Day: May 16, 2013

Hello Friends, Colleagues & Get Fit Gloucester Partners,
The Backyard Growers Program has just launched its first-ever on-line fundraising campaign! We are raising money to host a FoodCorps Service Member next year and to support our expansion into Gloucester’s elementary schools (read below for details).
Check out our campaign at www.indiegogo.com

Please consider making a donation and/or forwarding our campaign to your networks.
The fundraiser video features my lovely daughters, and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face : )
Thank you!
Lara
Here’s the nitty-gritty on who we are and what we’re asking for (you can also read this on our campaign site):

What we do
Backyard Growers is a program of the Cape Ann Farmers’ Market. We are part of the farmers’ market strategy for increasing fresh veggie eating in Gloucester!

Since 2010 the Backyard Growers Program, in partnership with The Food Project, has provided low- to moderate-income Gloucester residents with backyard raised-bed vegetable gardens, garden training, and ongoing mentor support.
It’s simple! We help people grow their own fresh vegetables. Our survey results show that having a backyard garden and knowing how to use it:

• Increases the amount of fresh produce a family eats,
• Gets kids excited about eating fresh veggies,
• Saves money on grocery bills, and
• Builds community within neighborhoods.

We are expanding!
Next fall we will expand into Gloucester’s elementary schools, bringing our comprehensive garden program to over 1300 students! Our program will build the capacity of each school community to manage their school farms over the long term. Students will:

• Learn through doing in the school garden!
• Grow and harvest their own salad greens and eat them as part of school lunch in the cafeteria.
• Plant crops in June to be harvested when they return to school in the fall as part of an annual harvest celebration.

To do this we need help…
We have an opportunity to host a FoodCorps Service Member for one year starting in September.

FoodCorps is a national nonprofit organization that works with schools to create a healthier school food environment. It is part of the AmeriCorps service network, and targets improving childhood health by placing service members in public schools around the country to teach hands-on nutrition education; build and care for school gardens; and work to bring high-quality local food to school cafeterias.

Our Service Member will build the capacity of each school to maintain productive school gardens with the goal of school gardens becoming part of the culture of each school!

Donate!
Your contribution will make all this possible! Please help us raise $7,500 by donating to our campaign.

• $5,000 = Our salary contribution for a one-year, full-time FoodCorps Service Member
• $2,500 = Program expansion costs (garden & program supplies, additional staff costs)

We have some fun perks for you, including free seeds & seedlings and garden training, and some special ways for you to connect with the school garden program. If we don’t reach our entire fundraising goal we will ramp up the grant writing. If we exceed our goal, we will put the funds toward the future sustainability of the Backyard Growers Program.

Help us Spread the Word!
Forward this indiegogo campaign to your people.

Like and follow Backyard Growers on Facebook.

Lara Lepionka