Idaho Community Gardens will begin training volunteers for the 2012 season. If you would like to be added to the training please contact Ruby at rvaldez@idahofoodbank.org or call 208-577-2683.
What: Volunteer training for Idaho Community Gardens
When: Saturday, March 17th 2012
Where: Idaho Food Bank Warehouse 3562 S. TK Avenue, Boise, ID 83705
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Imagine all the trees living life to feed.
(You, you may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one)
Imagine a world, a country, and/or a state with an endless supply of trees that provide not only shade, and oxygen, but nourishment for the community as well. You, yes you, close your eyes and just imagine yourself strolling with your family through a community garden or park. Are you seeing and hearing the children laughing, neighbors getting to know each other, and of course the rustling of fruit baskets? Now that you have a picture in your mind, do you or someone you know currently run a community garden? If so, do you have room to plant fruit trees to help feed the community? If the answer is yes, there is definitely an opportunity to receive fruit trees for your garden.
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation and Dreyer’s Fruit Bars are planting orchards across the country. In 2011, twenty communities won large orchards through an online vote process for public parks, community gardens, food banks, and homeless shelters. This year, they want to accomplish the same but also add that the first 100 qualified applicants will receive a starter orchard of three fruit trees, guaranteed, just for participating!
How do you apply?
Go to www.ftpf.org/application.doc to download the Orchard Grant Application; submit your application via email by March 15.
Please note, schools are not eligible to apply, but see www.ftpf.org for information about their school orchard program.
How do you VOTE?
Your project profile will be posted at www.CommunitiesTakeRoot.com So use your social networks to get the word out; get the whole town involved! Use Facebook, email, websites, and any way you can get out the vote.
How do I WIN? Every month for four months, winners will be announced. Will your community be among them?
For more information, visit: www.ftpf.org/ctr.htm or contact Robyn du Pré by email at robyn@ftpf.org.
Nationally 46,224,722 Americans are currently participating in the food stamp, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). As of November 2011, 15% (235,573) of Idahoans are currently participating in this program. A majority of these participants are currently unaware that the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 defines eligible food as; any food or food product for home consumption and also includes seeds and plants which produce food for consumption by food stamp (SNAP) households. (USDA)
This means that for those Americans and Idahoans, who have currently found themselves on the threshold of food insecurity, can now purchase seeds and plants which produce food with their food stamp EBT card.
Creating gardens using food stamps can help provide families now considered food insecure with healthier options and twice the amount of fresh produce per dollar spent on seeds. That’s more fresh produce that can give families the nutrients needed for healthy minds and bodies.
A website called SNAP Gardens, provides information to bring awareness to farmers and commercial growers, recipients, and state and local government officials about purchasing seeds and plants with food stamps benefits.
Chinese Proverb states “Give a man a fish fed him for a day, teach a man to fish and feed him for a life time.”
So if you’re currently finding yourself amongst the newly food insecure and want to learn how to garden, help stretch the food budget, and get back on the road to self- sufficiency; there is definitely help for you in the state you are living in.
Gardening education is provided by local extension offices and some community gardens right here in Idaho. Beginning this month, The Idaho Foodbank will be offering a new program from Share our Strength called Cooking Matters. This program is geared to help low income families learn how to prepare healthy meals on a budget.
We here at Idaho Community Gardens are working hard to make sure that Idahoans have access to the tools to connect with community gardens in the Gem State. For more information about how you can start a garden, purchase seeds with food stamps, volunteer, or connect with local community gardens in the Gem State please contact Ruby at 208-577-2683
Happy New Year Everyone!
Let’s welcome 2012 with a start of a new creative additive to our blog. Here at Idaho Community Gardens, we believe in supporting new and existing gardens through volunteers, education, promotional events, and community partnerships. One way to promote community gardens in the Gem State is the implementation of Community Illumination, a new segment that will be added to our blog. Community Illumination will be a spotlight on a different community garden each month. So you, yes you, and your lovely community garden will get the spotlight it deserves! We want to show off all of the garden families out there and bring awareness to the great things you are doing. If you would like to spotlight your community garden, we are now setting appointments for the upcoming growing season. Let’s grow our community together!
For more information please contact Ruby at 208-577-2683
