By Dan Aceto

Staff Writer

Taylor Santos, like most 13-year-olds, spent her summer catching up with friends and having as much fun as possible.

She also spent it organizing sponsors for a benefit road race to support a Scarborough summer camp.

Santos, an Arundel resident who is a freshman at Thornton Academy in Saco, has spent the last six months meeting with area businesses owners to gather support for her road race to benefit Broadturn Farm’s summer camp in Scarborough. 

The camp, where Santos was a junior counselor two years ago with her younger brother, teaches children ages 4 to15 where their food comes from and educates them about sustainable living and farm ecology.

This year the farm was unable to hold its annual summer camp because it didn’thave a safe place to shelter campers in inclement weather. When Santos heard the news, she decided to take action. 

“I knew road races were popular in the area, which is why I thought it would be a good fundraiser. The whole process was really enjoyable, and I learned so many things that will help me later in life,” Santos said.

So far, Santos has race sponsorships from Brown Fox Printing, Prime Mercedes, Sudzie Autowash and Maine Indoor Carting.

Russ Burleigh of Brown Fox Printing said he was taken aback that someone as young as Santos was involved in organizing an event of this magnitude.

“It was very easy to say yes to helping out with the race. I’d never met anyone that age with such poise and politeness,” Burleigh said.

Santos, who also is running for Miss Maine’s Outstanding Teen of 2011, has chosen the platform “Buy Local, Eat Local, Be Local,” as part of her campaign initiative. 

“A big issue in our society is obesity. It’s important for people to have a healthy lifestyle,” Santos said, “Buying local is just one way we can help the world.”

Paul Austin, vice chairman of the Scarborough Parks and Conservation Land Advisory Board, which bought the 434-acre Broadturn Farm and helps lease it to farmers, said he would like to see more children with Santos’ energy and commitment. 

“Local food is important for many reasons. Too much retail sends cash out of a community, providing local people with lower-paying jobs and no real benefits from the profits. These companies too often are only interested in people and numbers and not productive necessities for their company,” said Austin.

The camp’s mission, as outlined on its website, is to teach children principles of animal welfare and organic gardening and experience the satisfaction of good work for good food.  

Santos, who is a self-avowed fan of the Food Network, said one of her favorite experiences at the camp was cooking with vegetables and produce she harvested in the garden, as well as collecting eggs each morning from inside chicken coops.

While Santos couldn’t attend camp this year, it didn’t stop her from gardening. Using skills learned at Broadturn Farm, she planted a garden at home of tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, sunflowers and watermelon, which she admitted was “just an experiment.” 

“The watermelons came out a bit small, but we ate them anyway. It was delicious,” Santos said.

Although Santos said she knows it will be hard to gain a considerable amount of attention the first year of her race, she hopes to see between 200 to 500 people sign up and raise approximately $1,000 for the camp. If all goes well, the farm would resume camp next summer.

Stacy Brenner, who runs Broadturn Farm with John Bliss, said she thinks Santos is “a really motivated young woman, taking on a big process,” and that if residents want a strong vibrant community they need to support local businesses. 

Austin agreed and said that rising energy costs are another reason to support local endeavors such as the farm. 

“There is evidence now that the easiest sources of petro-energy are becoming depleted, leaving more costly sources our only recourse. Transportation costs are eventually going to have serious influence on where we can afford to obtain products. Buying local is a very small first step toward developing the infrastructure we’ll need to accommodate these increased energy costs. And the benefit of organic produce is just icing on the cake,” said Austin.

Santos said learning to garden and harvest what is grown is an easy way to get started “going green” and staying healthy. Not to mention that it’s also fun.

“It’s just so cool to eat what you grow!” 

The Watch’Em Blossom 5K road race will be 8 a.m Oct. 24 at Broadturn Farm in Scarborough. Racers may register for the race at www.watchemblossom5k.com/index.html. The cost is $30.

Staff Writer Dan Aceto can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 237.