Every year, AmeriCorps VISTA members across the country participate in service projects on September 11. This event is called the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. It was created to honor the sacrifices made during the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001.
Like last year, this year’s Day of Service was held at the Eco3 Urban Farm. For the 2022 Day of Service, VISTA members helped with a soil restoration project. That work supported the first season of growing this summer, which has been very fruitful! For the 2023 Day of Service, members helped with Farm chores to help usher in the harvest season. The group helped remove invasive weeds and shoveled a lot of donated mulch to fortify existing pathways and to create new ones in the berry patch. While shoveling mulch was at times strenuous and dirty work, one highlight of the day was discovering a snake friend in the mulch pile. Other members helped harvest ripe fruits and vegetables and saved seeds for future planting. The group also built a new compost site, which will not only be useful throughout the fall harvest but also free up plantable space previously used for composting.
In addition to giving back to the community, the Day of Service is an opportunity for VISTA members to enjoy time together. Working outside on the Farm is a great way to bond and enjoy the beauty of Duluth!
The 9/11 Day of Service is not limited to VISTA members. Everyone is invited to honor the sacrifice of first responders, firefighters, and other heroes who gave their lives to protect others. The next Day of Service is in February, to honor the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On that day, we invite everyone to take some time to give back.