By Evelind Schecter | Program Leader
The Warm Heart Learning Center is steadily evolving into a vibrant hub for community learning. Through trial and error and by engaging with a range of local interest groups, we’re finding our path toward an inclusive and practical learning space.
The center now has a fully equipped kitchen for food preparation and cooking classes, and the coffee bar is officially open for business. Outside, we’ve cleared the grounds and established test beds to compare the effectiveness of different soil amendments—plain soil, soil with biochar, and soil enriched with vermicast. The results are clearly in favor of our soil enhancers.
We’re currently exploring small, sustainable enterprises that offer income-generating opportunities while reducing waste and supporting the environment. Our first focus is vermicast production. We’re using vegetable waste from a nearby processing facility to cultivate earthworms, turning waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer. Next, we plan to introduce black soldier fly farming, as the larvae are a valuable source of protein for animal feed.
To engage the broader community, we’ve hosted two weekend farmers markets featuring biochar training sessions, along with sales of chemical-free vegetables, honey, and coffee. These events have helped us gauge interest, build connections, and test market potential.
Looking ahead, we’ve scheduled family-friendly weekend workshops where parents and children can learn together how to build and care for small vegetable gardens—an easy and affordable way to grow fresh food at home.
We’re also excited to welcome Su, a new partner from Myanmar. Su is helping us adapt our Core Job Skills curriculum for displaced Burmese youth seeking to build new lives in Thailand.
Step by step, we’re building a space where learning is accessible and rooted in real-world opportunity. Thank you for supporting us as we grow these vital programs.
With best wishes for a fun and fruitful summer,
Dana, Michael, Evelind, and the Warm Heart Family
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