The health of the Potomac River is something that impacts all of us in the DMV, and the Alice Ferguson Foundation in Accokeek, MD is working to keep that mission at the forefront. This non-profit organization offers educational programs to people of all ages and walks of life, including students, educators, park rangers, regional organizations, and government agencies to promote environmental sustainability of the Potomac River watershed.
Through both volunteer opportunities to clean the watershed, as well as programs to instill a passion for the environment into elementary and middle school students, the foundation’s work focuses on the stewardship of this critical natural resource.
Renovating a Century-Old Cottage With the Help of a Grant
Because of the immersive nature of the foundation’s work, Samantha Scheff, Farm and Education Program Coordinator, lives on-site in Accokeek. Her home is a nearly century-old cottage that has been used over the years as a classroom, office, and other interim uses. But, now, as it shifts to a residence, the foundation’s goal is to turn it into an inviting place to live and somewhere that Scheff can rest and relax after a long day of protecting and serving the farm animals that also inhabit the foundation’s property.
“As the farm manager, living on site is essential because my work often happens outside of a normal workday,” says Scheff. “In fact, milking the cow twice a day almost never happens between the hours of 9-5!”
Scheff explains that their new dairy cow, Rosie, came to the foundation after a long search. Finding a dairy cow that’s keen on meeting with hundreds of students every year is no easy feat. “She has to have the right disposition to be milked by hundreds of students every year,” says Scheff.
And, when you find that perfect cow, you have to be flexible — the shipper delivered her at 2 AM, which brings us back to Scheff living on site. “Being able to receive her would have been a lot more complicated without having a cozy and comfortable building to reside in on site,” says Scheff.
As the cottage has been renovated and brought up to 2024 living standards, the foundation applied for a Community Building Blocks Grant through Community Forklift. This grant enabled them to obtain desperately needed new flooring for the cottage.
Supporting the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s Mission
Each day, Scheff gets to make a direct impact on people in the community and the future of the Potomac watershed.
“Watching kids experience the wonder of nature — many for the first time — inspires me every day,” says Scheff. She recalls a third-grade group that included a student scared on her first journey hiking in the woods. The student held a tight grip onto Scheff’s backpack, until the end, when she said, “I don’t need to hold on anymore, I am not feeling scared now!”
Today, they’ve educated over one million students and led efforts to remove 8.5 million pounds of waste from the Potomac. As Scheff explains, “Kids are so naturally curious and brave. I love getting to see the world through their eyes everyday!”
You can support the Alice Ferguson Foundation as they celebrate 70 years of educating students in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC about sustainability, STEM principles, and environmental stewardship. Or, if you’re interested in learning more about how Community Forklift enables local organizations to advance their work through Community Building Blocks grants, learn more and apply here.
“As the farm manager, living on site is essential because my work often happens outside of a normal workday. In fact, milking the cow twice a day almost never happens between the hours of 9-5!”
Every time you donate or shop at Community Forklift, you’re helping us lift up local communities through reuse. We turn the construction waste stream into a resource stream for communities in the DC region – by keeping perfectly good items out of the landfill, preserving historical materials, providing low-cost building supplies, and creating local green jobs.
