Growing Hope Participates in this Years NASCO Conference.

November 3-5th 2006
A Cooperative Education & Training Event
Each November, over 400 participants from all over the United States, Canada, and beyond converge in Ann Arbor, Michigan to share ideas, learn new skills, and look at issues affecting the cooperative movement worldwide. The North American Students of Cooperation’s (NASCO’s) Cooperative Education & Training Institute, which has been providing cooperative training and education annually since 1977, is widely recognized as one of the most important training and networking opportunities available to cooperative members, directors, staff and managers.

Friday, Nov 3rd from 2-4pm
How to Build Rainbarrels and Raised Beds
Learn about the benefits of and design of rain barrels and raised beds! Come and do some hands on learning about ways to improve your co-op with cheap and environmentally friendly gardening. We will be making rain barrels together out of found and recycled materials (and donating them to the local community gardening organization). We will also be discussing a variety of types of raised beds with construction demonstration.

Sunday, Nov 5th 1:40pm-3:10pm
Intensive Gardening: Growing Vegetables in Urban Settings
Urban gardening is an old activity with recent popular resurgence around the world. We will be discussing community and school gardening, learning about local gardening projects and how you can get involved in your community. This workshop will touch on intensive gardening, an inexpensive way to grow vegetables in a very small space, and teach some basics that will help you get started gardening in your co-op's backyard.

NASCO is an association of cooperatives in Canada and the U.S., which serves students, youth, and others who embrace cooperative education. NASCO provides its member cooperatives with operational assistance, encourages the development of new cooperatives, and serves as an advocate for cooperatives. NASCO teaches leadership skills, provides information, and serves as the central link facilitating the fruition of the cooperative vision for students and youth. By strengthening our part of the co-op movement, we believe we can strengthen the future of cooperatives generally.

To register for the conference, or find out more please see http://nasco.coop/

Wanna work for us?

That time of year is here again. We're recruiting! I'm grateful to have a staff who are mostly Americorps*VISTA members, dedicating a year of service full time to Growing Hope. Remember Kathryn & Elissa? They were our first, and we still miss them dearly. You know Lizzie & Karen & Tracey-- they're our current crew. VISTA members complete a year of service working full time with a nonprofit to help build capacity, and in exchange receive a living stipend (about $890 a month), full health insurance {priceless!}, a $4725 educational award at the end to can pay back student loans or be a credit to future education, child care subsidies as needed, and a great experience under their belts. VISTAs aren't allowed to have other employment or be actively enrolled in school during their term of service.

We're bringing on approximately 5-6 new VISTAs in mid-November. The hiring happens now, because since VISTA is a federal program we have to turn in paperwork for new hirees in September. Position descriptions & application instructions are available here or from the main page of our website. Applications are due to Amanda by September 4th, and earlier submissions are encouraged. We may also bring on some of our new batch of VISTAs in February, but encourage people only available or interested in that date to apply now anyway.

The position areas we're currently applying for are: Youth/Education/ Outreach, Volunteer Coordination, Marketing/Events/Fundraising, Garden Resource Program, Training/Garden Development, and Market Gardening/Entrepreneurial.

We'd love for you to apply to join our team. We're a fun and rewarding and challenging place to work, and the chance to give service to the community, and learn a whole lot along the way, is an awesome one!

Amanda

GH Volunteer Update 8/17/06

Hi Everybody…

I hope everyone’s August is treating them well … I’ve had a couple of eventful weeks – and just returned from a great training at Boston’s Food Project so please excuse this update getting to you all a little late.

Ypsilanti’s Heritage Festival is upon us, so make sure to check out all the happenings and take advantage of the FREE Bike Valet service brought to you by the Ypsilanti Health Coalition. WOOOWHHHOOO! (Check below for a chance to volunteer below) PLUS… don’t forget to stop by the Depot Town Farmers’ Market from 8-3, pick up some produce and check out the displays inside the historic Depot Town Frieghthouse.

Oh… and don’t forget about Plant-a-Row for the Hungry! We’re right in the middle of some peak harvesting so make sure to take a look below for multiple times, places and ways to get your extra bounty to hungry folks in our community.

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. Heritage Festival Aug. 18,19 and 20 – VOL. NEEDED
2. "A Bounty of Fall Vegetables and Herbs" – Sept. 6th Cooking Demo.
3. Hope’s Harvest Annual Event – Sept. 17th – VOL. NEEDED
- Special Projects -
4. Plant-A-Row for the Hungry – collection and donation opportunities
5. Downtown Ypsilanti Farmers’ Market Crew – Tuesday evening vol. shifts
6. Rain Barrel construction project @ A2 ReUse Center – VOL. NEEDED
7. Growing Hope’s Garden Resource Center Workday – VOL. NEEDED
_____________________________________________________________________
(***Please reply by emailing info@growinghope.net***)

1. VOL. NEEDED
Heritage Festival – Folks needed to flier, and assist with YHC Bike Valet service
Aug 18 – Aug 20

Heritage Festival is a great chance to get the word out about all the great things going on in Ypsilanti … We’d like to use the opportunity to tell residents and visitors about our three farmers’ market days (Tues., Wed., and Sat.) as well as some of Growing Hope’s upcoming events. Are you going to be walking around heritage festival this weekend? How ‘bout signing up to pick up some fliers to hand out… We’re looking for youth and adults to either sign-up for a shift (~2 hours) or rsvp and let us know that you’ll pick up some fliers at the Ypsilanti Health Coalition table to hand out while you’re down at the festival.
Also, if you’re interested in lending a hand at the free Bike Valet on Sat. please contact YoungDD@trinity-health.org

2. VOL. NEEDED
Hope’s Harvest Annual Event – Sept. 17th – VOL. NEEDED
Shifts: 2:30-5:30 and 5:30-8:30

Hope's Harvest is a partnership with Everyday Wines (Kerry town) and will
feature locally grown foods, masterfully prepared by Zingerman's, paired
with wines selected by Everyday Wines. Growing Hope's 2nd annual Hope's
Harvest celebration takes place at the Gladwin Barn on the west side of
Ann Arbor. 4-7 pm. Tickets are $50 per person or tables of six can be
reserved for $250. Purchase by calling the Growing Hope (734) 786-8401 or
at www.growinghope.net.

Raffle tickets are also available at 3 for $5 and the top 3 wonderful
Prizes include: Dinner for two at your home prepared by a trained chef;
The Growing Hope Board of Directors selection (case of wine); a
Beautiful nature art print by a local artist. Many other great prizes!
Raffle tickets are also available by calling the Growing Hope office.

VOL. NEEDED – get yourself a free pass to this great event by signing up to volunteer
Shifts:
2:30 – 5:30 = set-up and servers (10 needed)
5:30 – 8:30 = servers and clean-up (10 needed)
*Grab your spot before they’re gone!

3.
"A Bounty of Fall Vegetables and Herbs"
Wed. Sept 6th – 6-8pm

Join the MFit Culinary Team at the East Ann Arbor Health Center for
cooking demonstrations to benefit Growing Hope. Enjoy tasting
mouth-watering recipes featuring the bounty of the season. You'll also
receive recipes for each tasty recipe to take home and try yourself. This
class promises to be entertaining and educational - don't miss it! 6-8 pm.
4260 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor Michigan. (Lower level demonstration
kitchen). $40 per person, registration/prepayment is required.
734-786-8401.

--SPECIAL PROJECTS--

4. VOL. NEEDED
Plant-A-Row for the Hungry – collection and donation opportunities

- The Foodgatherers’ Warehouse – M-F from 9am to 4pm
(see www.foodgatherers.org for directions)
- English Gardens on Maple Rd. in Ann Arbor – M-Sat. 9-9 and Sun. 9-6
(ask a sales clerk where to donate for PAR)
- Wednesdays at WMS Garden – 7:30-8:30pm
Harvest from your plots and lend a hand in the PAR plot on these upcoming Wednesdays
August 16, August 30, September 13, September 27, October 11
(contact lsanko@comcast.net for more info)

**If you have organized a collection day that you would like posted or would like to assist with one please reply to Karen@growinghope.net**

(Don’t forget, Foodgatherers will arrange a truck to pick up any donations over 40 lbs., just call (734) 761-2796 during business hours)

5. 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

6. 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!

7. VOL. NEEDED
Growing Hope’s Garden Resource Center Workday
Wed. Aug 23rd 1:30-5pm
Painting, Tool Maintenance, organizing, etc.

We’ve moved into our GRC space – but now with the speed of the season slowing down we’re ready to get the space lookin’ spiffy. We’re looking for folks to lend a hand as we finish paining our walls, cleaning up our tools to be lent, and organizing the Recource Center for upcoming seasons. RSVP and get a sneak peek at our new space… info@growinghope.net or call 786-8401

See you out and about,
Karen

Hope's Harvest on September 17- get your tickets now!

Growing Hope announces its 2nd annual Hope's Harvest fundraiser on September 17th, 2006, from 4-7 pm.

Sponsored in partnership with Everyday Wines and Zingerman's, this event features fine wines from around the world paired with deliciously prepared local foods from local & sustainable farms, catered by Zingerman's. The festivities are at Gladwin Barn on Liberty in west Ann Arbor from 4-7 pm. Tickets are $50 ($25 of which is tax-deductible), and available at Everyday Wines.

If you'd like to purchase your ticket online using a credit card, please go to the Network for Good "Donate Now" button on the top right corner of any pages of our website or by clicking here. Make sure to say 'yes' when prompted as to you whether you want to show us your name and email, and add "hope's harvest tickets" in the comments/designation line. We'll send you an email in response, and then either mail your tickets or hold them for you at the door. We'll also provide you with a receipt for the tax deductible portion ($25) of your purchase price.

Last year's event was a raving success-- this year's is not to be missed, so get your tickets early!


Can't attend but still want to support the event? Great! You can also buy raffle tickets (3/$5) for a smashing set of prizes (dinner for two cooked by a local chef, framed artwork, a case of wine, and much more!) from any Growing Hope board or staff member, or at our Tuesday Farmer's Market.

Buy fresh Veggies & Flowers from GH Youth!

Come buy fresh vegetables, flowers and herbs from Roots & Shoots!

This summers Growing Hope’s Roots & Shoots program is focused on learning gardening and entrepreneurship, and of course having fun. Come and see us every Saturday at the Ypsilanti Depot Town Farmers Market, from 10-2, and buy some great garden goodies. Our youth have been working very hard planning and starting their garden based businesses and maintaining their gardens, and are now enjoying selling the veggies of the labor at the market. They have a great variety of fresh organic vegetables, beautiful flower bouquets, fresh and dried herbs, and some other fun accessories. Please stop by to support their work, and their new businesses.

Roots & Shoots goes on a Detroit Garden Tour!

August 9th 2006- Growing Hope’s Youth Entrepreneurship Program participated in this year’s Community Garden Tour hosted by the Detroit Agricultural Network. The tour started at the acclaimed Catherine Ferguson, a high school for pregnant and parenting teens, with an active farm, orchard and many many animals. The tour this year was divided in two different tours, with one group focusing on food security and the other focusing on youth and education. We went on the later group and visited various community gardens and school gardens, where youth work and learn in the garden. The kids had a great time seeing the gardens, and impressed everyone with their vegetable and herb identifications.

Community Bike Ride

The second monthly Ypsilanti Community Bike Ride is scheduled for this Saturday, August 5th. Join riders of all skill levels for an eight mile journey around the Ypsilanti area. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Depot Town Farmers' Market, children and families are welcome but everyone must wear a helmet! After the ride, check out the market! At this time of the season there is plenty of fresh produce available, green beans, tomatoes, peaches, apricots, blueberries...pick your favorite!