Harvest Farm north of Wellington is a place of rehabilitation for homeless men, most of whom suffer from alcohol and drug addiction. This is the fourth summer the farm has hosted the Youth Mission Project, a camp for junior and senior high school students from around the country. Groups of teens typically spend four days at Harvest Farm. It's not exactly the typical summer camp experience. Then, there's a jam-packed schedule including six hours of manual labor.
Jobs vary from painting and construction to gardening and kitchen duty.
The day is rounded out with meals, discussion groups and lively softball games after supper - all shared with Harvest Farm residents. There is an easy camaraderie among campers and residents as they labor side by side on work assignments. Jokes fly, and there's plenty of laughing and teasing. It's easy to see that bonds of affection can develop after just a few days. But for campers, the most memorable moments come during the evening campfires, when Harvest Farm residents tell their tales of addiction, poverty and homelessness.