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GardenShare's Bimonthly Newsletter  |  June 2014
Volume 14 No. 3
Swift Support for CSA Bonus Bucks!
On May 8 GardenShare sent an email requesting donations to cover a shortfall for our CSA Bonus Bucks program. We know how often we are all bombarded with donation requests, and at GardenShare we work really hard to keep our fund appeals planned and targeted. But when we were overwhelmed with CSA Bonus Bucks requests, we were both heartbroken about not being able to help as much as we wanted to, and really thrilled that this program has become so well-loved.

Your response was inspiring and humbling. We met, and even exceeded, our goal, so we'll be able to provide CSA Bonus Bucks to the five families we mentioned in our request, and an additional five families as well. You are spectacular!

Our favorite thing about CSA Bonus Bucks is that it works double duty by helping lower-income families get access to fantastic, healthy, local food, while at the same time expanding market for our local farmers. Every hundred dollar investment in CSA Bonus Bucks translates to an average of 250 additional dollars to a local farmer!  
Nominate a Hero for Growing Community Award 
GardenShare's Board is seeking nominations for our Growing Community Award to be presented at the annual Harvest Social in November.

GardenShare's Growing Community Award recognizes an individual or organization who has dedicated their time and energy to strengthening our community-based food system. These are people and groups who are passionate about local food, food equity, and social justice as it is related to GardenShare's vision; the pleasure of eating delicious, wholesome food belongs to everyone.

Past recipients include Jenny and Brian Walker from 1844 House, North Country Public Radio, North Country Grown Cooperative, the UShare program of Canton's Unitarian Universalist Church, Katherine Lang, Betsy Hodge, and Carlton Doane.

Please submit your nomination to the GardenShare office - [email protected]. 
Students Still Reaping Food Day Youth Summit Benefits
Tupper Lake's Green Team harvested their carrots to make muffins for National Farm to School Day.
Last October GardenShare welcomed 20 schools from across the region to the North Country Food Day Youth Summit. 100 students and 50 adults sought information and inspiration about our food system and how to make it better. They went home with action plans to engage their whole school community.

Some of the continuing projects are highlighted below, but
you can see more photos and read about all of them at this link.

Lake Placid Central now receives regular deliveries of local eggs at the school cafeterias, and is also increasing their cold storage to accommodate the influx of fresh ingredient. An in-school taste testing and a "Take Your Chef to School" cooking competition are planned for next year!

The team at Massena Central, is in the final steps in receiving approval for a new school garden, and they've created a mini-greenhouse and started some herbs with the assistance and direction of a master gardener.

In Tupper Lake, to celebrate National Farm to School Day, the students harvested their own carrots and made carrot muffins to share with the student body. 
Local Food Guide Available
GardenShare's 10th annual Local Food Guide has hit the streets, and it is a beaut! More than 50 local producers, processors and purveyors are included.
There's a handy product index to help you find who sells what you're looking for, and a locator map as well. If you haven't come across one yet, and would like one mailed to you, just email, and we'll send one right out.

There is also a handy online version as well, linked here.  
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Desserts to Support GardenShare!
Sunday, July 13 
12pm-3pm 
Potsdam Food Co-op 
24 Elm St., Potsdam 
On Sunday, July 13, the Potsdam Food Co-op is replicating their winter baking contest and silent auction that supports the Neighborhood Center to support GardenShare in the summer!
More information available here. 
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$5 SNAP = $7 CASH at Area Farmers' Markets 
CNY Health Bucks, a program of the Food Bank of Central New York, are available at Canton and Potsdam Farmers' Markets, and will be available at the Massena markets when they open in July.

For every $5 in SNAP, customers receive an additional $2 coupon to spend on fruits and vegetables at the markets.

Most of the markets in St. Lawrence County are equipped to accept SNAP benefits, and most of the farmers accept FMNP, SFMNP, and WIC Vegetable and Fruit checks as well.

For a complete list of St. Lawrence County farmers' markets, their locations, dates, and hours, as well as information about what kinds of currency they accept, see GardenShare's Local Food Guide.

Additional SNAP incentives will arrive at many of the markets beginning in July. Watch for details, coming soon!  
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Congrats Raffle Winners!  

Visitors to the GardenShare table at the Dairy Princess Festival were offered the chance to win some fabulous prizes in the Name That Cheese contest. The winners names were drawn from those with correct answers and included Ginger Thomas of Dekalb Jct., Ben Springer from Saratoga, Carly Lovelett from SLU, and S. Cerwonka from Potsdam. 
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