A Letter to EarthDance Volunteers
A Letter to EarthDance Volunteers, shared at the EarthDance Volunteer Potluck Celebration (October 25th, 2025)
Thank you so much for your service this season. We have all loved observing the culture created this season. Sharing creative ideas you have planned for your shares, impromptu end of shift potlucks, bringing so much laughter, many hugs, and growing friendships. It’s been a diverse group that all share one vital trait of being human: being a helper. It’s admirable and inspiring. From office and event support, to moving a ½ ton of compost, to planting 140 feet of veg plugs, and supporting Farmers Formal, our largest fundraiser of the year, y’all show up for EarthDance helping advance our mission of farm and garden education and food access. You have logged over 2,300 volunteer hours this season!
The farm is much enriched, and our work much more fulfilling with you around–we hope you feel the same! The volunteer program isn’t just about what we can get done with your helping hands. It’s about what you get to take away from it too.
So many of our volunteers give their time, energy, and skills to the farm and have become one of our own in the process.
We’d like to give a big shout out to our farm Mom, Jane Keating, who is a shining star example of our volunteer program. Our Thursday orchard/berm crew led by Jane have the blackberries looking better than ever this season!
Kathleen Rumme is also an incredible volunteer leader here. Our herb garden is such a special place on the farm and it wouldn’t be possible without her and her mighty crew. Kathleen also co-leads our flower crew for Farmers Formal with Vicki Lander.
Vicki, Kathleen, and crew do an amazing job with our flowers each year! We have had some great office support this season as well. Shout out to June! We also want to thank our board and committee members! Much of what they do is behind the scenes but they bring so much to our organization and continue to help move our mission here at EarthDance forward.
We are in such awe and gratitude for your generosity with your time. As of October 18th, 2025, a total of 2,320 individual volunteer hours have been contributed overall at the farm. And that’s not even counting Farmers Formal and committee member hours! Just incredible!
Every year, we award one volunteer with the title of Volunteer of the Year. This season we did things a little differently, and recognized four volunteers who went above and beyond for EarthDance! Our awardees include:
Cyndi Speidel has been a staple of our Saturday field shifts. Whether it’s spending her Saturday mornings with us, helping out with data entry, or supporting events, Cyndi’s cheery demeanor and “how can I help” attitude makes her our Weekend Warrior of the Season!
Miranda Durfor is our Farm Stand Champ of the season! Miranda has played a huge role in supporting the PWYC Farm Stand this season. This season we have had 87 volunteer hours logged for the Farm Stand, and much of those were completed by her. She is always willing to offer a helping hand with events like Farmer’s Formal as well.
Our Rookie of the Year is Denise Spear! Denise came to our first orientation of the season in March and hasn’t looked back. She has been a great support to the farm team, our Thursday berm crew, as well as our orchard specialist, Steven Franz. Denise also gets the coolest car award this season. I want a ride in that Jeep sometime!
Brandon Yu is our 2025 Season MVP aka our Volunteer of the Year! Brandon shows up and shows out for EarthDance. He supports the farm team on a weekly basis and has also been a great event supporter this season. He has brought so many tasty treats to share this season and makes friends with everyone he works with. Thank you Brandon. Your impact this season is truly priceless.
To all of our volunteers this season: EarthDance would not be EarthDance without you. We are so grateful for each and every one of you. Our volunteer program is the heart of our programming and we couldn’t do this work without your support.
With Gratitude,
- Dani Fuhrman, EarthDance Garden & Volunteer Coordinator, and the EarthDance team
