Community CROPS December 2007 Newsletter

December is a little slower for us here at Community CROPS, but we aren't lacking for things to do. Right now, we're recruiting farmers for 2008, seeking funds, and planning new garden locations. We welcome your ideas on locations for gardens, especially places where we can partner with existing groups/organizations to develop a strong garden project.

We had a great end of season Harvest Celebration and enjoyed seeing many of you there. It was a good mix of volunteers, gardeners, staff and other people who support the project. Everyone had a delicious meal.

Support Community CROPS

Community CROPS receives support from many people like you to continue our work. Please consider making an end of year gift to help us grow more food in Lincoln. Visit our donation page. Thank you.

Purchase CROPS Shopping Bags

Community CROPS bags are back for a limited time. These large cotton bags are quite useful and make great gifts. Seven different colors are currently available. Order yours now for just $11 each while supplies last. The order form has information on how you can get your bags

Farmer Recruiting

We are accepting applications for our farming program through January 15th. This program works with immigrants and refugees on growing and marketing fresh food direct to consumers. If you know anyone who is interested, or would like us to come make a presentation about the program, please see our Farming Project page for more information.

Movie: King Corn

Ross Film Theater, 13th and Q Showing through Dec 13th

We highly recommend going to see King Corn while it is at the Ross, or renting it. It's a well made movie with a good explanation of the food system as it relates to corn.

Movie Summary from the Ross: In King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, best friends from college on the east coast, move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from. With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow a bumper crop of America’s most-productive, most-subsidized grain on one acre of Iowa soil. But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat—and how we farm. Ross Theatre

Volunteer of the Year Award: John Doran

This year's recipient of the Community CROPS Volunteer of the Year Award is John Doran. Assistant Director Brad Kindler recognized John with the following remarks: "A long time partner of Community CROPS and retired USDA soil scientist, for the past four years John has been a leader in developing our Antelope Community Garden. He has also generously supported the CROPS project by assisting with financing through the Renewing the Earth and its Peoples Fund, established by him and his wife Janet. Just this past season John has logged over 350 hours of volunteer service to the project. He is vice president of the CROPS Board of Directors. He has helped develop and implement BIOINTENSIVE gardening beds at Antelope Community Garden. He has also worked with CROPS to educate and survey soil properties at our farm and various community garden sites across Lincoln."

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