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Thanks to a generous donor, all donations will be matched dollar for dollar until we reach our goal of $10,000. Here's how your gift impacts Project GROWS' mission for education and health in our community:
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SEEDS | $25
Cover the cost of fresh, local produce for one week for a local family of four!
SPROUTS | $50
Invest in summer education programming on the farm. Your donation pays the cost of seeds for students to plant during seven weeks of youth summer camp!
PLANTS | $100
Help bring two local elementary school classes to Project GROWS for a field trip with hands-on gardening, nutrition, and cooking education!
HARVESTERS | $250
Bring fresh Project GROWS produce to youth at a Farm-to-School tasting at a local elementary school!
FARMERS | $500
Cover the cost of all spring or fall heirloom seeds and plants that turn into 15,000 pounds of fresh, local produce for our youth and community!
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Meet our new staff and see what's cookin' at Project GROWS!
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John McCray, Development Associate
MPA, Nonprofit Management
"I love the way that farming connects people, both through the final product and the process. My grandparents grew up on farms in Georgia, and despite whatever generational differences come with living through different times/cultural shifts, it's always been something we can appreciate and bond over. Farming is inherently rich in cultural heritage and experiences that simply can't be communicated or replicated in any other way."
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Abigail Marstiller, Summer Intern
Sustainable Agriculture Major
Warren Wilson College
"My favorite thing about Project GROWS is getting to teach kids about where their food comes from. Educating youth about healthy food is so important to me, and seeing their faces light up when they get to taste or experience something new on the farm is really special!"
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We can't wait to kick off our summer educational programming in June! For seven weeks we'll host two weekly field trips from the Boys and Girls Club of Waynesboro, Staunton, and Augusta County and the Staunton YMCA's Summer Learning Loss Prevention Program at Bessie Weller Elementary. Students will get their hands in the dirt planting and harvesting on farm as they learn about soil and plant life cycles, and will have many opportunities to taste new veggies and practice cooking and preserving food!
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Summer also means our Youth-Run Farm Stand at the Boys and Girls Club in Waynesboro, where youth participate in selling Project GROWS produce to the community every week! With support and volunteer help from BB&T Bank, we'll also be launching a new container garden of raised beds at the Boys and Girls Club so kids can grow and harvest their own produce to be used in their cafeteria! We are looking forward to getting to know these students this summer.
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So far this year, Project GROWS has harvested 300 pounds of vegetables! Where did all that produce go? We’ve sold produce to Staunton City Schools as well as several restaurants, including Bella Luna, Zynodoa, and LUNdCH. We also did our first Farm-to-School tasting of the year with fresh radishes and homemade ranch dip at Berkeley Glenn Elementary in Waynesboro! In June we'll begin harvesting for our CSA members, selling produce at the pop-up market at the Health Department in Staunton, and of course at the Youth-Run Farm Stand at the Waynesboro Boys and Girls Club.
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Join us for our first weekly Volunteer Workday of the year TODAY-- Thursday, May 31! Stop by anytime between 2pm til 7pm, and stay for by a delicious on-farm potluck dinner at 6pm with fresh produce from the farm. Continuing every Thursday throughout the summer, Volunteer Workdays are a fantastic way to get down in the dirt, make some new friends, experience the farm in action, and soak up a little sunshine during the growing season!
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