School gardens have been popping up locally and nationally in recent years as an effort to help children learn where food comes from and interest them in the simple and nutritious food available from a garden. Despite these efforts, many times the kind of food available in a small plot outside the school has very little in common with what’s served in the cafeteria. This Thursday night at Ragtag, watch the movie Lunch Line to get some background and perspective on the National School Lunch Program. It’s free!
Garden Leader Profile: Don Day
When the Broadway Christian Church decided to start a public community garden four years ago, Don Day volunteered to coordinate it. Under his guidance, the garden has expanded to 96 plots with over 60 families from all over the city tending them. Day says his absolute favorite part of the program is working with the many refugee families that have plots there. (The Columbia Refugee Garden currently adjoins the community garden at Broadway Christian Church.)
Garden Leader Profile: Leslie Schneider
Leslie Schneider is the leader of the 9th Street Community Garden. An accomplished gardener, this is her second season at a community garden. Continue reading
Link
Today’s Missourian had an article about the Unite 4 Healthy Neighborhoods initiative and the Health Department Garden. Nice photo, too!
So. Boone Learning Garden Fundraiser
Sunday, November 13 • 1-3 pm
Southern Boone County Elementary School in Ashland
Come on out and support the Learning Garden and producers of delicious Missouri-grown products. Take a tour of the Learning Garden, learn about opportunities to sponsor a garden bed, and shop an indoor farmers’ market. Enjoy a “local lunch” featuring Patchwork Pork, Danjo Farms buns, Salad Garden salad, dessert from Maa Pies, and sweet potatoes grown at the school. Lunch is $10 for adults, $5 for kids age 3 through 5th grade, and kids 2 and under are free.
The funds raised at this event support the Learning Garden which relies solely on volunteers.
Garden Leader Profile: Ann Bromstedt
Two years ago, the staff at Kilgore’s Medical Pharmacy observed that a large number of local children were coming to their pharmacy with ailments that could be controlled by eating a healthy diet. Ann Bromstedt, owner of Kilgore’s, decided to take action and donated land next to their Providence location. Continue reading
Garden Leader Profile: Lily Chan
Meet Lily Chan, co-leader at the Interfaith Garden.
In 2009, the Columbia Climate Change Coalition approached avid gardener Lily Chan through her church. One of the coalition’s sub-groups, Interfaith Care for Creation, initiated a new interfaith gardening project where people from different spiritual communities work together. Their goal was to grow organic fruits and vegetables for the needy, while listening to their spiritual calling to take care of God’s creation. Chan embraced the project and began recruiting volunteers within her congregation.
Take the Community Food Survey
A coalition of groups has come together to produce this survey to help understand access to food for families in Columbia. To get accurate information, they need people from all income levels, neighborhoods and walks of life to fill out this quick survey. Complete the survey here; it only took me about 10 minutes.
You’ll also have the opportunity to enter your name (which is kept separate from their survey!!) into a drawing to win football tickets and $20 gift cards at local restaurants and grocery stores. This is part of the Unite for Healthy Neighborhoods program, funded by a Grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Winterize Your Garden: Free Program
The Columbia Public Library is offering a free seminar this coming Monday on preparing your garden for the winter. Also, check out this great article from the presenter for lots of good tips on fall & winter gardening.
Winterize Your Garden
Monday, October 10 • 7 p.m.
Columbia Public Library
100 W. Broadway, Columbia
Hootenanny Alert!
Support the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture and have a grand ole’ time at the Harvest Hootenanny this weekend!
Saturday, October 1 • 4-7 p.m.
The Urban Farm, 1207 Smith St.
suggested donation $5-20
Community Garden Coalition 