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Community CROPS January 2010 Newsletter

New Projects for 2010

Community CROPS is getting ready for yet another big year, even better than last year. Here's a few of the projects in the works:

  • Double the size of the CSA
  • Expand garden space at many of our existing sites
  • Implement new community garden policies to encourage more families to get involved
  • Make more presentations, have booths at more events, and get the whole community talking about CROPS
  • Expand the Growing Farmers program to eight day-long sessions
  • Add more classes on cooking and gardening to our schedule
  • Increase the size of the farmers' market
  • and our ultimate goal: get a whole lot more people throughout the community to grow their own food!

2010 Growing Farmers Workshops

Our farm training program has been named the Growing Farmers program, and is now accepting applications for the winter workshop series.

This is a comprehensive set of classes on how to farm, both the actual growing side and the business and financial planning side. Workshops will cover everything from marketing to post-harvest handling. The full series is just $300 for eight day-long workshops presented by experts in an easy-to-understand format.

Financial aid is available for workshop fees, and can also cover costs of transportation and child care. Interpreters will be provided. Deadline to apply is January 29th. Classes begin February 13th. Apply here.

Bread and Seed Classes

Winter brings more time for indoor projects, including baking bread and starting your own seeds. Ingrid Kirst, CROPS Director, will be teaching a class in each.

Whole-grain Bread Baking, Wednesday, January 27, 6:30pm

Always wanted to try baking your own bread, but were worried about making a mistake? Come learn how easy and fun making bread can be! In this hands-on class, everyone will get a chance to make their own bread dough. Class registration is $20, or $10 for community gardeners or CROPS donors. Kids who are old enough to enjoy the class are welcome to come for free. Registration information.

Seed Starting, Thursday, February 4, 6:30pm Starting your own seeds is a great way to save money and try new varieties of vegetables and flowers. Ingrid will talk about the needed supplies and show you some tips and tricks to start your own seeds. Class is offered through Southeast Community College. Registration information Class is listed on page 31 (page 33 of the PDF) of the course schedule. Tuition is $10.

In addition, on Page 30 of the SCC schedule is a Small Space Garden Workshop, taught by Bertine Loop, which would be well worth your time to attend--Bertine is an amazing gardener and teacher.

Got office space?

Community CROPS has outgrown its current office space. We've squished six staff and lots of equipment and supplies into our 700 square foot office, and we will have new staff soon! We are looking for a larger office and warehouse space. Please contact Ingrid if you have any suggestions at 402-474-9802 or ingrid@communitycrops.org.

CROPS Sustainable Ag Library

A corner of the CROPS office is devoted to a growing collection of books on sustainable agriculture. We'd like to make them available to all of you for reading. A great volunteer put together a PDF list of the books, so look through that and then contact us to come by and check out a book or two to read!

Be our fan!

Connect with Community CROPS on Facebook. Become our fan and show your support. We'll keep you updated on all the fun stuff going on at CROPS.

2010 NSAS Annual Healthy Farms/Rural Advantage Conference

The 2010 NSAS Annual Healthy Farms/Rural Advantage Conference will be held February 5 and 6 in Lincoln. This annual conference provides a wealth of information on sustainable agriculture. It's only in Lincoln every few years, so take advantage of this opportunity. Sessions will be presented by Leslie Pillen, CROPS Farm Manager, and Amy Brt, CROPS Community Garden Program Manager. Amy will be doing a fun session for kids on making seed necklaces and worms as part of the youth track at the conference. Registration is just $80. You can also come to the always-delicious All Nebraska Dinner on Friday evening. Registration information is available on the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society's website.

More upcoming cooking classes

Traditional Foods Preparation/Cooking Class Series 4 consecutive Saturdays from 1-3pm, Presented by Lincoln's own Weston A. Price Foundation Chapter Leader and Master Certified Healing Foods Specialist, Ellie Sodergren.

1. February 13th: Traditional Dairy (yogurt, kefir, whey, cream cheese)
2. February 20th: Lactofermentation (sauerkraut, chutney, Kombucha)
3. February 27th: Soups & Stock (beef stock, Italian beef soup, coconut beef soup)
4. March 6th: Organ Meats (heart sandwich meat, spaghetti sauce, pâté)

Cost: $30 each class, or all 4 for just $100 (a $20 savings) Class fee covers all materials, recipes, and take-home samples. Call Ellie at 402-328-8063 or email at esodergren@catholic.org to register.

Frozen Meal Cooking Series

Who: Open to general population, registration limited to 10 families. Targeting low income individuals and families.
What: Make Casseroles to take home and freeze for later.
When: Thursday evenings 6:00 – 8:00 pm, January 21, February 18, March 18.
Where: “F” Street Community Center, 1225 F Street
Cost: $15.00 per family per class for all materials
Registration and meal details