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#CommunityGardens
I noticed today that Monty is listed on the PPatch apple orchard volunteer form, as in Carol & Monty
#DogsOfMastodon #Volunteers #CommunityGardens
Spent some time this morning working in the P-Patch Children's Garden.
#SeattleWashington #PicardoPPatch #SeattleSummer
#CommunityGardens #Photography
This is an inspiring video about a community who set up an organic market garden at their local school. Which serves as an outdoor classroom for teaching a range of subjects, provides produce for the school community, and brings in funding by selling to cafes and restaurants;
This is what political vision looks like. Replacing community-run school lunch programs with one-slop-feeds-all corporate sweatshops ... does not.
Lovely day for winter gardening: we took an electric barrow load of community compost for a ride along the river over to support our neighbours at Crossroads Community Garden in Footscray.
They immediately put it to good use!
"I Joined a Community Garden This Year—Here's Everything I've Learned So Far
It's taught me just as much about community-building as it has about gardening itself.
While I've only been part of my community garden for a few months now, it's already made a major impact on my life (and my mood), and I'm finding myself constantly wanting to brag about it to anyone who's willing to listen. So, that's what I'm about to do. If you've ever been curious about joining a community garden, consider the below my proposal on why you absolutely should.
The thing I love most about the community garden I joined is that it's truly communal. There are veterans of the garden who are designated leaders in the space, and there are volunteer-led committees that focus on different aspects of planning, but no one person owns any specific plots or plants. Any volunteers can help tend to any part of the garden, and when it's time to harvest, anyone who's in the garden can take part. There are also meetings throughout the year that all garden members can join to learn more about what's being planned in and around the garden and to contribute any ideas for the space. Much of the funding for the garden, outside of grants, is supported by donations from the community.
Seeing the democratic way the garden is run outside of larger institutions has been heartening to me. I often get discouraged and overwhelmed by the news cycle, feeling like so much is out of my control. But seeing a small community come together to create something so positive and beautiful in my neighborhood has filled me with hope and joy. It's also taught me about the value of working together and how important it is to hone those skills for so many aspects of community-building."
https://www.realsimple.com/benefits-of-joining-a-community-garden-11753715
Some pretty crested iris in the P-Patch
#SeattleWashington #SeattleSpring #CommunityGardens #PicardoFarmPPatch
@ai6yr It's going on in a lot of places. I think I'm going to focus on growing one's own food for this week's #SolarPunkSunday.
This lovely European elderberry is growing in our community pollinator gardens. It provides great shade! Too bad it isn't one of the PNW natives.
Our pollinator gardens are a curious mix of natives and non-natives. 
#Photography #SeattleWashington #SeattleSpring #Bloomscrolling #CommunityGardens
Did I mention we have beehives in the gardens?
Chemical exposure from ultra-#ProcessedFoods may contribute to health issues
Shannon Kelleher, May 16, 2025
"Toxic synthetic chemicals that migrate into ultra-processed foods from packaging, processing equipment and other sources may explain why these foods are so bad for our health, according to a new review article.
"In addition to the foods’ poor nutritional value, these chemicals represent an 'underappreciated and understudied' explanation for the link between ultra-processed foods and health problems such as obesity and other chronic diseases, the authors conclude in the article, published Friday in the journal Nature Medicine.
" 'The more (ultra-)processed a foodstuff, the greater its burden of synthetic chemicals generally is,; the authors wrote.
"Ultra-processed foods such as #candies, #HotDogs and #PackagedSoups are industrially made and contain many added ingredients not found in home kitchens, such as #stabilizers and added colors and flavors.
"Thousands of harmful substances including #bisphenols (such as #BPA), #phthalates, #microplastics (tiny plastic particles) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (#PFAS) can leach into industrially produced foods during production, as well as from containers in which the foods are stored and while heating them up before they are eaten, according to the article. Emerging research suggests that even the 'normal and intended use' of plastic materials that come into contact with foods along their journey to our plates can contaminate these products, the authors wrote.
"Research increasingly shows that some of the same synthetic chemicals found in ultra-processed foods, as well as drinking water and other sources, are prevalent in our bodies. About 98% of the US population has PFAS in their blood, while microplastics and even smaller plastic particles (nanoplastics) accumulate in 'just about every portion of your body…no organ is spared, really,' Dr. Sanjay Rajagopalan, director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at Case Western Reserve University, said during a May 15 webinar hosted by the group Beyond Plastics. Plastic particles have been found in everything from the placenta to the brain, lungs and heart, he said.
"In a 2024 study, Rajagopalan and colleagues found a link between microplastics in the arteries and risks for heart attacks and strokes.
" 'The particles looked quite nasty,' he said. 'They were jagged particles with sharp edges, very similar to cholesterol.' "
In the UK The Great Big Green Week events are on between the 7th - 15th June.
You can find what events are going on in your area using the link below.
#ClimateAction #Nature #Environment #CommunityGardens #Green #Gardening
"The vital role of communities as growers and foragers in urban resilience has largely been overlooked by city officials, urban planners and developers. Yet, these community-led efforts are bringing more life and vitality to urban spaces"
#CommunityGardens #Gardening #Cities #Healthcare #Wellbeing
How growing and foraging food can become a common part of cities
https://theconversation.com/how-growing-and-foraging-food-can-become-a-common-part-of-cities-253868
7.4: Enhancing the local values chain with community gardens feat. Doug Jones
In this episode, Ariel interviews Doug Jones from Waterloo Region Community Garden Network, and he discusses about how the Network was started, what it does, and the benefits of gardening for the health and wellbeing not only for you but for your entire community. We discuss gleaning, food insecurity, access to land, and much more; this is an episode you’re going to want to listen to, especially if rising cost of food and food security are concerns for you these days.
I (Ariel) have included some links to the local organizations he mentions, as well as some that expand on some of the topics we discussed, which you can check out in the YouTube description or on our blog.
#SolarPunk #SolarpunkPresentsPodcast #podcast #food #FoodProduction #LandAccess #CommunityGardens #CommunityGardening #FoodSecurity #Ontario #Canada #RegionOfWaterloo
Consider planting an extra row for the hungry in your garden this spring
If you’re going to plant fruits, vegetables or herbs this spring, why not grow some extra for your local soup kitchen or pantry?
By JESSICA DAMIANO, March 18, 2025
"If you’re gearing up to plant fruits, vegetables or herbs this spring, why not grow some extra to donate to your local #SoupKitchen or #FoodPantry?
"The national #PlantARowForTheHungry campaign, launched in 1995, has been encouraging home and community gardeners to do just that every year to help feed neighbors in need of fresh food.
"The program was spearheaded in 1995 by Anchorage Daily News garden columnist Jeff Lowenfels, who wrote a column encouraging his readers to plant extra crops and donate their harvests.
"After seeing the impact that his column had on local food donations, Lowenfels partnered with GardenComm International, then known as Garden Writers of America, to enlist garden columnists all over the country to promote the cause in their own communities. Since then, more than 20 million pounds of produce, providing more than 80 million meals, have been donated through the campaign by home gardeners.
"'All of this has been achieved without government subsidy or bureaucratic red tape — just people helping people,' according to organizers on the campaign’s website. And there’s no big advertising campaign, either — just garden columnists and their readers spreading the word."
Read more:
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/03/18/gardening-for-the-hungry/
#BuildingCommunity #FoodInsecurity #FoodSecurity #SolarPunkSunday #CommunityGardens
#LovelandCO - Still a green thumb: Loveland high schooler keeps up community garden started when she was 10-years-old
Story by Austin Fleskes, March 22, 2025
"Lauren Dietz was only 10 years old when she signed up for a Thompson School District contest to make an impact in her community. When the fifth grader at New Vision Charter School won, she used the money for a community garden to try and cut down on food insecurity in Loveland.
"That garden is still operating today, and the 15-year-old Mountain View High School freshman has no intention of stepping away from it.
"'I wouldn’t want to pass this off to anybody else,' she said. 'This is a passion project that I love doing and I want to keep doing it.'
"Lauren’s Community Garden offers 10 metal planting plots at the Loveland Youth Gardeners’ farm in east Loveland where residents can plant and grow their own food. Throughout the season, they are given the chance to work with other gardeners and and even get advice from LYG master gardeners to learn more about the ins and outs of growing.
"The free opportunity asks only that the gardeners be able to tend their space at least 30 minutes every other day and volunteer some of their time with the #YouthGardeners.
"Lauren won the Thompson Kids Can Change the World contest in 2021, receiving $250 with the goal of making a positive difference in her community. She said she looked to set up the community garden because she saw the impact of #FoodInsecurity on her community during the pandemic, explaining as she stood near the 10 metal planting plots at the Loveland Youth Gardeners’ farm in east Loveland. She said she saw the contest as an outlet to address that.
[...]
"Residents looking to apply to be part of the community garden this year can do so online at lovelandyouthgardeners.org. The growing season runs from May through October and those looking to apply must do so by May 1."
Full article:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/still-a-green-thumb-loveland-high-schooler-keeps-up-community-garden-started-when-she-was-10-years-old/ar-AA1BqkCl
#BuildingCommunity #CommunityGardens #FoodSecurity #SolarPunkSunday #Colorado
#LexingtonNC - Lexington community youth garden will kick off 2nd season of growing
By Jill Doss-Raines, Mar 20, 2025
"A Lexington church and a nonprofit group will come together to kick off the second year of a community youth garden project.
"To do this, the project needs youths who want to learn about gardening.
"At 10 a.m. April 5, 2025 Anything For Our Youth Group and First Reformed United Church of Christ will kick off the growing season. This collaborative effort aims to educate and engage young people about sustainable gardening while fostering a sense of community, responsibility and #EnvironmentalStewardship.
"The garden project will provide youth with hands-on experience planting, cultivating and harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition to learning essential agricultural skills, participants will explore nutrition, food security and #environmental #conservation. The initiative also promotes teamwork, leadership and a connection to nature, values that help build a stronger, healthier community.
"'We are excited to bring this opportunity to the youth of Lexington,' said Tina Royal, director of Anything For Our Youth Group. 'This garden is more than just a place to grow food, it’s a space for learning, collaboration and community building. By working alongside dedicated mentors and volunteers, our youth will gain skills that benefit them for a lifetime.'
"First Reformed United Church of Christ, known for its commitment to outreach and service, has provided space and support for the project.
"'This partnership reflects our mission to serve the community and uplift the next generation,' said Edgar Miller, who is the church community garden organizer and the executive director of the #YadkinRiverkeeper Inc. 'We look forward to seeing the positive impact this garden will have on both the youth and the broader community.'
"Youth participants, volunteers and community members interested in supporting the initiative can participate. Registration is open to youth and families at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1DAkw2z_5rfhbD0KchylZL4nPCf0ZntUBUupBvX1yTaE/edit?usp=drivesdk.
"For more information on how to get involved, please contact afoygroup@gmail.com or visit www.anyforouryouthgroup.org.
"Anything For Our Youth Group is a nonprofit organization based in Lexington dedicated to empowering and supporting local youth through education, mentorship and community engagement.
"The organization’s mission is to provide young people with the resources, opportunities and life skills necessary to succeed and thrive."
Archived version:
https://archive.ph/XK9H4
#BuildingCommunity #FoodSecurity #SolarPunkSunday #CommunityGardens #NatureBasedLearning #Gardening
#Ohio: #PerryVillage #CommunityGarden returning for fifth year
Story by Bill DeBus, March 17, 2025
"Perry Village is preparing for another season of planting at its community garden in Lee Lydic Park.
"Village Councilman Mike Glover provided a couple of updates on the garden during council’s March 13 meeting.
"Village resident Denny Shimko 'graciously volunteered to rototill the garden again this year,' Glover said.
"'He usually does it as early as he can, but definitely by May 1,' said Glover, who also serves as chairman of the village Parks Committee.
"This year, the garden will be divided into 12 plots for individual growers, Glover said. Some of the plots are 20 feet by 20 feet, and others measure 10 feet by 20 feet, he noted.
"In 2024, Perry Village decided to make eight 20-by-20-foot plots available in the garden. All of those tracts were claimed by gardeners, and three people had to be turned away, Glover said during a 2024 council meeting.
"By giving people the option to choose 20-by-20 or 10-by-20 plots, additional spaces were created in the garden to accommodate more growers, Glover said at a council meeting in January.
"This is the fifth year of the community garden at Lee Lydic Park, 3954 Call Road.
"In 2021, Perry Village decided to develop the garden on the site of a sand volleyball court that received little use."
Read more:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/society-culture-and-history/holidays-and-festivals/perry-village-community-garden-returning-for-fifth-year/ar-AA1Bhqs1
#BuildingCommunity #CommunityGardens #FoodSecurity #SolarPunkSunday #PerryVillageOhio
#MonroeCountyMI - Got a library card? You can check-out a free #GardenPlot in Monroe
by Susan Nolan Wisler, March 23, 2025
MONROE COUNTY — "Now that it's spring, it’s time to reserve your community garden plot. Monroe County has several options, including some plots that can be checked-out free with a library card.
Monroe County Library System
"'The #BedfordBranchLibrary and the #BlueBushBranchLibrary both have garden plots that patrons can utilize. It is very similar to borrowing a book, but you 'check-out' a garden plot for the whole growing season. You can find them in our online catalog,' said Barbra Krueger, who works in community outreach for the Monroe County Library System.
"The Bedford Branch, 8575 Jackman Road in #TemperanceMI, has 10 garden beds; four are still available. The Blue Bush Branch, 2210 Blue Bush Road in #MonroeMI, has four beds that are all still available.
[...]
"Today, Blue Bush offers gardeners use of #rainwater collection barrels, a #CompostBin and a #GardenShed, which was purchased by the Friends of the Frenchtown Area Library. Inside the shed are gloves, rakes, hoes and trowels. Blue Bush also has a #SeedLibrary."
Learn more:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/local/2025/03/23/community-garden-plots-raised-beds-monroe-county-library-system-munson-park-st-mary-organic-garden/82563173007/
#Michigan #SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity #CommunityGardens #FoodSecurity #LibrariesRule !
#LowerPaxtonTownshipPA - New #CommunityGarden unveiled in Lower Paxton Township
WHTM Harrisburg
Thu, March 20, 2025
Watch:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/community-garden-unveiled-lower-paxton-211240094.html
#Pennsylvania #CommunityGardens #BuildingCommunity #FoodSecurity #Gardening #SolarPunkSunday