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THE ON-LINE MARET IS OPEN AT AUGUSTA LOCALLY GROWN


I AM COMPLETELY IN AWE OF THIS COMMUNITY. Yesterday, I accidentally opened the on-line market. Chalk it up to excitement. We’d just finalized the details of a new school lunch program and I couldn’t wait to share the news. Amy called a few minute later and gently said, “Kim, it’s Thursday.” I was totally embarrassed! Luckily it was an easy fix: I closed the market back up and sent you all an “oops” message.

What happened next completely blew my mind.

Despite it not being Friday yet, people read the blog. More to the point, they acted on it! In less than 24 hours, the program described below is now 80% funded! I am humbled and grateful. And I am ever-more excited for the big things yet to come to Augusta through this good food movement. Thank you!

GOT GARDEN EXCESS? WANNA DO SOMETHING AWESOME WITH IT?
Partnerships are an amazing thing. We at ALG continue to be awed by the synergy of it all. This time, it’s about putting a new, super healthy, super affordable twist on school lunches. We’re calling it the “Second Sunday School Lunch Making Program.”

Our GROW HARRISBURG partners at St. Luke are sponsoring 9 Harrisburg children this year to attend CH Terrell Academy. This beautiful, high-quality, educational opportunity comes with a catch: these 9 children will have to forgo their free government-sponsored school lunch program in order to attend this alternative school for the whole year. And that’s where the magic begins.

Our GROW HARRISBURG partners at Icebox Ministries are going to teach a once-a-month class to the parents of all nine children. In this class, the parents will make enough hot lunches (stored in the freezer) for their children for the whole entire month! The lunches will be hot, veggie-centric, local, seasonal, crock-pot-based, delicious … and they will cost less than 75 cents per serving. Tasha Alison at Icebox has designed a system that every busy parent will want to know about … and she’s going to start by teaching it to the parents of these 9 children.
In order to do this for the whole school year, we’re gonna need your help. Please contact kim@augustalocallygrown.org if you can donate:

- excess fruits or veggies from your garden (we will accept this for the entire nine-month program)
- a working stand-alone freezer (already donated)
- 100 gallon zip lock bags (already donated)
- $30 to purchase a crockpot for the school (already donated)
- $100 to purchase an electric pressure cooker (already donated
- $135 to sponsor a full month’s worth of lunches for all 9 children (months September-February are already pledged … contact me if you can cover March, April or May!)

Be a part of the transformation. One school lunch at a time.

TUE, AUG 25 – SEVEN SOUP SHARED MEAL CELEBRATING THE MID-POINT OF OUR FVRx PROGRAM – Come celebrate the wonders of fresh fruits and vegetables at a shared, plant-based, simple, free meal at the Veggie Truck Farmers Market on Tuesday, Aug 25. Email kim@augustalocallygrown.org if you can volunteer that day.

WED, AUG 26 – GEORGIA GROWN FEED MY SCHOOL FIELD DAY EXPO – Burke County hosts a model farm-to-school program that continues to evolve and expand. We at ALG are thrilled to cheer them on! During “Feed My School” week in late August, ALG will run four educational booths at their field-day-like event for hundreds of grade school students. We’ll need a few solid volunteers to help that morning. Please email kim@augustalocallygrown.org if you can pitch in.

THUR, SEPT 3 – GEORGIA FOOD OASIS “CONCEPTS AND CONNECTIONS” MEETING. Are you a local food proponent? Want to join forces with others to grow this movement throughout the CSRA? Yes!? Awesome! Then you need to be at this meeting. Contact kim@augustalocallygrown.org for more info.

TUE, SEPT 8 – “THAT SUGAR FILM,” MOVIE NIGHT IN HARRISBURG. Join us at the Icebox Ministries campus in Harrisburg for a free showing of this Australian documentary at 7pm. Warning: healthy snacks may be involved:)

SAT, SEPT 12 – SOUTHERN SCRATCH GRAND OPENING – Everyone’s favorite goodies-maker – Kathryn Filipiak of Southern Scratch – is opening up a uniquely fabulous breakfast place in Washington GA. Nobody comes close to this girl’s cinnamon rolls … and so much more. Come celebrate this champion of locally-grow. ingredients.

SAT, SEPT 12 – “TALK DIRT TO ME” – HEALTHY SOIL EXPO AT THE BOOK TAVERN IN AUGUSTA– In honor of the U.N.‘s International Year of Soil, we’re joining forces with Southern Native Plantings, Longwood Plantation and the Book Tavern to celebrate … yep, GOOD CLEAN DIRT! Come talk and touch earth worms, micronutrients, microorganisms, organic amendments and so much more! Write a “dirt limerick,” win a “Talk Dirt to Me Tshirt,” and get your mind spinning around new, important research coming directly out of this field (pun intended!) Getting down and dirty was never more fun. More details soon.

SUN, SEPT 13 – SOUTHERN CHEFS POTLUCK IN ATLANTA – Wanna road trip to one of the most talked-about local food events in the southeast? This one benefits our amazing partner organization: Wholesome Wave Georgia. The annual fundraiser is held at the inspirational Inn at Serenbe. It helps fund our own FVRx program, our EBT doubling programs, and dozens of other EBT doubling programs across the state of Georgia. Tickets can be purchased at their www.wholesomewavegeorgia.org. See you there!

SUN, SEPT 20 – BRIDGE BUILDING GARDEN-TO-TABLE COMMUNITY MEAL IN HARRISBURG – St Luke UMC will host a Sunday evening community meal – block party style – featuring a sampling of veggies from many of the 100 in Harrisburg raised bed gardens throughout the neighborhood. Free. Just bring some home-grown veggies to add to the mix if you’ve got em! Contact kim@augustalocallygrown.org if you can help cook!

SUN, OCT 4 — FARM-TO-PARK DINNER TO BENEFIT PENDLETON KING PARK & 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 serve it up! Volunteers: contact Kim Hines. Farmers: contact Chef Charleen!!

Cheers!
Kim