GardenShare's Bimonthly Newsletter  |  December 2013
Volume 13 No. 6
Share-a-Share Supports CSA Bonus Bucks
If you have friends and family on your holiday shopping list who prefer a gift that benefits the community, consider a Share-a-Share donation in their name. 

  

They receive a card telling them of their gift, someone in St. Lawrence County receives a leg up paying for the CSA of their choice, and our local farmers get new customers!
 
Twenty-five percent of children in St. Lawrence County are living in poverty. Share-a-Share donations of any amount fund GardenShare's CSA Bonus Bucks program which helps make Community Supported Agriculture affordable for people with limited incomes. CSA Bonus Bucks has allowed more than 150 families to join the CSA of their choice while generating more than $45,000 in income for local farmers. 
 
"Several years ago, we decided to give donation to organization that do good work in our community in leiu of gifts. It supports the community at large, but also reduces the amount of "stuff" being purchased just for the sake of giving a gift. Our families do appreciate this kind of giving," says Maria Corse of Canton. 
 
You can donate online and simply let us know who we should send the card to telling them of your thoughtful gift in the "send message to GardenShare" box when your donation is confirmed. OR, you can simply email or call us. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have questions.
 
Email aviva@gardenshare.org or call 315-261-8054.
Thank you Dave Rice
You may have gotten GardenShare's Winter Fund Appeal written by Canton farmer Dave Rice. Dave did an amazing job of highlighting what GardenShare has meant for him and his family, and the role the organization plays in our community. If Dave's letter didn't make it in to your mailbox, you can read it here.
GardenShare Will Miss Heather Sullivan-Catlin 
After 12 years of serving on GardenShare's board of directors, seven of those as board president, Heather Sullivan-Catlin is stepping down to let new board members take the leadership role. 
 
If you missed our Harvest Social on November 7, you missed Phil Harnden's moving tribute to Heather.
 
"All of us involved in organizations know that within every longstanding group is someone, often invisible, who contributes the ideas, the energy, the elbow grease to keep that organization moving forward on an even keel. In GardenShare, that person has been Heather."
 
We will definitely miss her "undaunted and unquenchable enthusiasm." Thank you, Heather.
Local Options for SEFA Include GardenShare!  
The deadline to participate in the State Employee Federated Appeal is fast approaching. GardenShare is one of the many fine organizations you can easily contribute to through payroll deduction if you are a state employee, so it's as painless as possible to support a growing local food system!
One thing to consider is the powerful impact your contribution can have when you keep it local.  Read more here.
Brian and Jenny Walker Presented With 2013 Growing Community Award 
GardenShare was pleased to honor Jenny and Brian Walker with our 2013 Growing Community Award at the November 7 Harvest Social. The Walkers' commitment to supporting local agriculture with the 1844 House is inspirational. In their acceptance remarks, they spoke about how deciding to support our local economy is something we can all do with our own choices to make a difference. 
Help Improve School Food Programs!
Join GardenShare for a free screening of "Cafeteria Man," and a lively discussion about what we can do to ensure that every kid in our school systems has access to healthy food choices during the school day. 
 
"Cafeteria Man" is the energizing true story of rebel chef Tony Geraci and his mission to radically reform Baltimore's public school food system. The screening is part of Canton's Winterfest activities.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
7:00pm
Unitarian Universalist Church in Canton
(3 1/2 East Main St.)
FREE
_________________
2nd Annual Cabin Fever Trivia Night
Saturday, February 8, 2014
6:30pm
The Parkview in Canton
$20 per person

 

NCPR's Ellen Rocco hosts Cabin Fever Trivia Night benefiting GardenShare's programs. Bring a team, or we'll find a spot for you! 

 

Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

_______________________ 

2 Winter Markets in SLC!

Potsdam and Ogdensburg host winter markets boasting veggies, eggs, apples, meats, maple products, sweets, crafts and more. Support your local farmers, bakers & craftspeople this holiday season!

 

The Ogdensburg Green Market

Saturdays from 9-1

First Presbyterian Church, which offers a free lunch!

Through December 14

 

Potsdam Farmers' Market 

Saturdays from 8:30 to noon

Cheel Arena on the Clarkson campus. 

Continues all year!

_____________________

EBT Sales Nearly Doubled

One of GardenShare's stated goals for this farmers' market season was to double EBT/Food Stamp sales over last year. The idea is to ensure widespread accessibility of the freshest, tastiest, healthiest food around, while bringing new customers to our local, direct market farmers. 

 

We used dollar-to-dollar-and-a-half incentives, making the service available at more markets, and more intensive advertising to raise awareness of the service. EBT sales were up 85 percent through the season, with producers telling us that along with other programs that target low-income households, these programs comprise from ten to 75 percent of their incomes!

_________________________

GardenShare is on AmazonSmile

It's best when you can do your holiday shopping at your local stores. But if you rely on Amazon, and you shop through AmazonSmile, .5% of your total will go to support your favorite nonprofit. Everything on Amazon is on AmazonSmile, and you can change the organization you support under Your Account.


So, i
f you're going there anyway, please go through this link, and choose to support GardenShare, or your favorite nonprofit organization.