PACA Education Maryland

We are a 501c3, focused on 1) Teaching people about alpacas as farm animals and their uses as part of Regenerative Agriculture, and 2) Filling a few needs that became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, including creating sustainable local supply lines of fresh vegetables, fruit, and grains, providing people with a chance to get off of the electronics and re-engage with nature/outdoor agricultural opportunities, and demonstrating the effectiveness of collaborative relationships, using Regenerative Agricultural practices. Unfortunately, even "post-pandemic", we do not anticipate the need for the donation of local, fresh food diminishing over the next 5-10 years.

With a focus on regenerative agricultural processes being learned and used to help reduce food insecurity, our organization has two main initiatives: 1) Educate children and adults about alpacas as fiber animals/livestock versus as pets. We have a curriculum designed that teaches about what these animals are and are not. This initiative also provides drop spindles and bags of fiber for people to learn how to make yarn from alpaca fiber. Volunteers become ambassadors for the alpacas, and help with the curriculum presentation and the spinning. 2) Work together to grow vegetables and grains for the local non-profits who focus on increasing food security in Montgomery County. We are in the process of getting a community garden going that has a focus on regenerative agriculture education, and a social benefit aspect of reducing food insecurity. Volunteers in this program will learn how to weed, plant, water, grow, and harvest what is needed by the specific non-profits for their clients. The importance of culture and food will be discussed, as well as what that means to what is grown and donated.