Happy New Year from GardenShare!
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The turning of the page from one year to another always comes with a period of reflection. As we reflect on everything we accomplished in 2019, we would like to thank you all for believing in GardenShare. Whether you volunteered with us, supported us financially, followed along on Facebook or through our newsletters, or anything in between, we are so glad to have you as part of the GardenShare family.
We have some exciting initiatives and events coming for 2020 and we can’t wait to share them with you. Stay tuned!
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GardenShare Welcomes New Board Additions
We are happy to announce that Jennifer McAvoy, Lee Kepes Van de Water, and Angela Villeneuve-Bronson will be joining the GardenShare Board of Directors this year.
Board members are elected for three year terms.
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Jennifer is the St. Lawrence Community Health Worker at the North Country Prenatal/Perinatal Council and has been the manager of the Potsdam farmers market since 2014. Growing up on a dairy farm, she is very aware of past and present farming issues. She has also spent her career working with populations where feeding their families is a challenge, including serving as a NOEP Coordinator.
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She has experience sharing her perspective with GardenShare as she attended our October organization retreat to discuss future efforts and mission.
She hopes to utilize her new position on the board to help GardenShare ensure that “everybody eats” and to act as a voice for farmers’ needs. She serves on the board of both the St. Lawrence Community Development Program (CDP) and the Hepburn Library of Madrid.
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Lee is the the Local Foods Development Specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension (working on the North Star Food Hub project) and is also a member of the Local Planning Committee for Village of Potsdam DRI.
Born and raised in the North Country, Lee recently returned after spending time out west for college and years after. During his time away, he was involved in many local food and food security efforts, including shopping at local farmers markets, developing relationships with area farmers, and maintaining membership at local food co-ops like the Western Montana Grower’s Cooperative. He has been the manager of the Potsdam Food Co-op and continues to serve on the Local Food Advisory Committee. He has been aware of GardenShare since the early years as the organization and joined us for our annual retreat in October.
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Angela Villeneuve-Bronson
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“After moving back to the North Country after several years away, I wanted to get involved and give back to the community. GardenShare appealed to me because what it stands for checks off so many boxes for me: a) supporting local farmers keeps money in our own local economy b) fighting food insecurity gets healthy, locally grown foods to more people in our community, and c) buying local food is better for the environment - there is less packaging and less energy consumption because the food doesn't haven't
to travel as far from farm to plate.”
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Angela is the Assistant Director of Prospect Research/Prospect Management for University Advancement at St. Lawrence University. She has been an active member of the GardenShare Fight Hunger 5K subcommittee for the last three years and was the co-chair for the last two. She has also been part of the Development committee for the past year and a half.
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Calling all artists! Do you love local food? How about plants and agriculture? Would you like your artwork showcased far and wide across St. Lawrence County? If you answered yes, we want
your
help to design the cover of our Local Food Guide.
The Local Food Guide lists farmers markets, farm stands, U-Pick orchards, restaurants, grocers, and other outlets that offer food raised in St. Lawrence county. It also features information on food assistance programs and how to take advantage of different programs at the farmers markets (SNAP/EBT, Double UP Food Bucks, Senior’s Farmers Market Nutrition Program, etc.).
The winning artwork will be featured on the cover of the 2020 St. Lawrence County Local Food Guide with acknowledgement to the artist.
Runners up may be used in the Guide, as space permits, and may be used in future Local Food Guides and GardenShare promotional materials.
Artwork to be considered can include photography or any two-dimensional piece that can be re-printed.
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Cover artwork from 2018 and 2019
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The artwork should represent the variety of local food available and/or the producers in the region. Please submit your entries by sending a high-resolution file to
office@gardenshare.org
by Monday,
February 17,
2020.
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Celebrating MLK Day - on January 20th and Beyond
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It is impossible to talk about justice - in any sense of the word - without remembering the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the future he envisioned. Dr. King fought for civil rights, social justice, and equality for all. At GardenShare, we are fighting for food justice: to make real changes to the food system to ensure food security for all St. Lawrence County residents. However, if you’ve ever tried to change a system, especially one as complex and dynamic as the food system, you know that it takes time. We are grateful for the organizations that work to provide immediate assistance to our friends and neighbors, and what powerful and impactful work it is.
Alone
, those efforts are not enough to combat food insecurity. It takes work from both sides: providing immediate relief AND working towards long-term solutions and systemic change.
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"True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring."
- Martin Luther King, Jr., “A Time to Break Silence,”
Riverside Church, New York City, April 4, 1967
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As you celebrate the radical life and work of Dr. King on January 20, 2020, consider the ways in which you can help to address immediate need, as well as fight for systemic change.
Find lists of local food pantries, backpack programs, and meal programs
here
. Call
ahead to see if they are in need of volunteers on the 20th (and beyond).
Ideas for more strategic volunteer approaches can be found in
this video
from Hunger Free America.
Photo from
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection,
8 June 1964, by New York World-Telegram and the Sun staff photographer:
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Save the Date: Local Food Winter Social
Feb 10, 5:00 -7:30pm
Are you a producer, buyer, or food system advocate?
Join the Local Food Advisory Committee for this free event featuring local food, networking opportunities, educational materials and more. There will be breakout sessions from 5:30 to 7:00 pm with topics including
Growing the Local Food Economy, Value-added Production, and Flexible Menus to Maximize Seasonal Sourcing.
Ask questions, make meaningful contacts and enjoy locally produced refreshments.
Location: Potsdam Presbyterian Church
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GardenShare | P.O. Box 516, 88 NY-310, Canton, NY 13617
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