWRU CSA Program into the fall• Continuing to work with the refugees from the

Refugee Response– Developing an English curriculum for volunteer

tutoring program• Encouraged me to go into non-profit work or

community development

Thank you to the OCC staff, the CCEL staff, and all community partners for making this

AmeriCorps experience possible!