February 2024 eNews

February 2024

littleGrasse Foodworks U-Pick CSA | Image courtesy of the Farm-to-Table Initiative led by Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County.

Local Food Guide 2024/25 Applications are Open!

It's time to get in the guide! GardenShare's 2024/25 Local Food Guide is open to all farmers, restaurants, and retail locations that showcase locally produced food in St. Lawrence County.

This year we will be printing 22,000 copies through North Country This Week. 6,500+ of which will be mailed directly to food lovers throughout the county. Copies will also be distributed at local hospitals, restaurants, schools, human services agencies, local businesses, and more!

Physical forms are being mailed out in a few days but if you don't receive one (or just can't wait!) you can you can find fillable PDF forms at gardenshare.org/get-in-the-guide/.

Interested in listing or putting an ad in the guide? Email us at annabelle@gardenshare.org or call (315) 261-8054.

CSA Week

Did you know the last week of February is the week when most of the nation's CSA members sign up for their farm shares? Its true! And because of this unusual fact February 19th to 25th is this year's CSA Week!

A CSA (community supported agriculture) is a farm membership system where consumers purchase a share of a farms products including veggies, eggs, meat, fruit etc. and receive it over course of the growing season. Not only is this a great way to enjoy fresh and delicious local food being a CSA member is a fantastic way to support your local farms.

During CSA week farmers and farmer support organizations raise awareness for CSAs and promote interested customers to sign up!

Interested in signing up for a CSA? Check out our Online Local Food Guide for farms offering CSAs near you!

To learn more about CSAs check out this video created by Cornell Cooperative Extension in 2021. Some of the specific information is now out of date but its a fantastic overview of the benefits and practicalities of the CSA model.

Image: Customers collecting their Kent Family Growers CSA Shares - Canton Farmers Market

GardenShare Welcomes Two New Board Members

Cassondra (Casey) Caswell - "I started to actively be involved with GardenShare through my role as Program Manager for the North Country SNAP-Ed program and being responsible for managing and implementations various nutrition activities serving the low-income and vulnerable populations through direct education, and community initiatives such as the North Country Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program and Farm to Community Food Distribution programs. "

Patricia (Patti) Hogle - "Food insecurity is a critical issue that affects many St. Lawrence County residents and imposes a significant burden on our communities. I believe that GardenShare’s work is an invaluable service in addressing the food needs of St. Lawrence County. It is a fundamental human right to have access to healthy and affordable food."

The 2024 Food Justice Summit will take place on February 29th at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake!

To learn more about the host, The Adirondack Food System Network, or to reserve tickets click the image above! Speakers this year will discuss vital topics regarding creating more equitable food systems.

The Clothesline at The Wild Center - Seeking Submissions

The Wild Center is seeking submissions for a upcoming art exhibit by artist Brenda Baker. The exhibit, The Clothesline: Food, Fiber, Air, and Soil, will be an installation featuring hundreds of pieces of used work attire demonstrating the hard work done by agricultural workers in our community. These clothes remind us of the unseen work done by those that produce the food we eat.

Donations of clothes belonging to farmers, beekeepers, maple tappers, or any other agriculture profession can be dropped off at any of the four locations listed on The Wild Center's Website, or at the GardenShare office before The Food Justice Summit on February 29th. Contact Annabelle (annabelle@gardenshare.org) for more information!

Food Business Class Registration Open