We hope you're beating the summer heat and enjoying a bountiful harvest! We have so many updates to share with you as the summer draws to a close.
Our first big news is that we launched a Kickstarter Campaignto help us raise money to buy a tractor at Hope Community Farm! The tractor will allow us to plow land more efficiently so our community members and CSA farmers can continue to grow a greener community. We want to say a BIG thank you to our 20 donors! As of today, we have 23 days left in the campaign. If everyone that receives the newsletter gave just $5, we would more than surpass our goal. Join Louisville Grows, Gate of Hope Ministries, and all our CSA and community farmers to help #buildhopefarm! Donate to the Kickstarter HERE.
Additionally, Save-A-Lot on Taylor Boulevard has started carrying our produce within the store, specifically garlic and squash from the Hope Community Farm! Head over to 4148 Taylor Boulevard and support local farmers.
We also have ONE seasonal CSA share left for the remaining 11 weeks. The share is $24/week; contact whitney@louisvillegrows.orgif interested.
There's just one week left to sign up for our Urban Growers Series on August 13, 10am - 4pm. We have TEN community sponsorships available for participants in neighborhoods where Louisville Grows has a community garden. Topics include growing your own shiitake mushrooms, composting, pest management, beneficial insects, and more. We are especially excited to have Blair from Idlewild Butterfly Farm teach about how to bring more good bugs (like ladybugs and butterflies) into your garden. $20 suggested donation, and breakfast and lunch provided by our partners Whole Foods Market and Heine Brothers Coffee. Sign up HERE!
Produce Park's grand opening on July 15 was a great success! Our newest orchard is located at 437 S. 30th St., right across from the proposed Food Port location. Check out the articles covering the opening by Insider Louisville, the Courier Journal, and the LEO.
We are so excited to report on the successful completion of our three Mayor's SummerWorks youth who have worked so hard these last seven weeks. Throughout the summer, Angel Akin, Dy'Nesha Coleman, and Tayshawn Warner have inspected over 300 trees (with extensive weeding and mulching), collected bags of trash, met and learned from over 35 different community professionals, cared for over 120 fruit trees in five orchards, spoken with dozens of neighborhood residents, dug four post holes, visited fifteen community organizations, and launched the successful opening of Produce Park. We deeply appreciate them, and can't wait to see what they get into next!
Finally, the People's Garden Block Party on July 23 was a huge success. We dedicated the garden to Mark White, our former People's Garden leader, and commemorated his hard work and love for the garden by installing a memorial gate at the entrance. Great food prepared by gardener Mr. Yancey, a bouncy house, water toys, and fun were shared by community members of all ages.
The Healthy House, our future office located at 1641 Portland Ave, officially broke ground on Wednesday, July 20. Check out the two great articles by Broken Sidewalk and Louisville Business First. This project is made possible by generous donations from Christy Brown and the Owsley Brown Foundation.
Finally, we'd like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the individuals and organizations who supported our programs with gifts in July; thank you!
Individuals:
Paul McGee
Organizations:
Whole Foods Market, in support of our Urban Growers Series
The Louisville Zoo, in support of Hope Community Farm
Grant Line Nursery & Garden Center, in support of Hope Community Farm
Heine Brothers' Coffee, in support of Hope Community Farm
Sincerely,
Maddie Loney
AmeriCorps VISTA for Louisville Grows
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tree Inspection - Germantown and Schnitzelburg: this Saturday August 6 from 9 am - 11:30 am, help us inspect trees planted in spring 2015! All volunteers and Citizen Foresters should meet outside of The Swiss Hall at 9am at 719 Lynn St. Remember to bring sunscreen and a water bottle! Sign up HERE.
August Urban Grower Series: our workshop series about how to grow in an urban environment will be co-hosted with Kentucky State University. Topics include agricultural disease management, local food marketing, composting, pest management, and beneficial insects. Coffee will be provided by Heine Brothers, and breakfast and lunch will be provided by Whole Foods. (Saturday, August 13, 10 am - 4 pm, 2500 Portland Ave). $20 suggested donation, register HERE.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Join the Green Team!
Interested in becoming a volunteer with Louisville Grows? We are hosting our first volunteer orientation on Wednesday, August 17, from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at 2509 Portland Ave! We will be discussing different volunteer opportunities including: - Garden Work Night Volunteering (Tuesday 5:30-7:30pm at Shippingport Memorial Garden), Thursday 5:30-7:30 pm at People's Garden)
- Hope Farm Volunteer Team (Tuesday 8am-12pm)
- Orchard Volunteers (Monday 5:30-7:30pm)
- Greenhouse Volunteering
Sign up HERE.
Citizen Forestry 101 Training Dates
Participants are taught basic tree anatomy and physiology, environmental stewardship, tree identification and selection, and how to teach others how to properly plant and care for their trees. Training for individuals of all abilities, from 12 years old on up. $20 suggested donation; community scholarships available. Saturday, October 15th, Location TBD 10am-2pm
Saturday, October 22nd, Beechmont Community Center 10am-2pm
Not able to attend a forestry training? Don’t let that stop you!
Below are tree planting dates that all volunteers, no matter your past experience or training, are welcome to attend: Saturday, November 5th - California Neighborhood Tree Planting
Saturday, December 3rd - Beechmont Neighborhood Tree Planting
