Community CROPS November 2008 Newsletter
CROPS Updates
As we head into the winter season, the CROPS staff switch our work to more planning, fundraising and reporting tasks. We still do some outdoor work on nice days, and regularly take care of the chickens at the farm, but we are definitely inside a lot more. It's nice to have the time to envision the future of CROPS.
As part of our visioning process, we updated our mission statement. It now reads:
Community CROPS (Combining Resources, Opportunities, and People) for Sustainability helps families grow nutritious food for themselves and for the community.
We also set up four goals for the organization based on the mission statement and we are working on developing specific objectives for each one:
1.Partner with the diverse community to improve health through access to environmentally sound nutritious food.
2.Demonstrate social, economic and environmental sustainability in the community through participatory education.
3.Provide disadvantaged farmers with the resources to develop profitable and environmentally sustainable local farm and market models.
4.Broaden awareness and support for the mission, values, and programs of Community CROPS.
We will keep you posted as we expand over this next year to work with even more families and grow more food.
Farewell to CROPS Staff
Brad Kindler, long-time CROPS Assistant Director, is leaving CROPS at the end of November. Brad started at CROPS as an intern in 2005, taking on his current position at the end of his internship. Throughout his tenure at CROPS, Brad has broadened the awareness of hundreds of youth about fresh vegetables -- how to grow them, and how to eat them. He has worked with dozens of community gardeners and farmers, exchanging ideas with them about how to grow food better. He has also greatly improved both the infrastructure of both the gardens and farm through his hard work. Over the years, Brad's creativity and excitement about local foods have inspired many people to get more involved. Brad will continue to live and work in Lincoln, and plans to help advance the causes of peace, environmental sustainability and community.
Erin Frank, CROPS Intern, is also about done with her position for the year. She's worked incredibly hard this summer growing and selling food and has been an asset to the farm program.
Community CROPS Calendars
Put Community CROPS on your wall all year long! Makes a great gift, too. We are putting together a collection of great photos from the past year, as well as gardening tips, into a beautiful and functional calendar. Help us plan how many to print by pre-ordering. E-mail us at crops@communitycrops.org with the number you would like. Calendars will be ready in mid-November and cost about $14 each; you can pay later when we know the exact amount.Community CROPS Honey for Sale
We have delicious, freshly harvested honey for sale from Sunset Community Farm. Our bees have worked hard all summer, and the results are delicious! Honey is available in pint jars for $7 or quart jars for $13. Various payment options available and you might even talk us into delivery. Call the office at 474-9802 or e-mail us at crops@communitycrops.org.Buy Fresh Buy Local Harvest Celebration
Thursday, November 13, 4-7pm, East Campus UnionThe growing season is slowly winding down but there is still a ton of delicious food to eat! Join Buy Fresh Buy Local to celebrate the expansion of the Nebraska program, our locally grown, seasonal foods and the people who produce them, as well as the businesses, organizations and individuals who support them. CROPS staff will be there, and hope you can join us. Enjoy local harpist Natassia Boening, buy $1 raffle tickets for some great items. Tickets are $12.50, contact: bnemec2@unl.edu or 402-472-5273 to reserve yours.
Need for Food Continues All Year
At Community CROPS, we are working to increase the amount of healthy food available to all of Lincoln. Someday we hope to be providing a significant amount of fresh produce to low-income families, but the need is huge, and we currently don't have the capacity. At a recent meeting of local food pantries, the empty shelves at many of these agencies were a hot topic. More and more people in Lincoln are in need of extra help, including many who never thought they would ever need it, while at the same time food pantries are receiving less and less food. You can help by supporting the Lincoln Food Bank which provides food to multiple programs throughout Lincoln.Farmer in Chief
You may have seen reference to Michael Pollan's most recent article Farmer in Chief -- it is well worth the time to read it. It's a great summary of US agricultural policies and a summary of changes that need to be made soon based on a "sun-food agenda". We particularly liked "Food-stamp debit cards should double in value whenever swiped at a farmers' markets". Take some time to read it and then think about how you can be involved in the local food movement. Even our president-elect has read it -- which is a great sign for the future of local and sustainable food.Upcoming Workshop
Is Your Child Flourishing? No Cavities? Straight Teeth? Learns Easily? Good Concentration? Optimistic? Lots of Energy? Rarely Sick? Strong Digestion? Sturdy? Strong? Cheerful Disposition? Not Overweight? No Allergies? Manages Stress? Emotionally Stable? Sleeps Soundly? Would you like them to be? If so, please plan to attend:Nourishing Our Children: Timeless Principles for Supporting Learning, Behavior & Health Through Optimum Nutrition
Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 1:30pm at Walt Library, Room 1
Registration fee $20, refreshments & resources provided. Please call Ellie Sodergren at 402-328-8063 to pre-register. Ellie is the Weston A. Price Foundation Chapter Leader of Lincoln, NE
