Community CROPS June 2007 Newsletter

Welcome to the June issue of the Community CROPS Newsletter. It's been a fun and exciting last two months for us. We now have three new staff, Amy, our AmeriCorps member, Leslie, Farm Manager, and Austin has returned as the summer intern. They join Brad (Assistant Director) and Ingrid (Director) as part of the CROPS team.

Thank you to everyone who has been volunteering over the past few months on many different projects, and to everyone who purchased plants at the plant sale.

Gardens

The community gardens are all growing well throughout the city. Over 100 families have garden plots this year, and are growing food for themselves. Many gardeners have already started harvesting their early season crops and others are anxiously awaiting their first tomato.

The final count of gardens is eleven, with three new ones, one at the Rosemont Alliance Church at 2600 N 70th, one at the Hope Community Church, Folsom and Pioneers, and one at 26th and N Streets. The P Street Community Garden is doing particularly well this year. (See photo.)

Farm and Market

Out at Sunset Community Farm, our market growers have been planting their larger plots in preparation for growing enough vegetables to sell.

We have opened our stand at the Old Cheney Farmers Market. We are there every Sunday, 10am to 2pm at 5500 Old Cheney. If you haven't been to the market yet, you are missing out on a wonderful event. The market is full of vendors selling all different kinds of food, including cheese, bread, vegetables, meat and prepared foods. The market is relaxed and parking is close by. We will have kale and garlic scapes for sale this week for sure.

Grants Awarded

In other exciting news, we have recently received word that we have been awarded two grants. One is from the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. It will fund our training farm, both salaries and equipment. These grants were quite competitive and we are excited to receive one. Second, we will be receiving a grant from the Community Health Endowment (CHE), a local foundation focused on improving the health of all Lincolnites. The CHE grant will help us expand and improve the community gardens.

Community Gardener Digital Story

Munevera, one of our long-time gardeners, put together a wonderful and moving portrait of her life as it relates to her family and gardening. Watch the short video here

International Garden Project

In April, Ingrid Kirst, CROPS Director, traveled to Germany and visited a small community garden project. Read her report here.

Community CROPS Donors

A huge thanks to the following donors of land for community gardens: Jan and George Brockley, Antelope Park Church of the Brethren, Goodwill Industries, The Indian Center, Frank and Cindy Robbins, Pam Woods, TCW Construction, City of Lincoln, O'Asian Gardens, Rosemont Alliance Church and Hope Community Church

Also, we are indebted to Nick and Claudia Parks/Harmonia Gardens for allowing us to use Sunset Community Farm.

Additionally, we have received generous donations of plants and materials from: Papa Geno's Herb Nursery -- Greenhouse space, From the Ground Up Farm -- hundreds of vegetable plants, and Jim Lantz, Bertine Loop, Bob Henrickson, and June Pickel -- plants and materials

Finally, we had cash donations in the last two months from: Nan Schweiger, Design Data, TierOne Foundation, Church of the Holy Trinity and St. Elizabeth's Regional Medical Center.

Join these donors in creating productive community gardens. Go to our Donation Page for all the details. We also have a wish list of needed tools and supplies. Right now we could use any hand tools you want to get rid of. Take a look at our wish list.

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