September eNews from GardenShare

09/04/2023

September is Hunger Action Month, when people across the United States come together to fight hunger. As Feeding America puts it; “It’s a month to spread the word and take action on the hunger crisis — and dedicate ourselves to a solution.” Around 15,430 St. Lawrence County residents, or 14.2% of the population, are food insecure – which can range from a reduction in food quality and variety to reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns.

GardenShare has a collection of resources around the issues of hunger. Do you like books? Videos? Podcast? We got it all! Educate yourself with this list of resources on our website and take action today by registering for GardenShare’s Fight Hunger Fair & 5K!

• 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿 & 𝟱𝗞 𝗡𝗼𝘄!
The event will be on Sunday, September 17, at the Village Park in Canton from 12:30-3:30pm.
Your registration and participation in the 5K supports GardenShare’s mission of increasing access to healthy, nutritious local food for our North Country neighbors. Registration is $25 per person.

The event will be filled with a variety of food-centered activities, community partnerships, and the option to participate in a 5K race or a 1-mile Veggie Adventure Run to raise funds. Prizes will be awarded to the top fundraising solo runner and team!
The race will begin at 1 PM after the presentation of GardenShare’s Growing Community Award. We invite you to join us in the fight against hunger in St. Lawrence County and make a positive difference together!

Premier Sponsors: Corning Foundation, Stauffer Farms, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, TJ Toyota, Stewart’s Shops, and Brookfield
Partnership Sponsors: NuMed

𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 – 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘦𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘦 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘙𝘶𝘯
In addition to the usual Fight Hunger Fair & 5K attractions this year will feature a new event – the Veggie Adventure Run! Through this 1 mile loop participants will encounter a variety of educational activities designed to teach kids about local food systems! This event will begin at 1:30pm after the Fight Hunger 5K in Canton Village Park.
Register today at RunSignUp.com/fighthunger5k!

• 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲
GardenShare is pleased to announce John Bonaparte, of Bare Bones Farm, as the 2023 Growing Community Award recipient. Each year, GardenShare recognizes an individual or organization whose efforts strengthen the food system and/or increase food security in northern New York State. Past recipients have included farmers, food service staff, a food bank, community groups, and others.

Agriculture has always been a part of John Bonaparte’s life, with a focus on horticulture over the last seven years. John is involved in a multitude of pursuits throughout our community. Since 2019 he has volunteered for the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener program where he works to promote good gardening and environmental practices, and support those in need of gardening guidance. Additionally in 2019 John helped start the Akwesasne Farmers Market, where he still serves as a market manager. He also runs Bare Bones Farm in Bombay, NY, a diversified farm focused on ethically growing food and providing space for future Mohawk farmers to learn a variety of agricultural skills, and works with Akwesasne Seed Hub and a group in the Hudson Valley of New York to encourage the growth of traditional Haudenosaunee produce varieties on Mohawk ancestral farming lands, aiming to bring seeds and food back to Akwesasne. In the fall of 2020 John was nominated to serve as a member of the Cornell Cooperative Ag Advisory Committee in Franklin County, as well as serving on the leadership council of Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance. His tireless work ethic, boundless respect for the land, and passion for regenerative agriculture is an inspiration to growers young and old.

John Bonaparte expressed that it is a great honor to receive this award: “Believing in the power of consciously grown local food and agricultural products is key to creating a stronger local economy, increasing access to nutritious, seasonal and culturally relevant foods. It is about building and maintaining something sustainable that future generations will be thankful for and proud of.”

• 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝗰𝗸-𝗢𝗳𝗳
GardenShare is excited to host the Fall Market Season Kick-Off for the Gouverneur Farmers Market, Canton NY Farmers Market, and the Potsdam Farmers Market September 7th – 9th!

The fall market season will begin on September 7th in Gouverneur and will run until the markets close at the end of October! This celebration weekend will include some special events and additional vendors, and is part of Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County’s Local Foods Weekend! Mark your calendar and don’t miss out on all the exciting goods that our vendors have to offer St. Lawrence County.

• 𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿
Erica Kelso, GardenShare’s Farmers Market Manager, has started a newsletter to keep you up to date on goings-on at all the local the St. Lawrence County farmers markets! These newsletters will include recipes, unique produce facts, tips on sustainable eating, and news from the markets! The first newsletter was published in August and another will come later in September.

Read August’s newsletter here!

Don’t miss the next one, sign up here!

• 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲
GardenShare’s Annual Dinner
Tuesday, October 17th
Jake’s on the Water

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