One of the best parts about our family business is getting to know our customers and hearing the stories of the amazing things they are doing and the causes that they are involved with. Corey Unger, a charter member of Oxen Hill Farm's CSA Program, introduced to us the Petit Family Foundation project involving the sale of seeds from Four O'clock plants in 2010. The foundation was in need of some crop land to raise these lovely plants, and these past seasons we have had the distinct honor and pleasure to work with the family and the foundation to continue the efforts of this very worthwhile cause.

The Petit Family Foundation was established by friends and family of Dr. William Petit in honor of his wife and daughters who were lost in the tragic home invasion in Cheshire, CT in 2007. The mission of the foundation is to honor "the memories of Jennifer Hawke-Petit, Hayley Elizabeth Petit and Michaela Rosa Petit by continuing the kindness, idealism and activism that defined their lives. The Foundation's funds are given to foster the education of young people, especially women in the sciences; to improve the lives of those affected by chronic illnesses; and to support efforts to protect and help those affected by violence." (http://www.petitfamilyfoundation.org/)

In order to continue the original line of Four O'clock plants that were special to Michaela, seeds were taken from those that were growing in the family garden. Packets of Four O'clock seeds have been sold each year to benefit the foundation.  At Oxen Hill Farm, we have carefully planted and raised several thousand four o'clock flower plants, in order for them to grow and produce the next generation of seeds for the foundation's efforts.

Your help would be appreciated in the care of these beautiful plants. In the winter, we can use help in sorting and packaging seeds harvested from last years' crop.  In the spring, the seeds are sold in various locations around town. In the summer time, the young plants need to be weeded. In the fall, we need help collecting the mature seeds.  It won't take a lot of your time, but you can take a small step towards "be[ing] the change you wish to see in the world." For more information on the foundation or to make any other kind of contribution, please visit them on the web at http://www.petitfamilyfoundation.org/