...because no one should be hungry

March 27, 2009

Marion Polk Food Share
Spring Community Garden Fair

CONTACT:
Jordan Blake (503) 581-3855 ext 323
Garden Project Manager

On April 4th, the first Saturday of the month, Marion-Polk Food Share will be hosting a spring garden fair that will unite the community around a common cause, and that is to develop a system of access for the plentiful garden skill building and growing opportunities made available through the Sustainable Community Gardens Network. This network, orchestrated by Marion Polk Food Share, consists of a deep partnership with the communities of Marion and Polk Counties, and together we will be gathering this day to meet and greet the community that is interested in learning more about the gardens program.

Our goal is to reach out and engage individuals and families that are interested in learning more about how gardening can improve the health, self-reliance and sustainability of our region. With this in mind, our outreach plan includes connecting with the Salem-Keizer School District and WIC participants, among other community partnerships. Our intention is to target the community of Salem-Keizer, and in this first year we plan to reach 200 families. We feel positive that we can meet this level of participation, thanks in large part to the necessity and innovation of growing our own food as a community.

The Spring Community Garden Fair will be held at:

Marion-Polk Food Share
1660 Salem Industrial Drive (directly across from UPS)

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Community Gardens Registrations & Open House

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Panel presentations with community, school, church, prison, and home garden experts.

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Hands on workshop on good soil and how to create it, with an emphasis on lasagna gardens, composting and organic soil amendments.

Partnering organizations are:

  • Community Sun Gardens
  • Oregon WIC Program
  • Western Oregon University
  • Willamette University
  • Women Ending Hunger
  • Marion County Community Action Agency
  • Marion County Corrections
  • C.I.T.Y. – Chickens in the Yard
  • United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley—Volunteer and Mentor Center
  • Salem Leadership Foundation
  • Family Building Blocks
  • OSU Extension
  • Salem-Keizer School District
  • McKay High School Future Famers of America
  • Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School

Beginning in May though September 2009, G.O.L.D. (“Grow Organic, Live Deep”) Star Garden Enrichment Program, engaging youth and families in a season long learning experience that emphasizes natural and affordable kitchen-garden techniques wellness and community building together with interdisciplinary lessons in math, science, history, music, art, social studies, economics and the environment, will be offered at eight different sites throughout the Salem-Keizer area. Developed as a pilot program for youth ages 8-12, weekly after-school activities during the school year will be scheduled, then bi-weekly morning activities during summer break, with the aim of the program to teach hands on family food gardening, with produce grown intended to both supply families with vital nutrition, as well as to empower youth to grow food that will feed their community.

For more information on Marion-Polk Food Share Community Garden Programs, contact Jordan Blake at 503-581-3855 ext. 323 or [email].

Linda Kromer
Community Outreach Coordinator
Marion-Polk Food Share
Office: 503-581-3855 x 318
Fax: 503-588-4077

Donate now: https://www.marionpolkfoodshare.org/order.php

Remember Marion-Polk Food Share, Inc. in your will or trust.