This year, we are thankful for you. Because of your support in 2016, Louisville Grows has recorded 41,177 volunteer hours. Our CSA farmers grew thousands of pounds of produce to feed our community through CSA subscriptions and grocery store distribution (like the Save-A-Lot on Taylor Blvd). 85 urban gardeners and farmers had access to land to grow food for their families. Our Citizen Foresters are on track for a record-number of 502 new trees planted this year, as well as caring for over 1,000 trees planted previously. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for your dedication and commitment to our programs and our shared community.
It's not too late to get involved! Sign up to help plant over 170 trees in Beechmont neighborhood on December 3from 9:45am - 3pm. Volunteers will be split into groups with experienced Citizen Foresters to learn how to properly plant trees. Meet at 4574 S. Third Street at 9:45am; breakfast and lunch are provided. (The California tree planting was rescheduled for March 18 -- sign up here!)
We are tremendously excited to introduce our new Urban Forestry Assistant, Jhana Waddell! Currently a senior at the University of Louisville, Jhana is majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in Social Change. She is the Director of Green Initiatives, a on-campus group that promotes sustainable living and social justice issues. Jhana previously served as a Citizen Forester for a year before being hired, and her goals include creating simple and easy planning for LLT, creating a community garden in Park Duvall neighborhood, reclaiming the Shawnee Park flower field, and promoting gardening to youth K-5.
After 22 wonderful weeks, our Hope Community Farm CSA is complete. Our Hope Farm training program helped 10 refugee and new American farmers support their families, learn agricultural and business skills, and cultivate land that had been vacant for years. We are continuing and expanding the training with our farmers this winter to cover topics such as composting, beekeeping, and seed starting.
Bethany Pratt from the UK Cooperative Extension office will be joining Louisville Grows on November 19 to train volunteers how to prune peach, pear, and apple trees. Pruning helps prevent trees from growing too large in your yard, encourages more fruit production (yum!), and sustains your trees' health long-term. This is a unique chance to learn new skills you can use at home while caring for a community orchard. Saturday, November 19 from 10am - 2pm (People's Garden, 536 N. 44th St.). Sign upHERE.
We want to extend a HUGE thank you to Alexis "STIX" Brown, author of "I Feel Safe", and Shelton McElroy from Metro United Way and JCTC. They hosted a children's book reading at the People's Garden on Saturday, October 29. Alexis "STIX" Brown is a local artist building community relationships; her children's book, "I Feel Safe," encourages young adults and parents to be highly aware of personal boundaries and the importance of understanding what makes "you" feel safe. We also enjoyed Free Spirit's reading from her book of affirmations for children "Yes, I Am", and poetLance G. Newman IIblessed us with a special song and story.
(Photos provided by Alexis "STIX" Brown)
Are you interested in using one of our gardens or orchards for a community meeting or event? Contact info@louisvillegrows.org!
Interested in participating in a community garden in the Portland neighborhood? We are looking for new spaces for a 2017 Portland garden, so please come out to Shippingport Garden (2500 Montgomery Ave) on Thursday, December 8 at 6 pm.
Interested in participating in a community garden in the Shawnee neighborhood? New neighbors and returning gardeners from our People's Garden are invited to attend a garden planning meeting at the Louisville Grows Office (2509 Portland Ave) on Friday, December 9 at 5 pm.
We love to hear from you, and hope you like to hear from us. While we mainly stay in touch through email, we occasionally send out special thank yous, requests, and invitations by snail mail or phone. Please emailfinance@louisvillegrows.orgyour name, address, and phone number so we can make sure your records are up-to-date.
Enjoy this season of thankfulness!
Madeleine Loney
AmeriCorps VISTA at Louisville Grows
VOLUNTEER & LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Pruning Workshop on November 19
Bethany Pratt from the UK Cooperative Extension office will be joining Louisville Grows to train volunteers how to prune our 4 and 5 year old peach, pear, and apple trees. Saturday, November 19 from 10am - 2pm (People's Garden, 536 N. 44th St.). Sign up HERE.
Help Louisville Grows plant trees!
Below are tree planting dates that all volunteers, no matter skills or training, are welcome to attend. We need 150 volunteers for each planting day, so sign up below: Saturday, December 3rd, 10am - 2pm - Beechmont Neighborhood Tree Planting
RESCHEDULED -- Saturday, March 18, 10am - 2pm - California Neighborhood Tree Planting
Urban Growers Series: December
Susana Lein from Salamander Springs will present on permaculture, and Timothy Kercheville will lead a workshop on hugelkulture. December 10 at 2509 Portland Ave., 10am. $20 suggested donation, breakfast and lunch provided. Sign up HERE!
THANK YOU TO OUR OCTOBER DONORS
Our heartfelt gratitude to the individuals and organizations who supported our programs with membership contributions, general gifts, and in-kind donations in October; thank you!
Russ Stevens, Alterna-Green, Christy Brown and the Brown Family Foundation, Leia Whitt, Clifton Kroger Floral Department, Jackie Cobb, Creation Gardens, John Harris, Home Depot St. Matthews, Bernie Leeds, Jessica Pendergrass, Kristin & Rob Townsend, Jinn Bug & Ron Whitehead, and Whole Foods Markets’ Nickels for Nonprofits Program.
We are also grateful to the Community Foundation of Louisville and everyone who gave through Give Local Louisville: Jennifer Adam, Corey Adams, Marigny Bostock, Alice and Barry Bridges, Mike Brooks, Rita Butler, Casey Chalmers, Louis Christopher, Anthony Curtis, Kathy DeLozier, Drew Foley, Jinn Bug, Richard Goetz, Steven Goldstein, Dwight Gray, Frederic T. Harned, Mary Ellen Harned, Constance Keegan, Terry King, Chuck Lambert, Loan Lindop, Lance Minnis, Kitty-Marie O'Brien, Joseph Oldham, Scott Osbourne, Lisa Overton, George Rue, Brad Swope, Jeremy Wells, Ron Whitehead, and David and Fife Wicks.
