THE MARKET IS OPEN AT AUGUSTA LOCALLY GROWN

BENDERDINKER RAFFLE ALL MONTH LONG!
Tickets are on sale now for this chance to win an “Emotion” custom-decorated kayak, a “New Belgium” fat tire beach bicycle, “Augusta Grows Local” farm tour tickets and other great prizes … all to benefit our educational programs. Please help us make the most of this opportunity! Tickets can be purchased through our on ALG on-line market, at the Veggie Truck Farmers Market (in person) or at RiverRaffle.com. And don’t forget to sign up to paddle on Saturday, April 30. Big thanks to event founder Kristina Williams for making it all possible. www.benderdinker.com.

THU, APR 14 – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR BENDERDINKER RIVER SNACK PREP!
We’d very much appreciate your help with this big effort to make 1000 snacks for paddlers! We’ll be using local pork and other farm fresh ingredients. This volunteer day is in Evans on Thursday, April 14, from 9am-5pm. If you can help, please RSVP to Amy Sutter at arsutter@hotmail.com for location.

TUE, APR 19 – OPENING DAY OF THE VEGGIE TRUCK FARMERS MARKET
We are again blessed to be working with some of the most beloved farmers in the CSRA. Come pick up your farm-fresh goods at the only farmers market in Richmond County that DOUBLES EBT. Newcomers will be welcomed with a $5 token to spend at the market through our My Market program. We’ve planned a cooking demo with Charleen Charleen of Culinary Connections, and we’ll be sharing bbq pork mini sandwiches with grilled veggies on top. Kids activities, health screenings, music and more! Come be a part of this transformational initiative that we call G.R.O.W. Harrisburg! The farmers market is located at 1850 Broad Street, across from the Kroc Center. The market is every Tuesday, starting April 19, and runs through October. Market hours are 4:30pm-7pm.

WED, APR 20 – CAROLINA HILLS GARDEN CLUB
ALG will share news about the local foods movement with the Carolina Hills Garden Club.

SAT, APR 23 – HARRISBURG CLEAN AND GREEN EVENT We’ve pulling together a “GROW Harrisburg” team for the “Harrisburg Clean and Green” event run by Turn Back the Block. So grateful to our community volunteers for their enthusiasm … look for them in their matching “Talk Dirt to Me” tshirts! If you’d like to form your own clean up team, go to www.turnbacktheblock.com.

SAT, APR 23 – ZEALUS PRESENTS AN EARTH DAY CONCERT TO BENEFIT OUR GROW HARRISBURG INITIATIVES
This beautiful Earth Day celebration is being organized by Zealus with performances by The And’s, Nepotism, and Kai Child. Art on display by Baruti and DezDigital. Vendors will include Sankofa’s Workshop, Humanitree House, New Moon Cafe, Pyramid Music. 6:30pm-10:30pm. $10 cover charge. Held at Green Light Studio in downtown Augusta, corner of 11th and Reynolds. 50% percentage of proceeds will benefit our G.R.O.W. Harrisburg initiatives! So grateful to these generous folks.

SAT, APR 30 – BENDERDINKER!
Once again, Augusta Locally Grown has been selected as the beneficiary of this amazing, one-of-a-kind, food-music-paddle! This is year five!!! Text Kim if you’d like to get on our volunteer food-on-the-water team … 706-288-7895. Visit www.benderdinker.com to sign up to paddle, and support the educational programs of ALG.

THU, MAY 5 – FOOD OASIS MEETING!
Calling all local food activists! Come join our three-year campaign to create a more vibrant and inclusive local foods culture throughout the CSRA! To get an email invite, contact outreach@georgiaorganics.org.

SAT, MAY 7 – COOK-OUT CELEBRATION AT THE VETERANS PEACE GARDEN IN HARRISBURG
We are honored to play our part in support of “Angel Veggies” in the development of the Veterans Peace Garden. Come see what’s it’s all about. 11am-1pm. On Tuttle Street in Harrisburg.

SAT, MAY 7 – “FOOD AS ART” GALA AT THE DAVIDSON FINE ARTS SCHOOL REUNION.
ALG is honored to play a small part in helping with this very special locally-grown-themed event! Hugs to ALG board member Kisha Burke for her leadership on this, and to Helms College chef Erica Chaney for always seeing local food as art!

WED, JUNE 1 – SIBLEY SOILWORKS SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT BEGINS
Kudos to David Young of the Hobby Farmers of the CSRA for his leadership on this! More details soon!

TUE, JUNE 7 – FVRx KICK OFF COMMUNITY MEAL!!!
ALG is so lucky to again work with our amazing community partners for a second-year pilot of our Fruit & Vegetable Prescription program, otherwise known as “FVRx-Augusta.” This is one of our dozen G.R.O.W. Harrisburg initiatives! The program is hosted by Harrisburg Family Healthcare and enrolls 30 women from the neighborhood to participate. It is funded by Wholesome Wave Georgia and Good Neighbor Ministries; studied by Emory’s School of Public Health; Icebox Ministries provides cooking classes; MCG students provide market management and clinic support; Veggie Truck Market farmers provide nutrition education and sell their wonderful fruits and veggies through this program; Helms College students, the Augusta District Dietetic Association volunteers and the American Culinary Federation of Augusta help with cooking demos; St. Luke UMC provides transportation; the Junior League provides kids activities; Georgia Organics supports our outreach! Wow! Team awesome!!!

SAT, JUNE TBA – BLUEBERRY PICK YOUR OWN EVENT AT HERB ‘N BERRIES FARM IN MONTMORENCI, SC
Stay tuned… we’ll be picking a Saturday in June for this super-food family-friendly pick-your-own soon.

SAT-SUN, SEPT 24-25 — AUGUSTA GROWS LOCAL FARM TOUR!
So excited to announce these dates! Big love to Kimberly Kirstein who is heading up this remarkable effort. Visit the Facebook page “AGL Farm Tour” for updates and more.

CHEERS!
Kim