Membership in Farmer Frog

There are many ways that you can help Farmer Frog to grow and to grow more food for more people.  You can do so through your volunteer hours, through direct donations or through sponsoring Good Food Treasure Boxes.

You can also become a Farmer Frog member.  By becoming a member you can actually partner with us to learn what we know and further the goal of spreading healthy, sustainable urban agriculture projects.  Here's more information:

$250.00 level – Once we purchased the site and started our classes you will receive a weekend long hands-on training teaching you to grow sprouts, microgreens and mushrooms sustainably in small urban spaces. You will be able to harvest your salad each day.

$500.00 level - This level includes all of the above plus you’ll get a second weekend where you’ll learn to build a fairly simple and inexpensive hoop house so you can grow

food year-round cost effectively. 

$1,000.00 level – This level includes all of the above plus we’ll send our team to your site and provide you with a complete plan and report on how to best utilize your space to grow food sustainably.

$5,000.00 level – This level includes all of the above AND a third weekend training teaching you to make compost and compost tea and utilize worms.

If you can give $10k or above please contact Zsofia at 425-210-5541 for details on those sponsor levels. Among many other things we offer logo placement at our Web site and recognition at events.

Hey Sports Fans!

Did you know that not only is Will Allen, founder and CEO of Growing Power, a MacArthur Fellow (applause) but some of you might remember him as a former basketball star at University of Miami!  And it was while he was a pro player in Belgium that he got the bug to be a farmer!

He'll be in the Seattle area most of next week and at the Seattle Public Library on Wednesday night (after he spends the day with Farmer Frog in Snohomish County--see our previous blog post) starting at 6:00 p.m.  Here are the details:

A Day With Will Allen--Come Join Us!

Olivia Park Elementary School Honored for its Bountiful Garden

The following is reprinted by permission of the author, Leah Abell, of Whole Foods:

Staff members at Olivia Park, community members and 80 family members gathered at the Olivia Park Garden on August 27 to enjoy a “Feast from the Garden,” hosted by the Lynnwood Whole Foods Market. The dinner featured dishes made from produce grown in the garden, combined with food donated by Whole Foods Market. The purpose of the meal was to celebrate and honor the school’s beautiful garden, its bounty and those who contributed to the success of the garden.

Mary-Kate Olsen, teacher and coordinator of the garden project, explained that Whole Foods Market is very passionate about eating healthy and helping people achieve that goal. She said the market has partnered with Olivia Park and its garden project since the opening of its Lynnwood store last year. Olivia Park also received one of the first garden grants from the Whole Kids Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Whole Foods that is dedicated to helping kids eat better—and enjoy it! The recent grant funded a shed and hoop house to help grow foods in the colder months. More than 20 Whole Foods team members also have volunteered their time working the garden.

The Olivia Park Garden was originally founded 12 years ago by John Smith, then a teacher at the school. He planted apple trees and grew flowers around the area. The garden was re-established in January 2010 by the school’s PTA, families, staff, and community partnerships. The garden is now used by teachers to integrate hands-on science and math lessons that are aligned with curriculum. Teachers around the area also have learned more about agricultural engineering and integrating other STEM concepts by using the garden. 

 

The Olivia Park Garden grows a bountiful amount of rhubarb, kale, lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, beans, peas, corn, squash, artichokes, pumpkins, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, currants, grape, plums, and apples at different times throughout the year.

The garden is maintained by Olivia Park students, families and community members who volunteer their time. Other families and community members who want to volunteer to harvest fruit and vegetables can do so on Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

Extra harvest is sold at the South Everett Farmer’s Market through the nonprofit, Farmer Frog, a non-profit organization devoted to teaching people to grow food in cities. All proceeds from sales go back to the garden.

Celebrating Relationships and Healthy Food

This is my favorite time of year!  At the tip of summer with the melding of the last of spring veggies to savor and the oncoming of the bounty of luscious, sun-filled summer fruits and veggies.

Yes, those are insect holes.  We don't use chemical insecticides so sometimes we end up sharing our produce!

 

It's as if the earth has been planning a great food festival all year and we are all invited!  Here at Farmer Frog we are all about food--the growing, the harvesting, and the EATING!  Food--good, healthy, sustainably-grown food--is literally our middle name.  If those of us who are actively involved in FF have anything in common it is that we love to eat great food.

Luscious and ready, ripening on the vine

As evidence, we all are involved in a variety of other groups and activities around food and growing things, such as Chris Hudyma, board member and Director, Organizational Development,  Employee Training & Community Events, Edmonds Community College.  Among other things she has a great Facebook page for all you FB fans and foodies to check out:  www.facebook.com/FoodRevSnoCo. 
As Chris dubs it, the page is "Celebrating our relationships to wholesome food."

And speaking of Facebook, if you haven't already, check out our Farmer Frog page and  "like" us!  And share your ideas for other resources for food and gardening.

Happy Eating!