GH Volunteer Update 7/26/06

Hi Everybody…

The Art Fair is over – and I’d like to extend a BIG thanks to all of you that volunteered at our booth or even just stopped in to say hi. We stayed dry for most of the week – and hopefully shared a bit of what we do with a few more interested folks.

Again this week I’d like to extend a great big thank you to the Ann Arbor YMCA’s Youth Volunteer Corps for a great workday. Tuesday the 25th - 10 motivated YVC youth, two instructors, myself and a new volunteer descended upon one weedy Perry Learning Garden … and in a couple hours had made quite an improvement – (check out the GH blog for pictures later this week). If you’re part of a group that would like to take part in a similar project with Growing Hope please let us know!

If this is the first Growing Hope volunteer update you’re receiving – thanks so much for your interest and I hope you enjoy getting to hear about all the upcoming events and ways to participate. – See you out and about…

1. Roots & Shoots YEP Program – VOL. NEEDED
2. Rec Park Garden Work Party – Aug. 12th 10-2pm
3. Ypsilanti Habitat for Humanity Community Garden Workday – Aug 12th 9-12
- Special Projects -
4. Downtown Ypsilanti Farmers’ Market Crew – Tuesday evening vol. shifts
5. Rain Barrel construction project – VOL. NEEDED
_____________________________________________________________________
(***Please reply by emailing info@growinghope.net***)

1. Roots & Shoots Youth Entrepreneurial Program – Assistant Instructors NEEDED!
July 5 – Aug 26
Wednesdays 1-5 and Saturdays 10-2 (volunteer for one or both days / week)

YEP is in full swing – and as student groups are getting ready to sell at market we are looking for additional hands to take part in all the excitement…
Our goal for the Summer 2006 Youth Entrepreneurship Program is to teach youth valuable entrepreneurship skills, help youth to build confidence, gain leadership experience, learn gardening skills and most importantly have fun! This year’s program is geared for middle-school and high school-aged youth and will run from July 5th through August 30th, with classes running every Saturday from 10am-2pm and Wednesdays from 1pm-5pm. Wednesday sessions will be focused on how to start and manage a business, including the who what where and why. Saturdays will be spent learning about marketing and selling at the Ypsilanti Farmers Market with Vendors and working in the Garden.
We are looking for folks interested in acting as assistant instructors on both Wednesdays or Saturdays. Experience working with youth (especially teens), experience with business planning or selling produce/flowers/etc. at market, or experience growing flowers for cutting are all valued in interested volunteers. However, if you haven’t had much experience but would love to dedicate some time to a great program and even greater kids – this is a perfect chance! Please reply ASAP by phone or email!!!

2. VOL. NEEDED
Garden Work Party @ Rec Park Community Garden – Saturday Aug 12
10-2pm

Rec Park Gardeners, friends and neighbors … don’t forget the garden Work Party Aug. 12th (email wombbat@umich.edu for more information)

3. VOL. NEEDED
Ypsilanti Habitat for Humanity Community Garden Workday – Aug 12th
9-12 noon

The families of the Habitat for Humanity neighborhood located on the south side of Ypsilanti started their community garden after being part of Growing Hope’s Community Garden Development Institute this past Spring. They are asking for your volunteer support on August 12th as they make some improvements to their garden – they’ll be harvesting their first crops, planting some fall vegetables, maintaining their pathways with woodchips, and painting up some great new signs… They would love to have an experienced gardener or two to give them some much appreciated tips.
Please reply to info@growinghope.net

--SPECIAL PROJECTS--

3. VOL. NEEDED
Downtown Ypsilanti Farmers’ Market Crew
Tuesday evenings June 6 – Sept. 26
Set-up, market staff, and breakdown …GREAT for groups, community service etc.!

Be part of The Market Crew – and help make something great possible!

The NEW Downtown Ypsilanti Farmer's Market – every Tuesday from June-September in the parking lot behind Key Bank on the corner of Michigan Ave and Hamilton. Local food, plants, local crafts, local products, and local fun! PLUS… The Market accepts credit/debit cards and EBT (food stamps)!

Market Crew shifts – SIGN-UP with your friends, family, or group!
(Set-up) 1:30 – 3:30
(Market Staff – kids tent, greeters, Growing Hope tablers etc.) 3 – 7
(Break-down) 7 – 8:00

4. VOL. NEEDED
Rain Barrel Construction Project for GH gardens
(your project = your schedule)

Know a lot about rain barrels or want to learn a lot more!?! I am still looking for volunteers interested in taking part in this project…we’ve had some replies and I’d love to get a team together as we move forward.

I am looking for someone to price or collect the materials needed to create a rain barrel (spickets, connecting pieces etc.), as well as volunteers to be part of our construction team. We will be partnering with the ReUse Center of Ann Arbor and constructing some of the barrels at their 10th Anniversary Celebration – but you could also opt to construct a rain barrel on your own time and deliver it to one of our community gardens (maybe an idea for your boyscout or girlscout troop project).

If you’d like to take part in coordinating and planning this project – or if you’d just like the chance to construct a barrel or two please reply to Karen@growinghope.net to get started!

GH Volunteer Update 7/12/06

Hi Everybody…

I hope you’re all having a great summer so far now that we’re right in the sticky middle of it. In the week or so since our last Volunteer Update there’s no doubt we’ve been keeping ourselves busy. This past week GH’s summer Roots & Shoots Youth Program (YEP) took off to a great start with some really great kids – A big thanks to those of you that have come out to volunteer with YEP! Out in the gardens things have been busy too …just this Tuesday the Chidester Community Gardeners along with YVC volunteers from the Ann Arbor YMCA put in the garden’s final raised bed and constructed some amazing new rain barrels to solve their water access problems. If you get a chance I encourage you all to take a look (330 Chidester St., Ypsilanti).

Going to A2’s Art Fair? Check below for another great reason to go!

If this is the first Growing Hope volunteer update you’re receiving –thanks so much for your interest and I hope you enjoy getting to hear about all the upcoming events and ways to participate. – See you out and about…

1. Roots & Shoots YEP Program – VOL. NEEDED
2. WMS Community Garden Workday – Sat. July 15th 10-2pm
- Special Projects -
3. Growing Hope joins ART FAIR Ann Arbor!!! – VOL. NEEDED
4. Downtown Ypsilanti Farmers’ Market Crew – Tuesday evening vol. shifts
5. Rain Barrel construction project – VOL. NEEDED

(***Please reply by emailing info@growinghope.net***)

1.Roots & Shoots Youth Entrepreneurial Program – Assistant Instructors NEEDED!
July 5 – Aug 26; Wednesdays 1-5 and Saturdays 10-2 (volunteer for one or both days / week)

Our goal for the Summer 2006 Youth Entrepreneurship Program is to teach youth valuable entrepreneurship skills, help youth to build confidence, gain leadership experience, learn gardening skills and most importantly have fun! This year’s program is geared for middle-school and high school-aged youth and will run from July 5th through August 30th, with
classes running every Saturday from 10am-2pm and Wednesdays from 1pm-5pm. Wednesday sessions will be focused on how to start and manage a business, including the who what where and why. Saturdays will be spent learning about marketing and selling at the Ypsilanti Farmers Market with Vendors and working in the Garden. We are looking for folks interested in acting as assistant instructors on both Wednesdays or Saturdays. Experience working with youth (especially
teens), experience with business planning or selling produce/flowers/etc. at market, or experience growing flowers for cutting are all valued in interested volunteers. However, if you haven’t had much experience but would love to dedicate some time to a great program and even greater kids – this is a perfect chance! Please reply ASAP by phone or email!!!

2. VOL. NEEDED
Garden Work Party @ WMS Community Garden – Saturday July 15
10-2pm

WMS Gardeners, friends and neighbors … don’t forget the garden Work Party this Saturday. (email bacolorj@ewashtenaw.org for more information)

--SPECIAL PROJECTS--

3. VOL. NEEDED
Growing Hope joins ART FAIR Ann Arbor!!!
July 19 - 22
10-8pm each day (see shifts below)

So you want to go to Art Fair …Not sure you want to brave the traffic, think you might keel over in the heat half way through – I don’t blame you. Why not Sign-up for a shift at the shady Growing Hope table – you’ll have one more reason to check out the fair and you’ll get a nice shady spot to take a break for a couple hours. Sign-up with a friend or staff the both with a GH staff or board member. We’ll be getting the word out, selling t-shirts, and letting everyone know about our great community
gardens and garden programs.

SIGN UP:
Wednesday 7/19 shifts: 9-11am , 11-1pm , 1-3pm , 3-5pm , 5-7pm , 7-9pm
Thursday 7/20 shifts: 9-11am , 11-1pm , 1-3pm , 3-5pm , 5-7pm , 7-9pm
Friday 7/19 shifts: 9-11am , 11-1pm , 1-3pm , 3-5pm , 5-7pm , 7-9pm
Saturday 7/19 shifts: 9-11am , 11-1pm , 1-3pm , 3-5pm , 5-7pm
(email Karen@growinghope.net to set a shift or for more information)

6. VOL. NEEDED
Downtown Ypsilanti Farmers’ Market Crew
Tuesday evenings June 6 – Sept. 26
Set-up, market staff, and breakdown … GREAT for groups!

Be part of The Market Crew – and help make something great possible!

The NEW Downtown Ypsilanti Farmer's Market – every Tuesday from June-September in the parking lot behind Key Bank on the corner of Michigan Ave and Hamilton. Local food, plants, local crafts, local products, and local fun! PLUS… The Market accepts credit/debit cards and EBT (food stamps)!

Market Crew shifts – SIGN-UP with your friends, family, or group!
(Set-up) 1:30 – 3:30
(Market Staff – kids tent, greeters, Growing Hope tablers etc.) 3 – 7
(Break-down) 7 – 8:30


7. VOL. NEEDED
Rain Barrel Construction Project for GH gardens
(your project = your schedule)

Know a lot about rain barrels or want to learn a lot more!?! If you missed the last project at the Chidester Garden no worries … many of our other gardens would also appreciate a rain barrel or two. If you’d like to take part in coordinating and planning this project – or if you’d just like the chance to construct a barrel or two please reply to Karen@growinghope.net to get started!

See you out and about...

Karen Summers MSW
Volunteer Coordinator
Growing Hope
734.786.8401

downtown farmer's market still growing!

Yesterday was the fifth week of the new Downtown Ypsilanti Farmer's Market Growing Hope started this year, and things are continuing to grow! What I love about it, and what I love about Ypsi, is the authentic diversity of folks there-- lots of economic & cultural backgrounds, and people of every age. We had our first Project Fresh training there yesterday, so tons of moms and little ones (0-5 year olds) were there doing their training to receive their coupons. If you're not familiar with Project Fresh, there's more info here. Market sales continue to grow, and we're starting to see a regular customer base. Lots of seniors from the apartment highrise across the street come over, and have commented how grateful they are to have a place to do their shopping without having to deal with cars or public transportation. Linette Lao, graphic designer extraordinaire, adds new great signs (seen the growing carrot when driving down Hamilton?) every week, and soon all of our materials will have a cohesive look & feel.

We're still making new flyers every few weeks, highlighting what's new, or what's fresh, or related events like the monthly community bike rides starting from the Depot Town Market location. Here's the latest one. And here's the info about the Community Bike Rides. Feel free to print and circulate these, and let us know if you want to join our mailing list about upcoming market or other Growing Hope events.

What was really cute at yesterday's market were the kiddos and the chalk. Lizzie was doing kid-watching duty as the moms were in the Project Fresh training, and sidewalk chalk was the rage for little ones of all ages. There were chalk veggies, and flowers, and butterflies everywhere, and then kids (and some of our vendors) got into hopscotch, and suddenly a line up of kids were hop scotching, as one boy furiously scribbled in the front more and more squares-- the hopscotch ended up running almost the whole length of the market, and everyone had a grand time.

Steve Carpo's incredible fruits are coming in, and yesterday he had rasberries, and cherries, and PEACHES, and APRICOTS! His farm is in Tipton, and he sure knows his fruit trees. When Steve brought his strawberries to market last month, he sold out every time-- and one week within 1/2 an hour!

I also love that we have veggies produced right here in Ypsi! Right now the veggies Growing Hope is selling are from our friend Beverly's organic farm-- Needlelane-- in Tipton (Bev also has a blog), though we'll have Ypsi-grown product soon, and our Roots & Shoots Youth Entrepreneurial Program will be selling cut flowers later in the summer. But, we've had veggie growers (youth & adults) who've produced organically in their backyards & community gardens. We welcome more folks like this-- just get in touch for a vendor application.

-Amanda