Goodness Grows News

Newsletter #22

Some of our crew processing dried herbs...a great winter project!

Honey Bear Acorn Squash. Super Sugar Snap Peas. Scarlet Queen Turnips. Blue Beech Tomatoes. Sarah's Choice Cantaloupe. Farmers Wonderful Watermelon. General Lee Cucumbers. Rainbow Carrots. Walla Walla Sweet Onions. Flavor Burst Peppers.

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Aren't these wonderful names? This is just a small sample of the wide range of produce we will be growing this season. From arugula to zucchini...we are practically growing the alphabet!
We would love to have you be a part of our revamped Community Supported Agriculture program. When you buy a share, there are many benefits involved. You and your family get fresh, local produce grown right here on our farm. You know where your fruits and veggies come from and who grows them. You get a variety of produce, things you would normally feed your family along with some new and different items that you might not otherwise try. You will also get a selection of recipes each week to help you experiment with new ways to enjoy the harvest. Additionally, some weeks will include "value added" items - Jungle Jam, zucchini bread, salsa, pesto - that will showcase some of our fresh produce. You also can enjoy the feeling of knowing your purchase goes directly to Goodness Grows, a 501(c)3 non-profit. All money raised through the CSA program stays here and helps support our work with special needs students and adults.

Some Scenes From CSA 2018

A CSA is a great way to:

• obtain fresh, local produce.
• know where your food comes from.
• support local, sustainable agriculture.
• try new items.
• eat seasonally!

Our CSA is different because it also allows you to support job training for adults and students with disabilities as well as their traditionally developing peers who join us for summer jobs. These adults and young people work right alongside each other and our staff to plan, plant, tend, harvest, and process our produce to have it ready to go each Thursday of our CSA season. Extra produce not needed for our shares is also used to benefit area families that are experiencing food insecurity. We aim to provide 10% of our harvest to local food banks.

Check out the info below to learn more about our CSA. If you are ready to order or would like to chat with us about it, call 330-549-9408, email Kitty at kitty@goodnessgrows4all.org, or use the "Contact Us" form on our website http://www.goodnessgrows4all.org/contact-us.html.

Though the weather may be frightful, our time here is still delightful! We have enjoyed the down time that winter brings, giving us the opportunity for some relaxed fun. We have built several puzzles, made some snowman, and took an afternoon for sledding. You're never too old to have some wintertime fun! Last week we even took two members of the local boy scout troop for a walk into our woods to locate some downed trees. Of course, we aren't neglecting our responsibilities either. We have been busy cleaning, preparing special lunches, making Jungle Jam, and more!

We love our every-other-Monday visits to Whispering Pines, a retirement community in Columbiana. We thank their staff and residents for always being so welcoming. Each time we visit, there is something new to help with and we think that is fantastic!

Our crew enjoyed a night out with friends this month at the Highway Tabernacle for the Night to Shine dance. This is an amazing event with food, dancing, karaoke, and more. Staff member Rachel and all four of our clients attended and had a spectacular evening. We are grateful for all who worked so hard on this special program. We think our folks looked pretty spiffy!

As we head into spring, our schedule is ramping up. We are preparing for local farm markets, craft shows, and festivals. As we add these dates to our calendar, we will post them on our website and Facebook page. We look forward to being out in the community with our Jungle Jam, Juicy Jam, crafts, and produce. If you can't make it to a show or market, we would love to have you visit us here in North Lima. We are also getting mission trips set up with our mission trip partner, Canfield Presbyterian Church. They have mission trip housing available there and their staff will help to facilitate an easy-to-plan, meaningful service experience. For more information, follow this link http://www.canfieldpresbyterian.org/mission-housing to contact CPC.

Goodness Grows is a faith-based 501(c)3 non-profit operating out of Common Ground Church Community. Our mission is to cultivate personal, social, and community growth through gardening, education, and opportunity for people of all abilities. We are working to improve people's lives through social and therapeutic gardening practices. We'd love for you to join us!

Create. Cultivate. Thrive.

Email: kitty@goodnessgrows4all.org
Website: www.goodnessgrows4all.org/
Location: 2310 W. South Range Rd North Lima OH 44452
Phone: 330-549-9408
Facebook: facebook.com/GoodnessGrows4all/
Twitter: @GGrows