Greens growing at Never Tire Farm.
Image courtesy of the Farm-to-Table Initiative led by Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County.
Bonus Bucks Applications are Open
Applications are now open for the Bonus Bucks program! The Bonus Bucks program offers a cost sharing arrangement with income-eligible St. Lawrence County residents to purchase either a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share OR for purchases at any of the following five St. Lawrence County farmers markets: Canton, Potsdam, Massena, Gouverneur, and Hammond.  
Learn about the program, check your eligibility, and download the application on the GardenShare website .

Are you already a shopper at the farmers markets or a CSA shareholder? Consider donating to the program to help spread the joys of fresh, local food.

Although many funds donated to GardeShare already go to the Bonus Bucks Program, to indicate you would like your donation to go specifically to the program, simply write “For Bonus Bucks” in the “add special instructions to GardenShare” section on Paypal or as the memo for check donations .
Become a Farmers Market Volunteer
With the last few days giving us a glimpse of spring, it’s not hard to believe that summer - and farmers market season - is right around the corner! Volunteers play vital roles at our markets. Not only do they help foster a welcoming space where all shoppers feel comfortable, they also run the card reader making it possible to use debit, credit, and SNAP/EBT cards at the market.

Last season, card purchases accounted for $17,364 ! Thanks to our volunteers, that money went straight to local producers, boosted the local economy, and aided in the purchase of fresh, local food for many St. Lawrence County residents. 

GardenShare coordinates volunteers for five farmers markets in St. Lawrence County: Canton, Potsdam, Gouverneur, Hammond, and Massena. Although we need volunteers present at each farmers market for the entirety of the season, volunteering does not have to be a weekly commitment! We make sure every volunteer gets an initial training on how to use the card reader and distribute tokens. We also make sure to pair new volunteers with experienced volunteers until they feel ready to handle the table on their own.

If you’re interested in learning more about volunteering at the markets, please send an email to our Outreach Coordinator, Sonja Jensen, at sonja@gardenshare.org .
Local Food Events at CCE
Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County has a lot going on this month.

March 6 and 7: Kristin Kimball and Value-Added Production
The value-added weekend kicks off tonight, Friday 3/6, with readings by farmer-author Kristin Kimball from her new book Good Husbandry (GardenShare’s March book recommendation!). She’ll be sharing her insights into the complicated world of relationships and farming in the Adirondack North Country. The event is free and open to the public!

Happening at 7pm in the Laurentian Room and the Best Western in Canton. 
Tomorrow, Saturday the 7th, is an all day training for those who want to start or improve their food businesses. Focusing on value-added production for farmers and food entrepreneurs. CCE has put together an action-packed program featuring a keynote address by Kristin Kimball, workshops, lunch provided by Big Spoon Kitchen, and networking. 
It is a good fit for: 
  • Individuals seeking to understand food production regulations
  • Event vendors
  • Farmers considering diversification
  • Homesteaders considering scaling up
  • Home processors eager to improve their marketing
  • Individuals seeking new connections to area food producers
  • Businesses curious to know more about what the Harvest Kitchen at the Extension Learning Farm offers as an incubator facility

The cost is only $15/person, pre-registration is required.
Learn more about the event here.
Monday Nights: Gluten-Free Cooking Series

Learn about the joys of traditional gluten-free grain preparation with local professor, food writer, and avid home cook, Paul Graham. The Cooking with Chickpeas class has already passed but Exploring Buckwheat (March 16th) and Corn: Arepas & More (March 30th) still have some spots open! 
The cost is $20 per workshop. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

The classes are part of the Celebrating Local Food Culinary Series through the Harvest Kitchen at the Extension Learning Farm. The Harvest Kitchen has been rolling out a ton of informative food classes - be sure to check them all out!
March 27 & April 11 

Are you confused about how to make a social media presence for your food business? How about making the most of online payments? CCE is offering two free classes to help you make money online.

Register online for one or both
March Book Recommendation: Good Husbandry by Kristin Kimball
In Good Husbandry, Kristin Kimball chronicles the years after her move from New York City to the Lake Champlain area to start the 500-acre Essex Farm. As a follow up to her first memoir, The Dirty Life, her new book answers the question “what comes next on the farm?” For those interested in honest descriptions of farming - the good, the bad, the ugly and, perhaps more importantly, the blood, sweat, and tears - Kimball’s rich narratives paint a vivid picture of the struggles of farming, marriage, and child rearing coupled with the rewarding moments that make it all worth it. Listen to Kristin read excerpts from the book TONIGHT at 7pm at the Best Western in Canton, at an event put on by Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County. 

Learn more about the book here.
Image credit: Scribner Publishing
Student Spotlights
This semester we have four Community Based Learning (CBL) students from St. Lawrence University helping us out in the office. They’re working on a variety of projects including:

  • Updating Local Food Guide listings to get it ready for printing
  • Tracking volunteer impact with our community partners (Campus Kitchens Project at SLU and theFree Will Dinner at Canton UMC)
  • Researching summer meal participation rates for children in St. Lawrence County, and
  • Developing a marketing plan to promote farmers market purchases.
Liam Burbage

Hometown: Boston, MA 

Role at GardenShare: CBL Intern 

How long? For the spring semester 

Why I do what I do (at GardenShare): GardenShare is a great organization working for a great cause. Being one of the interns at GardenShare is a special opportunity for me to become more engaged with the community and help to make food more accessible in the North Country. GardenShare is an essential element in the food system of the North Country and I wanted to be a part of that. 

Hobbies: Surfing, skiing, and chillin’ with friends.  

Most recent accomplishment: Inducted into High school Hall of Fame for track and field at Landmark High School. 

Favorite song, book, or movie? “Heaven” by Los Lonely Boys (give it a listen!) and fav movie would be Good Will Hunting ( I go to the L-Street Tavern all the time)

Last read? Robert Iger The ride of a Lifetime  

Share something about yourself that few people know: I can make two different kinds of bird noises
Madeline Holodnik

Hometown: Pittsford, NY 

Role at GardenShare: Intern

How long? February-April 2020 (3 months) 

Why I do what I do (at GardenShare):
I work with GardenShare to give back to the community and learn about ways to increase knowledge of a healthy diet through education to community residents, as well as to learn about food insecurity and ways to combat it. 

Roles outside of GardenShare: Student at St. Lawrence University, Member of the St. Lawrence University swim and dive team, and Member of Kappa Delta Sigma sorority. 

Hobbies: Swimming, hiking, skiing, and reading

Last read? The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

What one word would you use to describe yourself? Optimistic 

What are you most proud of? Finding what I would like to do for work in my life and pursuing the education to do it.



Saige Knight is also continuing her CBL experience with us from last semester. We're happy to have her back!
Lily Rodino

Hometown: Summit, NJ

Role at GardenShare:
  • CBL student intern
  • Assisting with the Local Food Guide - helping to organize 2020 product list & 2020 farm list
  • Assisting in any way possible! 

How long? Until late April 2020 

Why I do what I do (at GardenShare):
  • St. Lawrence County has a very high level of hunger and food insecurity
  • I had previously never given much thought to my access to food
  • Food availability should not be taken for granted!
  • I believe it is important for every individual to have access to healthy food options essential to living 

Hobbies: Writing, listening to music, reading, cooking

Favorite Song: “On Track” by Tame Impala 

Last read? My Friend Leonard by James Frey 

If you were a superhero, what would your power be? Invisibility 

What one word would you use to describe yourself? Empathetic
The Search Continues for Our New Executive Director
Are you dedicated to creating a more just food system? Do you care about supporting St. Lawrence County food producers and improving food access for St. Lawrence County residents? If so, you could be the perfect fit for GardenShare’s Executive Director position! 

The Executive Director will lead all aspects of GardenShare’s operation including program development and administration; fundraising, grant seeking, and donor development; financial management; and staff hiring and supervision.
Learn more about the position here.