|
|
Community Potluck, April 1st!
6-8pm at the Ypsi Senior Center, 1015 N. Congress
|
|
Our monthly community potlucks are no joke! Join us this April Fool's Day 6-8pm at the Ypsi Senior Center to share a dish and a laugh! Come out and meet new friends, connect
with neighbors, and enjoy good  food! This month we'll be answering the question, "I know it is spring when..."
Mark your calendars each month because the potluck is always on the first Thursday evening! Always free and open to everyone! RSVP now!
And, Wednesday April 7 from 5-6 pm is our monthly Growing Hope Center tour led by our Executive Director. RSVP here.
|
Introducing Growing Gardens!
|
|
Growing Gardens is our new framework for all of GH's garden programming-- it's the entry point for partnership with community & school gardens to access support & resources, and for individuals interested in raised bed installs, free plant giveaways, or generally excited to connect with a community of people growing! Growing Gardens Membership Applications are up now! We've also planned two mini-courses about starting or re-energizing a group garden.
Thursday, April 15th, 6- 8 pm
Starting A Community or
School Garden
This quick overview of best practices for starting a new community, school, or congregational garden will give you basic guidance and direct you to resources that can help you get organized and growing this season. You'll also learn about our new Growing Gardens program and how joining it will help you access additional resources.
RSVP now!
Tuesday, April 27th, 6-8 pm
Community & School Garden Re-Energizer!
Join leaders of other existing school & community gardens for a refresher on how to keep your garden & community of gardeners growing! We'll work through frequent challenges of existing gardens of keeping people motivated & involved, transitioning leadership, connecting with new gardeners & neighbors, and others as you propose. This course offers a great opportunity for networking with other gardens who may be facing similar conditions. RSVP now!
|
Free Raised Bed Installs
|
|
For the second year we're offering Free Raised Beds Installs and Free Seedlings to low-income and no-income households who will in exchange weigh & track their harvests. We're excited to install  raised bed gardens with 40 more households this spring in the Ypsilanti area-- building on the 80 households who received them in 2009! To apply or learn more, fill out the Growing Gardens application for individuals/ households, and we'll be in touch to let you know if you're selected! If you'd like to volunteer to help with these Installations, start with filling out our Volunteer Application.
|
Downtown Ypsi Farmers' Market Pre-Season Kickoff, April 20th!
2-5pm at the Ypsi Senior Center, 1015 N. Congress |
|
Growing Hope invites you to celebrate the start of farmers' marketseason a bit early! On Tuesday, April 20th from 2-5pm,  inside at the Ypsi Senior Center you can meet your farmer, purchase seedlings and early season produce, and celebrate spring at the Downtown Ypsi Farmers' Market Pre-Season Kickoff! Regular market season resumes downtown starting in May from 2-6 pm!
|
Summer Positions at Growing Hope!
|
|
Learn and give back this summer! We're looking for six full-time summer interns, and several of the positions provide a stipend. Know someone looking for a summer positions, pass it on! We're seeking people for the following areas:
Garden Programs: Help people improve their lives and
communities through gardening by supporting home and community gardeners.
Summer Youth Programs:
Promote healthy lifelong eating habits through our summer gardening and
nutrition education programs.
Urban Farm Programs: Help us develop our working urban
microfarm in the heart of Ypsilanti as a space for food production and
education.
Volunteer Management:
Volunteers are the lifeblood of Growing Hope. Learn management skills and systems through helping execute
our volunteer programs during our busiest season.
Design and Marketing: Help us get the word out about what we
do! Assist Growing Hope with marketing and media through online
& social media, documentary film, and print materials. Help us document our programs and
recruit participants from the community.
Downtown Ypsilanti Farmer's Market: Support our market and
help it thrive through assisting in market management, food assistance programs,
and marketing efforts.
All positions must:
· Be comfortable working with diverse audiences
· Have enthusiasm for gardening and healthy food access
· Be flexible about working non-traditional hours
· Have excellent written and verbal communication skills
· Be open to constructive criticism and feedback
· Be able to work both independently and in a team
· Have basic computer skills
Growing Hope is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).
Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to
age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation,
disability, or veteran status.
Email us at karen@growinghope.net
with your resume and cover letter to apply! Applications due April 2nd.
|
Mark Your Calendars for Our Annual Plant Sales & Our 7th Birthday Party!
|
|
Get ready for our annual spring Plant Sales! We'll have an early season sale on Tuesday, April 20th, 2-5pm at the Ypsi Senior Center as part of our Farmers' Market Kickoff.
Don't miss our plant sale extravaganza at the
Growing Hope Center Friday, April 30th and Saturday, May 1. If you aren't quite read to put thing in the ground by Mayday, we give you another opportunity at Plant Sale 2.0 on Saturday, May 15.
Stay tuned to our calendar for  details.
We're turning 7 years-old! Can you believe it!? Thanks to all our supporters over these years, together we are truly Growing Hope! We want thank you and invite you to share in our celebration Sunday, May 23rd, 2-5pm. Our Birthday Party is a family-friendly event, a chance for visits, tours, and springtime activities at the Growing Hope Center.
There will also be an eclectic silent auction featuring goods and services from our vibrant community!
|
Growing Hope by the Numbers!
|
35 energetic youth from Seed2Plate visited the Growing Hope Center, where they planted carrots and harvested spinach. 
45 flats of seedlings were already returned to our hoophouse for planting. Seed Starting Squad members are growing more than 6000 seedlings for us! Many thanks to our Seed Starting Squad for all their help!
70 degrees and sunshine this Friday--it's time to get growing!
The hoophouse has got you beat, though-- it's was in the 80's in there in February, and the 90's some days in March!
| |
|
Support Growing Hope with A Gift Today!
|
If you support our work and want it to see it continue to blossom, please consider making a tax-deductible online donation today! |
Support Us @ Grange Tonight!
|
Every Tuesday in March, Grange Kitchen & Bar in Ann Arbor has contributed 10% of
sales to Growing Hope. We're so excited and grateful about Grange's commitment to
fostering our vibrant community!
Come out tonight and enjoy a delicious, locally sourced menu as you contribute to healthy food access! You might even run into our board of directors! |
Thank You, Whole Foods!
|
We would like to extended our gratitude and appreciation to Whole Foods Cranbrook for supporting us during their Community Support Day. To all who shopped Thursday, March 11th, we raised $2,707--thank you for supporting healthy food access! |
Market Vendor Applications
|
We're now accepting Farmers' Market Vendor applications for the 2010 Season of our Downtown Ypsilanti Farmers' Market. Learn more about the market and read our
2009 Season Report.
We welcome all Michigan growers no
matter how big or small your farm
or garden! We're seeking vendors of local fruits and vegetables, seedlings, bread, baked goods, jams and honey, cheeses, meats, cut flowers and plants. We also encourage crafters and artisans to participate in the market as space become available.
Interested in becoming a vendor, download an application. Apply now!
|
New Volunteer Opportunities!
|
Weekday and weekend opportunities available! Get started by filling out our Volunteer Application. Once you've done that, RSVP for specific events and volunteer opps at our website!
April Saturday Workdays
We're looking for volunteers to help with April workdays on the 10th and 24th. We will be working on building raised bed kits and creating a new community garden. Interested in lending a hand, RSVP here.
Community Potluck
We're looking for volunteers who would like to help with day-of activities, such as greeting and clean-up. Interested in taking on a more organizational role? Get in touch.
GHC Farm Hands
Interested in helping out at the Growing Hope Center? We're looking for people to: water, weed, open and close the hoop house and help with transplants.
Free Raised Bed Installs
Last year we provided 80 low- and no-income families each with 48 sq. ft. of raised bed growing space. We're getting ready to work with another 40 families this spring and would love your help installing their raised beds. Want to help out?
Please contact Jeremy at jeremy@growinghope.net or see our website for more information. |
 |
Become a Fan of our new Facebook PAGE. Please invite your friends & family to join--we're trying to reach 1,000 Fans!
Do you have $5 to help families grow healthy food? Join up with our Facebook Cause if you're not already connected. Make a small gift and encourage your friends to do the same.
|
Growing Hope
Board of Directors
|
|
E. Daniel Ayres
Angela Barbash
Mark Barbieri
Pauline Bigby
Ellen Bunting
Lynne Chaimowitz
Kristen Cuhran
Patty Donahue
Jessica French
Melvin Gaines
David Palmer
Sharon Sheldon
Amanda Maria Edmonds
Executive Director
|
| Join our list |
 | |
|
|
Sincerely,
Amanda (Executive Director), Elissa & Karen (Program Managers), Liz (Office Manager),
Adrianne (Marketing), Jeremy (Volunteer Coordinator), Wendy (Community Organizer),
Gabe (Youth & Education), JP (Farm Manager) , Ryan (Farmers' Market), and Sarah (MSW Intern)!
|
|
|
|
|
|
