About 100 kids pulled on gloves and worked the land at the Dartmouth YMCA’s Sharing the Harvest Community Farm.

Workers at the 4-acre farm, which has been cleared of a substantial amount of its summer produce, are now preparing the space for fall vegetables. Produce from the volunteer-run farm benefits food pantries throughout the region.

The farm had some major assistance on Tuesday from Tabor Academy in Marion and Nativity Prep School in New Bedford. The student effort was part of Tabor Academy’s annual fall Service Day, in which students and faculty venture out to assist more than 30 organizations with projects ranging from road clean up to baking to farming.

Mel Bride, Tabor Academy’s dean of students, said that Service Day gets students off campus to give back to the community. At some of the locations they visit, students will learn about food insecurity in the region. She said it’s also an opportunity for Tabor students to meet kids from other schools.

“I’ve had [students] who graduated and, at their colleges, they’re looking for opportunities to do community service. It’s nice to hear that they’re continuing it,” said Kelly Walker, who teaches Spanish at Tabor Academy.

Walker said that, in addition to Service Day, Tabor students are encouraged to spend five to 10 hours of the academic year participating in community service.

Farm education coordinator Emily Secor said the farm will be operational well into November. Students from New Bedford’s Nativity Prep School were hard at work ripping up plastic sheets from the field that are used to prevent weed growth during the summer.

She said the farm has harvested about 80,000 pounds of produce this year – close to the YMCA's goal of reaching 100,000 pounds.

As the plastic sheets were removed, Tabor Academy students were busy planting seedlings. A small group used PVC piping to ensure that they were planting in straight rows. The pipes were marked with orange tape to help students plant the lettuce at even distances.

“It’s fun,” said Sophie Browing, 14, who was taking part in her first Service Day. “You get a little dirty, but, whatever. You can wash it off. If it helps get someone some food, it’s not hard to get dirty once in awhile.”

Alex Cavanaugh, 15, and a group of his peers were busy washing buckets of kale and bundling the leaves together with rubber bands. Cavanaugh said he enjoyed his foray into farming, though, his classmates agreed that kale wasn’t their favorite.

“It’s good work. It’s a little strenuous, but it’s for a good purpose,” he said.