December 2020
"May your days be 'berry' and bright". Big Spoon Kitchen. Potsdam, NY.
Image courtesy of the Farm-to-Table Initiative led by Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County.
Community Food Hero Submissions:
Deadline Extended
It's hard to believe it's already December. If you're anything like us, you're still trying to cross things off your to-do list from August!

We've had some folks reach out about our Community Food Heroes campaign who were excited to send in a submission but were afraid they wouldn't get it done by December 6th.

We hear you. So, we're pushing the deadline back until Saturday, January 9, 2021.

During this season of gratitude and reflection, spend a bit of time thinking about who helped keep you - and our communities - fed this year.

Your Community Food Hero could be your favorite farmers market vendor, a local restaurant, the volunteers at a the food pantries and food distributions, a neighbor who shared their garden bounty, someone who helped connect you with food resources, or anyone in between.
Have someone in mind? Here's how to send in a video submission.

  1. Hop in front of a phone or tablet and hit record.
  2. Film a short video telling us who your hero is, what they did, and why they deserve to be celebrated (be sure to include your name too).
  3. Send it to GardenShare in one of the following ways:

*only if you have a Google/Gmail account
The videos can be as simple or creative as you’d like but try to keep them short (less than 2 minutes). If you need a bit of inspiration, check out how some local middle schoolers define "food hero."

Interested in sending a written submission? Check out GardenShare.org/heroes for more information or use our online Google Submission form.

You are welcome to honor as many heroes as you'd like but please make separate submissions for each one.

All videos and submissions will be shared as part of a social media celebration of Community Food Heroes from January 18-22, 2021.

Carrot hero (above) designed and drawn by our Community Based Learning intern, Hannah Lumbra.
Nature's Storehouse Successfully Cultivates Gratitude
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated to Nature's Storehouse's fundraiser last month. Thanks to your support and a generous $500 match from Towle Chiropractic we were able to raise over $1,639.57 for our Bonus Bucks program.

This will help provide 7 households with access to fresh, local food this season!
Rainbow Crabtree (Nature's Storehouse), Carlene Doane (GardenShare), and Lisa Francey Towle (Towle Chiropractic) pose outside of Nature's with the donations.
Whiteboard inside of Nature's Storehouse with the Cultivate Gratitude by Giving fundraising goal thermometer extending beyond the edge of the board.
We're Wrapping Up Our Fall Campaign
During one of the most challenging years any of us can remember, GardenShare has continued to work hard to ensure food security for all St. Lawrence County residents. In November, we asked our community for help and support through our annual fall campaign. 

If you did not receive a fall fund appeal but would still like to contribute, it’s never too late! You can find a copy of the letter here, or you can find out more by visiting the donate page on our website.
Shop Small, Buy Local
This year has shown us that our communities are strongest when we support each other. As we approach the holidays, consider finding ways to support local producers through the winter.

Buy local ingredients for your holiday meals when possible... or order in to restaurants that already feature local food for a delicious treat.

When shopping for others (or as a treat for yourself), you'll be able to find a wide range of offerings, including:
  • maple syrup
  • cured meats
  • preserves
  • spice mixes
  • CBD products
  • dog treats
  • goat's milk soaps
  • restaurant and grocery gift cards
  • and so much more

Our online local food guide is a great place to start exploring. Search for local food and producers near you and check out their websites to see if they have any winter products for sale.
"Labeling Grade A Amber maple syrup for sale." Hurlbut's Maple. Canton, NY.
Image courtesy of the Farm-to-Table Initiative led by Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County.
Another Way to Give Back
If you're using Amazon to do some holiday shopping this year, consider using our Amazon Smiles link. Just click the link and shop as usual on Amazon.

Your shopping experience will be the same and for every purchase you make, Amazon will donate a small portion to GardenShare.