Are you a Green Columbus work site?

I'm writing to you today on behalf of Green Columbus. I am the Worksite Coordinator for the Earth Day 2010 events and I want to pass along some highlights of our Community Garden Initiative in hopes that you'll be able to help me disseminate the information to all the Community Gardens around town!
Our website has lots of information about our festivities this year, and specifically, here is a link to our Community Garden Initiative page http://update2010.org/elements/community-garden.php. This year, Kurtz Brothers has agreed to be our sponsor and provide registered community gardens with free top soil and/or mulch! What a great deal for new and in need gardens!? They need to be a registered Earth Day 2010 worksite in order to reap the benefits, so would you be able to help us spread the word?

Missy Hintz
Worksite CoordinatorThe Update: Earth Day 2010
c: 614.354.9351
e: missy@greencbus.orgwww.update2010.org

'Seeds that Grow Hope'

Greetings! Spring is upon us! This year we are celebrating 30 years of planting the Seed that Grow Hope!! Many of you have already sent in your applications for seeds and now that the snows have melted and we once again have access to our warehouse, we are working at a furious rate to catch up on getting your seeds shipped out. Please be patient with us! Applications started coming in early and fast this year and we have a hefty back log of requests to get on the UPS truck. We know how important timing is in the garden so volunteers are packing up and sending out your seeds as fast as possible.If you have not sent in your application yet, the 2010 form is now available on our website.We love to hear your stories and get pictures of your community in the garden so keep 'em coming!
Wishing you a blooming Spring and a bountiful harvest,
Katie Rehwaldt
'Seeds that Grow Hope'
Program Director
Operation Green Plant





Click Here to help us plant the 'Seeds that Grow Hope'

Kurtz Cares Program

*Kurtz Cares! Enroll your Non-Profit organization at www.kurtzcares.com. Earn 10% proceeds back to the organization.

Kurtz Bros is a family owned business that has been in operation for over 65 years. The hard work and charitable values instituted by Mel Kurtz Sr. are still at the core of the business today. The Kurtz family strongly believes in giving back to the communities in which they operate.

We understand that in these difficult economic times it’s becoming harder to raise money for valuable programs that are essential for so many in our community. That is why Kurtz Bros is proud to introduce the Kurtz Cares program. This program will allow non profit entities such as; Religious, scholastic and athletic boosters, disease research and support foundations, veteran affairs, animal and environmental welfare organizations and juvenile development groups to earn funds for their cause with every dollar spent with Kurtz Bros.

The program is simple and free to join. An officer of an organization simply needs to fill out the online registration form. Once approved, the organization will be listed on our website. In addition, they will receive promotional materials to use in marketing the program to others. Organizations are encouraged to communicate the program details to their members, family and friends through conventional and contemporary social media outlets. The more people you reach, the more money you can raise. An organization will receive a 10% rebate for every retail material dollar spent at any of our locations. A customer simply needs to mention the organization they would like to support at the time of their purchase. Every 3 months Kurtz Bros. will total the sales for each participating organization and write them a check for 10% of the total retail material purchases.

At Kurtz Bros we recognize the value in giving back to the community. A strong community provides more opportunities and better quality of life for its residents. It’s for all these reasons and more that Kurtz Cares.


Jeff Stemler, our Director of Human Resources, is overseeing the program.

Looking for a Garden Plot this Season?

Gantz Road Community Garden


1972 Gantz Rd.
FranklinCountyOhio.gov/CommunityGarden
614-462-3322
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce that the Gantz Road Community Garden is ready for its second growing season. The garden, located at 1972 Gantz Road on the southwest side of Columbus (near the intersection of Gantz and Frank Roads), is expected to open on Saturday, April 17th.

Plot request applications are being accepted through March 22. Approximately 60 plots will be available. Plot recipients will be determined by a lottery system and notified of plot assignment and size on April 1. The number of each plot size will be limited and requests will be assigned based on availability.

Plot sizes and fees are: Third (12’x10’) – $10; Half (18’x10’) – $20; Full (36’X10’) – $30

Garden fees include: plot(s) for the 2010 growing season (April 17 – October 31), on-site water for garden use & access during daylight hours

In order to request a plot, a completed Plot Request Form may be submitted electronically at www.FranklinCountyOhio.gov/CommunityGarden, fax to (614) 462-5999, or mail to:

Franklin County Board of Commissioners
Attn: Garden Coordinator
373 S High Street-26th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215

Once gardeners are notified of their plot assignment, payment of plot fees and a signed Release of All Claims form must be received before their plot is confirmed.
Make checks payable to: Franklin County Sanitary Engineer. Some scholarships are available. Contact the Garden Coordinator via email at CommunityGarden@FranklinCountyOhio.gov for more information.

Sundays In November at the Franklin Park Conservatory Community Garden Campus

Come on out to the new Community Garden Campus for cooking demonstrations and tastings from the Live Fire Cooking Theater on Sundays in November! Jim Budros, Grillmaster and Owner of City Barbeque is passionate about wood fired cooking, will be heading up the demos from Noon to 2pm each Sunday in November. These demos are FREE for members or with admission to the Conservatory. There is a small charge $3 for the 'make your own' pizza on the 8th.

Sunday, Nov. 1: Wood-oven Pizza Nepolatana Vera ( the real pizza of Naples) and camp-fire Jambalaya
Sunday, Nov. 8: Make your own wood-oven pizza, String roast (at the Rumford fireplace - a la ficelle) leg of lamb and wood-oven roasted fall root vegetables
Sunday, Nov. 22: Texas Chile and Dutch oven corn bread
Sunday, Nov. 29: Argentine beef and vegetable stew in a wood-oven roasted pumpkin (Carbonada).

On the 15th, Bill Dawson will be holding a Loofah Gourd workshop from 11am-12:30 in the Education Pavilion on the Campus. see further info below.

‘Let’s Talk Loofahs’

Growing loofah sponges can be a fun and rewarding project if you have bit of unused space in your garden or on a fence. A loofah sponge as it is commonly known is actually a plant seed pod. The loofah has many names, both common and scientific. It is known as smooth luffa, loofah sponge, loofa, loufa, luffa, sponge gourd, Chinese okra, elephant okra, dishrag gourd, and many other common names.

Bill Dawson, Growing to Green Coordinator, will share his hobby of growing and processing loofah gourds or ‘gifts from the garden’.
You will learn how to start these plants early indoors, proper transplanting techniques, trellising, harvesting and drying methods.
For $3.00 participants will receive a finished sponge and some seeds to take home to try on their own!

When: Sunday, November 15th, 11:00am-12:30pm
Where: Franklin Park Conservatory Community Garden Campus in
the Education Pavilion
Free with admission to the Conservatory

I hope to see you all there!!

Bill

2009 Growing to Green Awards winners and event photos

Hello All,
You must take a few minutes to look at these photos of the Growing to Green Awards ceremony held at Franklin Park on 9/10/09.
It is my favorite event of the year, a time when we can truly recognize the efforts of the groups and individuals for all they do in our communities.

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees!!

http://www.photobygillilan.com/2009/GTG-2009/welcome.htm

Bill

Urban Homesteading Lecture at FPC

The Franklin Park Conservatory Presents

Urban Homesteading
Presentations and panel discussion.

OCTOBER 3,
2 - 3 P.M.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
Community Garden Campus
AEP Foundation Education Pavilion
FREE WITH ADMISSION

Learn from a panel of local residents how they transformed
their homes into areas of urban agriculture.


1777 East Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43203
www.fpconservatory.com
further info: 645.5863

Community garden grant due soon!

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY AND THE COLUMBUS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY GARDEN

ScottsMiracle-Gro program enters its eighth year of funding support for community gardens
COLUMBUS, Ohio (September 21, 2009)—The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and The Columbus Foundation today announce grant opportunities available through The Scotts Miracle-Gro Community Garden Academy for neighborhoods developing and maintaining community gardens in Franklin County. Grants of up to $4,000 are available for qualified projects in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Contributions will be made in part by in-kind gifts from The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company.The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company established The Scotts Miracle-Gro Community Garden Academy in 2002 through The Columbus Foundation to support a variety of community garden projects in central Ohio. The Academy promotes a “brown to green” concept that creates an oasis and communal gathering place for neighborhoods. “The community gardening movement continues to grow across the United States, enhancing our environment, and uniting communities,” said Rich Shank, chief environmental officer, ScottsMiracle-Gro. “ScottsMiracle-Gro is proud to support the creation of community gardens throughout central Ohio.” Applicants may request support for community gardens or nontraditional gardens, including farmers’ markets, school gardens, artistic gardens, and beautification efforts in the form of a garden. Funding is available to new and existing gardens; grants awarded may include in-kind support. Successful garden projects should involve neighborhood residents, demonstrate positive measurable outcomes, and meet stated objectives. Applicants are required to be a 501(c)(3) organization or have a fiscal agent to receive funds. Click to download the garden application or please visit www.columbusfoundation.org, search keyword—Specialized Grants. Garden applications must be submitted electronically to submit@columbusfoundation.org by Friday, October 16, 2009, 11:59 p.m.
For additional grant information, visit our Grants Opportunities section at www.columbusfoundation.org. Questions, please contact Lisa Courtice at lcourtice@columbusfoundation.org or 614/251-4000.

Soil Testing By OSU Student Extraordinaire

http://digitalunion.osu.edu/r2/summer09/mason/

Check out this beautiful and informative website by OSU chemistry student, Tori Mason. She tested soil in the University Area community gardens for lead. She lists the results as well as important information regarding heavy metals and community gardens that everyone should read.

This work is a fantastic example of partnerships between community gardens and universities. Connections like this are waiting to be made!

Growing to Green Awards

Deadline Extended until Friday August 28th @ 5pm. Please nominate your garden project this week!! Hello Community Gardeners, I hope that you are enjoying the fruits of your labor from your gardening projects this season. Now it’s time to be recognized for all of your efforts.

Franklin Park Conservatory is proud to present the 2009 Growing to Green Awards, honoring community gardeners for improving neighborhoods across the region. An awards ceremony will be held at Franklin Park Conservatory on September 10, 2009 from 6 – 9 p.m. to recognize the dedication and hard work of many central Ohio communities and individuals while furthering Growing to Green’s objective of promoting participation in city beautification and community gardening. Cash awards go to the winning entries! Applications will be accepted from all citizens of the greater Columbus area who wish to receive recognition or who want to nominate a group or individual for their participation in exceptional community gardening or neighborhood beautification projects. Judges from the community will be chosen by the Conservatory and will review all submissions. All entries must be received at the address below no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2009: Franklin Park Conservatory 2009 Growing to Green Awards c/o Bill Dawson, Program Coordinator 1777 East Broad Street Columbus, OH 43203-2040 CLICK HERE to download an entry form. (Print and complete this entry form, include disk of images and bring in or mail in. You may email digital images to Bill Dawson marked Growing to Green Awards photos to bdawson@fpconservatory.org ) Review all of the categories to see where your nominated project fits best. In addition to community recognition for outstanding efforts, cash prizes are awarded to the winners to help sustain their gardens. I look forward to receiving your application and seeing you at the awards ceremony on September 10 at Franklin Park Conservatory, Bill