THE ON-LINE MARKET IS OPEN AT AUGUSTA LOCALLY GROWN

TUE, APR 7 – VEGGIE TRUCK FARMERS MARKET … Join us for cooking demo by the always creative CRSA Vegetarian Society! Across from the Kroc, 4:30pm-7pm, every Tuesday through October. Yes! We double EBT.

TUE, APR 7, 14, 21 – SEEDLING DAY … Participants of our 100 Raised Beds in Harrisburg will be invited to chose from thousands of free fruit and vegetable seedlings (baby plants) that G.R.O.W. Harrisburg volunteers started at the GRU campus greenhouse this winter. If you’ve got any extra spring seedlings to share, or if you can come help people plant those seedlings, come join this fun effort. Distribution will be held at the Veggie Truck Farmers Market between 4p-7pm on three consecutive Tuesdays. It’s all headed up by Master Gardener Phil Williams.

THUR, APRIL 9 – EVANS TOWNE FARMERS MARKET … Hugs to everyone who came out for opening day and made it a warm-cuddly-kind of success. Let’s do it again this week! Sponsored by Springtime Water of Appling, cooking demo by the CSRA Vegetarian Society, music by the H.I.T. Band of Appling (“Hillbillies in Training”), kale featured at our children’s tent, organic gardening advice by Candace!

SAT, APR 11 — SHEAR FUN AT KHAKALAKI FARM … This family-friendly event will include the full range of fiber fun, from sheep shearing to spinning and knitting demos. Kids activities, farm tour and a farm lunch will be included. Overnight camping at this beautiful site is also an option. $20 for adults; $5 for kids. Tickets still available, but not for long! Email kim@augustalocallygrown.org.

SUN, APR 12 – THREE FARM TOUR AND PROGRESSIVE MEAL … An educational tour and a three-course farm meal … with a different course at each location. Starters at Spirit Creek Farms in Augusta; Stews at Noah’s Farm & Forest in Keysville; Sweets at JandL Farm & Stable in Hephzibah. Tickets are on sale now through our on-line market. To order by mail, email kim@augustalocallygrown.org. $20/person. Only 4 tickets left.

TUES, APR 14 – PRESS CONFERENCE FOR THE FRUIT & VEGGIE Rx PROGRAM WITH G.R.O.W. HARRISBURG … Learn what all the excitement is all about! If you’re a member of the media, or know someone who is, please contact kim@augustalocallygrown.org for the press release.

THUR, APR 16 – FERMENTED VEGGIE WORKSHOP … Back by popular demand, Danielle Shelton of Thoroughbrewed will host another spring veggie fermentation class. Get your probiotics on!! Thursday, April 16, 5:30-7p, at the Local Foods Classroom, 1808 Broad Street, Augusta. Order tickets on line, or email kim@augustalocallygrown.org for info.

THUR, APR 16 – BENDERDINKER COMES TO MARKET IN EVANS … JOINED BY THE SOUL CITY SIRENS!!! … Yep. That’s right. Only the Benderdinker combines paddlin’ on the water, putzin’ in the garden and roller derby! Come see the derby demo on stage at the market, support your local farmers, buy a raffle ticket to win a paddle board, sign up to paddle, and just be part of the undeniable whimsy that is the Benderdinker!

SAT, APR 18 – COMMUNITY COMPOST START-UP WITH G.R.O.W. HARRISBURG AT THE ICEBOX MINISTRIES CAMPUS … What happens when you combine alpaca poo, mushroom waste and sun-dried hydrilla from the canal? We’re about to find out! Come help us prepare a community compost area on our soon-to-be urban farm education center! Text Kim at 706-288-7895 to sign up to help. 9am-12noon. Bring your work gloves.

SAT, APR 25 – BENDERDINKER! Registration is OPEN! Visit www.benderdinker.com. The BenderDinker is our only big fundraiser each year for Augusta Locally Grown, and the presenting sponsor of the Evans Towne Farmers Market.

SAT-SUN, MAY 2-3 – LOW DOWN THROW DOWN … Honored and flat out stoked that ALG has been selected as the nonprofit beneficiary of the Soul City Sirens Roller Derby tournament this May Day weekend. Come throw a few back, get in touch with your inner queen and support the local foods movement. Proceeds will go to our FVRx program for women and their children. Tourney runs 8am-8pm, both days, at the Columbia County Exhibition Center in Grovetown. Visit soulcitysirens.com. And yes, we’re looking for a few kickin’ volunteers to run our booth too!

SAT-SUN, MAY 2-3 – ICEBOX MINISTRIES MAY DAY PLAY DAY … There are amazing things happening in local foods on Fenwick Street in Harrisburg. At the center of it are the good folks of Icebox Ministries and other partners of G.R.O.W. Harrisburg. Come join us in a two-day renovation of an old florist shop at Icebox Ministries’ new urban campus. We’ll use it as a teaching kitchen for the Fruit & Veggie Rx program this summer. Okay, so this might sound like more of a “work day” than a “play day” … but believe me … it’s all fun. Work starts at 9am each day and goes til we’re exhausted. Painting, flooring, general cleaning up. Email kim@augustalocallygrown.org to volunteer.

FRI & SAT, MAY 22-23 – SHADOW BBQ RETURNS! – This local competition bbq team will again compete in “BANJO-B-QUE,” a nationally-sanctioned event in Evans! Better yet, they feature local meats from local farmers while also promoting Augusta Locally Grown. ALG board president Amy Sutter and her hubby Patrick head it all up! Save this date, buy your tickets and GO SHADOW BBQ!!!

SUN, MAY 31 – FAMILY FARM DAY … Come meet your farmers at Clyde’s Fresh Produce in Grovetown. Show up anytime between 2pm-6pm to see the goings on at this bio-diverse local farm. Seasonal samples and young farm animals make it all the more fun. Save the date.

MON, JUNE I – RAINWATER WORKSHOP FOR URBAN VEGGIE GARDENS … Join us for another “pop up” food-growing workshop. This one will be held at Bottle Tree Farm in Augusta. Instructors Candace & Nate Zukas will share the nitty gritty details of their own rain barrel system, which waters their beautiful urban farmette. 5:30pm-7pm. $5/person. This one will sell out fast!

TUE, JUNE 2 – FRUIT & VEGGIE RX … Augusta Locally Grown is truly honored to be a partner in the Fruit & Veggie Rx pilot project, a first-ever for the Southeast! The pilot will be hosted and coordinated by the Harrisburg Family Healthcare clinic, funded and designed by Wholesome Wave Georgia, educationally enhanced by Icebox Ministries, academically enhanced by Emory University, held together by Good Neighbor Ministries/St. Luke UMC, and made real by medical student volunteers from MCG. Augusta Locally Grown is the project’s cheerleader. June 2 is the project’s kick-off date! Your donations would be very much appreciated.

SUN, JUN 14 — BLUEBERRY PICK YOUR OWN DAY … Grateful to include the farmers at Herb & Berries Farm of Montmorenci, SC, (near Aiken) in our mix. We’ll join forces with them in June to host a pick-your-own morning. Attendance is free; self-picked blueberries cost a 2.50/lb. Come early; beat the heat. More details soon!

TBA IN JULY — BUCKET GARDENING with Stephanie, at Bucket Lady Farm in Augusta!

SUN, OCT 4 — FARM TO PARK DINNER FEATURING CHEF CHARLEEN — Save the date for what will surely be the biggest farm to table event that Augusta’s ever seen! Chef Charleen of Culinary Connections will feature local foods at this Pendleton King Park fundraiser… and ALG will help!

Cheers!?
Kim