Outreach efforts
Here at Sunny Meadows, we strive to give back to the community in which we live. Seeing that we live in the city, there are lots of people around us that could benefit. We have many ideas but a lot of them are in the forefront.
Down the street from us, where Smith Farms used to be, is now a city park. We have proposed to them that we start a community garden there. This would be a place where people could come and see where their food comes from. We would hold workshops and have farmers speak so that we may not only show people what a garden should look like, but teach them how to do it themselves. Even if they live in the city, there is probably space for a plant or two somewhere in their yard or on their patio.
The Parks and Recreation department of Columbus is still pondering on this one and we are waiting to hear back from them. It is a little late for this year, but maybe we will get everything set up for next year. We feel it would be beneficial for both parties.
There is a Special Olympics office near our house that has a mass of land next to it. We would like to partner with them to use the land, but allow their folks to come out and plant pumpkins at the beginning of the season. Then each family could have a pumpkin when they were ready. So far they have not been too interested in this idea, but we’ll see how our relationship with them continues to develop.
Although our business proposals are in the beginning stages, we are hopeful that as we grow, they will see that our efforts are sincere. We really do want to give back to the community in which we live. Now, we donate any extra produce or flowers that we don’ sell to a group in Granville every Saturday. They take it and disperse it between a battered women’s shelter and various recovery centers and soup kitchens throughout Newark. During our busy time of the year, we donate extra flowers to hospitals and nursing homes. It’s nice to see smiles on everyone’s faces when you come in with some nice flowers.
Recently, I have been speaking to the local Rotary Clubs about our farm and our community outreach efforts. They are an organization based on service to the community and beyond… some are even international! They have been a good connection as the Canal Winchester Rotary Club has talked about next year buying a share of our CSA and donating it to the food bank. They also have connections with the Special Olympics so we will see where this leads us.
Food may feed the body, but flowers feed the soul!
Here at Sunny Meadows, we strive to give back to the community in which we live. Seeing that we live in the city, there are lots of people around us that could benefit. We have many ideas but a lot of them are in the forefront.
Down the street from us, where Smith Farms used to be, is now a city park. We have proposed to them that we start a community garden there. This would be a place where people could come and see where their food comes from. We would hold workshops and have farmers speak so that we may not only show people what a garden should look like, but teach them how to do it themselves. Even if they live in the city, there is probably space for a plant or two somewhere in their yard or on their patio.
The Parks and Recreation department of Columbus is still pondering on this one and we are waiting to hear back from them. It is a little late for this year, but maybe we will get everything set up for next year. We feel it would be beneficial for both parties.
There is a Special Olympics office near our house that has a mass of land next to it. We would like to partner with them to use the land, but allow their folks to come out and plant pumpkins at the beginning of the season. Then each family could have a pumpkin when they were ready. So far they have not been too interested in this idea, but we’ll see how our relationship with them continues to develop.
Although our business proposals are in the beginning stages, we are hopeful that as we grow, they will see that our efforts are sincere. We really do want to give back to the community in which we live. Now, we donate any extra produce or flowers that we don’ sell to a group in Granville every Saturday. They take it and disperse it between a battered women’s shelter and various recovery centers and soup kitchens throughout Newark. During our busy time of the year, we donate extra flowers to hospitals and nursing homes. It’s nice to see smiles on everyone’s faces when you come in with some nice flowers.
Recently, I have been speaking to the local Rotary Clubs about our farm and our community outreach efforts. They are an organization based on service to the community and beyond… some are even international! They have been a good connection as the Canal Winchester Rotary Club has talked about next year buying a share of our CSA and donating it to the food bank. They also have connections with the Special Olympics so we will see where this leads us.
Food may feed the body, but flowers feed the soul!
What’s included this week?
1. Hot peppers- Hungarian Hot Wax (banana peppers) or Jalapeno
2. Tomatoes
3. Onions
4. Kale
5. Bar of homemade soap
2. Tomatoes
3. Onions
4. Kale
5. Bar of homemade soap
Recipe of the Week
Homemade Fresh Salsa
1 quart tomatoes
3-5 hot peppers (or even more if you like it really hot)
2 small onions
1 clove garlic
½ bunch of cilantro (you usually get pretty big bunches at the grocery store. We tried to grow it, but unfortunately our crop wasn’t successful so you’ll have to purchase it elsewhere.)
juice of 1 lime
salt to taste
Chop all vegetables to the desired chunkiness of your salsa. Make sure before you chop the hot peppers that you remove all seeds. You may also want to wear gloves so that the heat from the peppers doesn’t stay on your hands. Also, to some people this salsa seems a little watery, so you can chop all veggies and place them in a strainer shortly so that some of the juice runs off. Make sure if you are going to do this that you add the lime juice afterwards.
3-5 hot peppers (or even more if you like it really hot)
2 small onions
1 clove garlic
½ bunch of cilantro (you usually get pretty big bunches at the grocery store. We tried to grow it, but unfortunately our crop wasn’t successful so you’ll have to purchase it elsewhere.)
juice of 1 lime
salt to taste
Chop all vegetables to the desired chunkiness of your salsa. Make sure before you chop the hot peppers that you remove all seeds. You may also want to wear gloves so that the heat from the peppers doesn’t stay on your hands. Also, to some people this salsa seems a little watery, so you can chop all veggies and place them in a strainer shortly so that some of the juice runs off. Make sure if you are going to do this that you add the lime juice afterwards.
Thank you for your support,
Gretel and Steve
Gretel and Steve
Love the blogs. Try to keep up each week. Lots of useful info. It's great that you share a recipe that goes along w/ the CSA items. Even those not part of the CSA can use the recipes because they are always about the 'in season' produce. I have recommended your site to many.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work & good luck with your future endeavors. Thank YOU!!!