Friends of Deer Hollow Farm

Donations Keep Farm Safe Through 2012

Friends of Deer Hollow Farm has received two large donations that ensure that Deer Hollow Farm's operational budget will most likely not be cut through 2012.
For the latest on Farm funding, please read: Deer Hollow Farm Safe Through 2012

The mission of Friends of Deer Hollow Farm is to preserve Deer Hollow Farm as a working homestead, and support the historical and environmental education program for the benefit of all in our community. Deer Hollow Farm (DHF) is an educational farm located in the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve (here is a map). Rancho San Antonio Preserve is the most visited in the open space district because of the unique setting including the farm and adjacent county park. The program offers school year classes in Farm and Garden, Ohlone Native Americans, Wilderness, and serves as a summer day camp. Approximately 5000 children reap the benefits. The farm site is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 8AM to 4PM, with the exception of Wednesday afternoon when it is closed from 1-4PM. If you are interested, here is a photo album showing the spirit of the farm.(The album is a PDF file.)

Friends of Deer Hollow Farm formed in 1994. The eight member board of volunteers and the 150 generous donors of time and money all believe that the working homestead and its environmental education program should be preserved as a San Francisco Bay Area resource. The City of Mountain View, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation share in this vision and are our funding partners. Friends holds monthly board meetings which are open to the public. For more information regarding meeting times, events, t-shirt and mug sales, or to receive our newsletter, email info@fodhf.org. Also, please see our brochure.(The brochure is a PDF file.) WE ARE PRESERVING THE PAST AND INFLUENCING THE FUTURE. WHERE YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION GOES. Friends of Deer Hollow Farm is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. Funds are raised from individual donations and corporate and community organization grants. In addition, we sponsor special-event public fund-raisers: Fall Ohlone Day and the three Spring public Farm Tours. Friends also sells merchandise such as hand-made note cards, plant and animal identification cards, bookmarks featuring original photos of the Farm and Preserve, T-shirts, sweatshirts, and mugs. Our 2009-2010 annual budget is $35,000. Of that $14,000 goes to specific Farm projects that will enhance Deer Hollow Farm's environmental education program. These projects were recommended by the Farm's Director and the City of Mountain View as important to the Farm's educational program.

Your Friends Board of Directors has approved $14,000 funding for 2010-2011 Farm improvement projects. The new projects include:

• Renovation of the milk room with new sink and hot water heater
• Ohlone teaching materials
• Rain ponchos for the students
• Ventilation system in the Nature Center

During the 2010-2011 school year, Friends will provide about $14,000 in scholarships for 2,400 Bay Area elementary school students to take field trips to Deer Hollow Farm. Classes are eligible if more than one-third of the students in the school or class are on the federal lunch program, an indication of need. Please see the attached letters from scholarship teachers and students about what this program means to them. Friends donors will also provide $3,500 in animal care.

Friend's expenses include three newsletters annually for 300 donors and friends of the farm, as well as insurance and miscellaneous supplies.

If you would like to make a donation to support Deer Hollow Farm's educational program, please use this handy Donor Form.

FRIENDS OFFERS FUNDING OF YOUTH GROUP VOLUNTEER FARM PROJECTS

Friends of Deer Hollow Farm offers partial funding for volunteer youth projects at Deer Hollow Farm. Friends procedures and policy for this funding are detailed in this document FODHF Volunteer Youth Group Funding Policy & Procedures

FRIENDS OFFERS THE FOLLOWING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC:

• Spring Farm Tours will be offered in the spring of 2011. The farm babies can be seen during this period and the ability to go inside the pen if you are a tour member makes the tour special. For more information, read the 2010 Farm Tours flyer. (The flyer is a PDF file).
• Ohlone Day will be held on October 16th, 2010. This is a chance for the general public to enter the Farm's replica Ohlone village and learn about the Bay Area's original inhabitants, the Ohlone, who lived here for 10,000 years. This Village is used throughout the year for classes for third and fourth graders on field trips and is closed to the public except for this event. See photos from Ohlone Day 2009. You can email info@fodhf.org for more information. Or read the 2010 Ohlone Day flyer. (The flyer is a PDF file)
• New Nature Center Open Renovation of the Farm's Apple Shed into a Nature Center, funded by FODHF, is complete, and student and public response has been enthusiastic. Open on the the third Saturday of each month from 10AM to 1PM November through February, the museum has drawn crowds. Friends donations funded new flooring, display cases, and exhibits about the animals and birds in the Rancho San Antonio Preserve. New animal skins, field guides, a lizard skeleton and Ohlone artifacts were purchased. The walls are covered with original photos of the Preserve's animals and birds taken by volunteers. See the enclosed flyer.

Friends of Deer Hollow Farm offers Farm-friendly products to support the Farm and children's field trips. Find a gift for yourself or family or friends and support the Farm. See our Merchandise Catalog and Hand-painted Gourd Birdhouse Examples. Friends hosts a booth at Deer Hollow Farm's Nature Center every third Saturday of the month where you can purchase these items. We will also mail these items to you or your gift recipients at a cost of $3 per item (All prices include sales tax.)

Grant History Booklet Sales Benefit Deer Hollow Farm

Friends has published a Grant Family History Booklet. This 16-page booklet includes the history of Deer Hollow Farm's pioneers: The Grant Family. It includes photos, stories, and a map about Deer Hollow Farm and the Grant Family in the 1800s and early 1900s. Daily life on a homestead is described with photos. It's $5, and all proceeds benefit the Farm. Copies are available at Ohlone Day (October 16) and at the Farm's Nature Center on the third Saturday of each month. Or order your copy at info@fodhf.org and we'll mail it to you for $6. See Grant History Booklet Flyer.

Friends Greeting Cards

Friends of Deer Hollow Farm is now offering original photo greeting cards of Deer Hollow Farm, Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve and holiday scenes. Photos are 4" x 6" matted on 5" x 7" blank cards, and include envelopes. All proceeds benefit the Deer Hollow Farm environmental education program. Please make your photo selections from our farm greeting card catalog. Cards are $3 each or a set of 10 (your choice of photos) for $25. To order, please email: dorothy.schafer@mindspring.com , indicating the card number and catalog name .

NEWSLETTERS

Friends of Deer Hollow Farm has published a special commemorative newsletter celebrating its 15th anniversary and Deer Hollow Farm's 34th anniversary. It contains Farm and Friends highlights over the years, special memories and stories from the many people who helped save the Farm and shape it into what it is today, letters from teachers and kids, and interviews with local government agencies. Read it now: Commemorative 15th Anniversary Newsletter. Copies of this Newsletter are available for 50 cents each at the Friends Farm booth or by contacting info@fodhf.org .

ANNUAL REPORT

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT DEER HOLLOW FARM

The following volunteer jobs are available at Deer Hollow Farm:

• Docents to lead the school field trips (See Flyer)
• Docents to answer the public's questions on weekends
• Help with maintenance and farm chores
• Work in the garden

Call (650)-903-6430 if you are interested in more information about the jobs.

USEFUL LINKS

• The City of Mountain View's description of the Deer Hollow Farm program.
• Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District description of the Rancho San Antonio preserve. Deer Hollow Farm is located within this preserve. (You'll need to click on 'Preserves', and then select the preserve you are interested in).