30 | FEBRUARY 6 • 2020 

Camp Guide

The Farber Farm’s Reach
Produce from the farm makes
it beyond the dining hall.

RACHEL FINE SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
A

t Camp Maas of 
Tamarack Camps, the 
Farber Farm has been 
growing and blossoming since 
opening its barn doors in June 
2018. During the farm’
s sec-
ond summer of programming, 
campers had the opportunity to 
plant, harvest and snack on fresh 
veggies while learning about 
sustainable agriculture and its 
connection to Judaism.
One may wonder where the 
endless rows of fruits, veggies 
and herbs go after campers, staff 
and volunteers harvest them. 
In the summer, Farber Farm 
Manager Alex Rosenberg works 
closely with the Head of Dining 
Services at Camp Maas Regina 
Helsinki to determine which 
fresh foods can make it into the 
chadar ochel (dining hall). 
To maintain accordance 
with kosher law, some produce 
cannot be served in the chadar 
ochel. While one may think 
that all vegetables follow the 
laws of kashrut, the possible 
contamination from insects, 
stringent washing and supervi-
sion requirements make things 
complicated. 
In the summer, donations are 
delivered weekly to Yad Ezra by 
volunteers. Some produce has 
been enjoyed at Hazon Detroit 
events, as well as displayed at the 
Hazon Michigan Jewish Food 
Festival. Tamarack Camps also 

donates excess produce to the 
Ortonville Food Bank, Jewish 
Ferndale, and congregations and 
food banks throughout the year.
In November, the Farber 
Farm was a donating sponsor 
at the Ronald McDonald House 
Charities for its “House Chef 
Challenge” event. The Farber 
Farm delivered a produce pantry 
(complete with mystery ingredi-
ents) for a fundraising program 
held at the Ronald McDonald 
House Detroit, which mirrored 
popular TV show cooking com-
petitions. 
Talented chefs, including 
Tamarack Camps’
 own Sammy 
Vieder (a past contestant on 
NBC’
s MasterChef Junior), 
formed two teams and compet-
ed in a cook-off using surprise 
challenge ingredients from the 
Farber Farm. 
Tamarack Camps is thankful 
to Farber Farm Task Force mem-
bers Sheri Mark and Elizabeth 
Sollish, as well as Rosenberg’
s 
mother, Lisa Rosenberg, for con-
necting Tamarack Camps to this 
delicious, heartwarming event.
It is clear that the reach of the 
Farber Farm extends outside 
of Ortonville. It reaches into 
our Jewish community … and 
beyond! 

Rachel Fine is a development 
and marketing associate at Camp 
Tamarack.

COURTESY OF TAMARACK CAMPS

Chefs prep in the House 
Chef Challenge event at the 
Ronald McDonald House

Sunshine and laughter.
Music and art.
Sports and water play.
Exploration and discovery.

Some things are simply
better together.

CAMP

FUNTABULOUS

Like sunshine and laughter, come 

experience why Summer Camp and 
Hillel are better together. For 
campers 2-5 years old. 

For more information, 
contact Robin Pappas, Director of 
Early Education, at 248-539-1489 or 
rpappas@hillelday.org.

