Food Share

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, and that is why we have some extraordinary things to share. Our focus here in 2010 is to a system of creative garden learning and organization throughout the Mid-Willamette Valley.

Over winter, we here at Marion Polk Food Share have been deeply involved in strategic planning for the Sustainable Gardens Program. We find ourselves continuing this wave of reflection while we prepare for a season of cultivating awareness and sowing community action. With faith and nourishment, we ask that you join us in a vigorous conversation about where the program is headed. We also ask that you volunteer and green your thumbs with us as we teach youth and families the art of healthful, organic gardening.

GARDEN CATALYST PROJECT

Saturday Work-Learn Parties – Beginning MLK Weekend, January 16th, 2010.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, Marion Polk Food Share initiated the “Gardens Catalyst” – a project that will anchor morning and afternoon work-parties every Saturday at neighborhood gardens throughout the Salem-Keizer area. Youth and adults who are interested in community service, organic learning and community food production are encouraged to sign up through Hands On – Mid-Willamette Valley. handsonmwv.org

Champions of the Sustainable Community Gardens Program are coming together to plan and prepare garden projects, workshops and community events, and will soon unveil a series of workshops that will be offered to individual garden groups this spring. The goal of the Garden Catalyst Guild is to develop and sharpen our skills as a community of gardeners.

Organized as a four week train-the-trainer workshop similar to Pantry Partners, www.osutrainingblogspot.com we are currently looking for volunteers who are interested in being trained to lead garden-to-kitchen workshops at low-income apartment complexes and community centers. The Garden-to-Kitchen Workshop will teach low-income participants aspects of organic kitchen gardening and will delve into planning affordable gardens to meet family food needs, garden meal planning, veggie harvest, food prep and healthful eating habits.

For more information on these and other garden volunteer opportunities, contact Jordan Blake – Gardens Project Manager. jblake@marionpolkfoodshare.org