Learn about an exciting new program that will help you sell vegetables that you grow organically at your own home for real cash!
DO YOU GROW:
• Beets: $0.50/lb
• Cabbage: $0.50/lb
• Carrots: $1/lb
• Celeriac/Celery Root: $.75/lb
• Red/Yellow/White Onions: $1/lb
• Garlic: $6/lb
• Parsnips: $1/lb
• White/Yellow/red/blue potatoes: $1/lb
• Fingerling Potatoes $2/lb
• Sweet potatoes: $1/lb
• Sunchokes/Jerusalem Artichokes: $4/lb
HOW TO PARTICIPATE?
Attend an orientation and fill out the Money Gardener’s Pledge (DOWNLOAD HERE) stating that you agree to use only organic practices, with no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Then begin growing!
When your crops are ready, make sure they meet our basic Quality Standards (DOWNLOAD HERE) and call or email us at 631-722-8777 or moneygarden@gardenofevefarm.com to let us know when you are going to bring them to our farm. We will pay you for them when you arrive!
I NEED HELP LEARNING HOW TO GROW VEGETABLES!
Check out our schedule of organic gardening workshops around Long Island! We’ll help you get started with discounted seeds, compost, and free knowledge!
** This project is made possible by a Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant, www.nesare.org**
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht, Garden of Eve, 523-6608
Date: April 1, 2009
GOODBYE HOBBY GARDEN, HELLO MONEY GARDEN!
Grant Money Supports Project to Help Gardeners Market Organic Vegetables for Cash, Build Relationships with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farmers
In these tough economic times, people are struggling to meet their costs of living and looking for new sources of income. Supported by a Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Farmer Grant (www.nesare.org), Garden of Eve organic farm and other participating organic farms are launching an exciting new program to help Long Island residents sell vegetables they grow organically at their own homes for real cash!
Gardeners will be able to attend a workshop explaining the program, and in order to participate will be asked to sign an agreement binding them to using only organic growing methods and no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. New gardeners will be paired with more experienced gardeners for mentoring and assistance.
Vegetables which can be grown for sale as part of this project are mainly less-perishable varieties that can be stored through the winter, and basic quality standards will be applied. Once “money gardeners” have a crop ready, they will bring their produce to Garden of Eve in Riverhead or other participating organic farms for cash payment. The vegetables will then either be resold through retail channels, or incorporated into Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, by explicit agreement with members.
Crops to be grown include: Beets: $0.50/lb; Cabbage: $0.50/lb; Carrots: $1/lb; Celeriac/Celery Root: $.75/lb; Red/Yellow/White Onions: $1/lb; Garlic: $6/lb; Parsnips: $1/lb; White/Yellow/red/blue potatoes: $1/lb; Fingerling Potatoes $2/lb; Sweet potatoes: $1/lb; Sunchokes/Jerusalem Artichokes: $4/lb.
Partnering with the Queens County Farm Museum, the Northeastern Organic Farming Association (NOFA) of New York Long Island Growers Group, and others, free “Gardening for Money” workshops will be offered throughout 2009 at area libraries, garden clubs, and schools across Long Island. The workshop schedule will be available and updated at www.gardenofevefarm.com/moneygarden.htm. Workshops will cover the basics of growing vegetables and organic growing techniques, hands-on how-to activities, and discussion/Q&A.
With only 1-2% of the United States population in the business of agriculture, any successful effort to bring mainstream America back into contact with growing food will certainly help Northeastern Farmers! Particularly for youth, seniors and low-income people “money gardening” can provide income with a higher quality of life than the minimum-wage “McDonalds” jobs that are often their only option, while encouraging an improved environment, and improved awareness of how to grow food and why it is so important.
This project aims to encourage new backyard growers, and encourage a more sustainable local economy increasingly based on backyard food production, with food dollars cycling from residents to farmers and back to residents. With more produce available, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs can sell more shares and more people get access to eating local organic produce. Everyone benefits in this “win-win” arrangement!
