October 2021
"When life gives you tomatoes, make salsa!" Big Spoon Kitchen. Potsdam, NY.
Image courtesy of the Farm-to-Table Initiative led by Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County.
Join us for Restaurant Week!

Calling anyone and everyone who loves delicious, locally sourced food and likes dining at area restaurants or getting carry-out to enjoy at home for the first-ever Restaurant Week in St. Lawrence County!
From October 16 to 23, 2021, GardenShare invites diners to explore the delicious dining options of participating restaurants and eateries in the area, all while supporting GardenShare’s vital food access and local food programs.

This event will raise the profiles of participating restaurants across the county- we encourage you to support your favorites, try something new, and above all, get a taste of our region!”

Participating in Restaurant Week as of today are:
  • Flying Lotus Yoga Center & Juice Bar
  • Jake's On The Water
  • Nature's Storehouse
  • Big Spoon Kitchen
  • Village Diner
  • Jernabi Coffeehouse
  • Foster the Plant
  • Red Pine Cone
  • Potsdam Food Co-op

Keep an eye on our social media feeds and our website for more information!

Where will you be dining during restaurant week?
5K Planning Committee member, Katie Dolan and baby join the fight against hunger!
Thank You Hunger Fighters!
Thank you to everyone who helped make our 7th annual Fight Hunger 5K a huge success! We had a record number of in-person and virtual participants (146) and raised over $14,000 to support our programs!

We'd like to give a special shout-out to Crosby Terrell of Canton, who was our top individual fundraiser! And a massive thank you to our generous sponsors and our 5K planning committee for making the event possible.

We also want to send a shout-out to Kappa Delta Sigma, the Potsdam Food Co-op, and the St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union for sending out teams to take part!

Check out photos of these teams and more on our Facebook.
Whether you participated in the 5K or not, we hope you've been following along with the Hunger Action Month facts and resources we've been sharing on social media. If you missed them, they will be available in the resource section of our website shortly!

September is coming to a close but that doesn't mean our efforts are ending. Our fight for a food system that ensures food security for all St. Lawrence County residents goes on. If you'd like to continue to support us, consider making a donation or becoming a sustainer today.
Farmers Market Closings
Just a reminder that this month is the last month for farmers markets in our county. Get out there and buy fresh and local while you can! There is a massive bounty just waiting to be taken advantage of - and SNAP is doubled through the end of the market season!

Final Market Dates:
"Fall bounty at the Canton Farmers Market." Grandpa's Sprouts. Lisbon, NY.
Growing Our Minds
It's apple season and this month's recommendation comes from Outreach & Education Committee member (and fellow cider lover), Lee Van de Water.

"Uncultivated follows Brennan’s twenty-four-year history with naturalized trees and shows how they have guided him toward successes in agriculture, in the art of cider making, and in creating a small-farm business. The book contains useful information relevant to those particular fields, but is designed to connect the wild to a far greater audience, skillfully blending cultural criticism with a food activist’s agenda." (Chelsea Green Publishing)
New Opportunity for Food Producers
A new Ag and Food Producers Academy will be offered during the winter to aid producers in marketing and development strategies to elevate their business. Participants will hear from a range of guest presenters, like farmer-owners, and business and marketing specialists. Join your fellow entrepreneurs along with Cornell Cooperative Extension and GardenShare, for this interactive online skill-building opportunity. 

Course options for participants: 
  • E-Commerce For Producers and Food Businesses
  • Social Media Management
  • Business and Financing Options
  • Making Food Products in New York State. 
Thank You Sonja!

GardenShare will be bidding a fond farewell to Sonja Jensen at the end of October when she will be pursuing new and exciting career opportunities. Our Board and Staff wish to express our collective gratitude to Sonja for all of her hard work and dedication in her time with GardenShare. Because of her efforts, more people are able to access and enjoy local, delicious food, more people know about and shop at farmers markets, and that more people care about food justice.
Carol Pynchon, GardenShare President shared these words: "Sonja will certainly leave her mark at GardenShare. The energy and passion she brought to her work has deepened how we look at food justice in our region. I look forward to her continued work on issues related to access and social justice in the county."
 
Thank you Sonja, and best of luck in your new role. We know we’ll continue to see you at farmers markets and local food events, your passion for local food and food justice have inspired us all! We invite all those who've worked with Sonja during her time as Outreach Coordinator to reach out and join us in wishing her well.