World Hunger Relief organization brings sustainable agriculture to an interested 'hands on' public

By MANDY JOHN | Central Texas Edition

James Wilson, in back, an intern from Charlottesville, VA, and Dale Barron, development director for the Central Texas chapter of the World Hunger Relief organization hitch a disc onto their tractor so that Wilson can get the field ready to plant oats. -Staff photo by John

December 5, 2002 -- The Central Texas chapter of the World Hunger Relief organization, located in Elm Mott, is a non-profit organization that provides both training and education in sustainable agriculture and offers learning tours for classes of all levels.

"We provide an intensive, hands-on training for individuals who are either called into service in developing countries or those who realize the need for agricultural skills in intensive, sustainable farming," explained Dale Barron, development director for the organization. "This training is a one year program which is at no cost to the intern. The internship is open to anyone 18 and older.

"The work on the farm is extremely intensive. We manage a 42-acre farm that requires all the interns, as well as the staff, to work together to complete the tasks that are necessary to operate a farm. In addition, interns are expected to study farm curriculum and to study individual projects that relate to the region in which they are planning to work."

Barron stated that interns are a major part of the farm program.

Currently at the Elm Mott farm World Hunger Relief employs two full-time staff members and utilizes four interns. More than 350 interns have been trained since the program began in 1976.

"They (the interns) are involved in leading tours, teaching classes, and running a small business marketing farm produce. We provide tours to students where they can learn where food comes from, how we make fertilizer, and how we integrate livestock with farm-based products."

He also said that the facilities are used as a training tool for the interns to practice all aspects of development work for underdeveloped countries.

"Interns learn from working beside staff members while in the fields, asking questions, comparing ideas, and evaluating the effectiveness of different techniques."

"We currently maintain several small garden grow-beds, a two-acre organic vegetable demonstration, rabbit and worm beds, a goat dairy, sheep, chickens, and 15 acres of improved pasture and hay fields. The systems of agricultural techniques we use and teach are simple, current, sound, and reproducible in tropical climates.

"We produce organic vegetables and fruit throughout the year, we have a variety of different animals for meat, and we have goat milk that can produce butter, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. We also buy organic staple foods for the interns and staff members.

Baron said that the goals of the internship are:

• To study sustainable farming methods, utilizing appropriate technologies that take into consideration social justice and lifestyle issues.

• To be involved in the daily physical farm labor and develop an understanding of people who are diligent, intelligent and faithful who work very hard to meet their basic needs but yet often fall short.

• To equip the intern to help people meet their basic needs and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

• To share through these activities by following the Biblical principle of loving people everywhere.

"We are able to continue the work we are called to do because of the gifts and donations from individuals, groups, congregations, and foundations."

For more information on the World Hunger Relief organization or about the internship program, call 254-799-5611 or e-mail WHRI@hot.rr.com. You may also visit their website at: www.worldhungerrelief.org.