We All Need Food And Water

STARTED THE ONE-ACRE PEACE COMMUNITY GARDEN LOCATED IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NEIGHBORHOOD. 77 YEAR-OLD BOARD MEMBER JAN DUBATS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAWN PAPE PERSONALLY HANDED OUT 3,000 DOOR HANGERS INVITING PEOPLE TO FARM AND/OR RECREATE AT THE GARDEN.WE STARTED A ONE-ACRE PEACE COMMUNITY GARDEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH AND ANOKA COUNTY. TOGETHER WE ARE TRANSFORMING THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM BY STARTING THIS LARGE GARDEN. THIS GARDEN PROVIDES MANY HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS: MULTI-SOLVING FOR REDUCING DIABETES, OBESITY, AND FOOD MILES, WHILE BENEFITING POLLINATOR HABITAT, AIR QUALITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH. THE GARDEN HELPS POSITIVELY WEAVE THE COMMUNITY'S LIVES TOGETHER IN A COMMUNITY WHERE MANY PEOPLE DONT KNOW THEIR NEIGHBORS, FURTHER IMPROVING CONNECTION, MENTAL HEALTH, AND OVERALL HEALTH.HOSTED NINE COMMUNITY EVENTS IN THE PEACE GARDEN. WE HELPED BRING JOY TO THE COMMUNITY BY FOSTERING A COMMUNITY GARDEN THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, ACTIVITIES (FOLLOWING COVID GUIDELINES). WE ALSO ENGAGED NEARBY NEIGHBORS AND CHURCH MEMBERS (LARGELY ELDERLY AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS) IN NEW COMMUNITY GARDENS TO HELP CLOSE THE FOOD INSECURITY GAP WHILE IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT BY PROVIDING HABITAT.GIVING GARDEN. WE ALL NEED FOOD AND WATER GREW AND DONATED PRODUCE TO THE LOCAL FOOD SHELTER.HELD A WATER HEROES CAMP FOR 11 YOUTH AND 44 CONTACT HOURS. THIS CAMP IS GEARED FOR KIDS AGES 8-12, ALTHOUGH IT CAN BE ADAPTED FOR A WIDER AGE RANGE. THE CAMP FOCUSES ON DEVELOPING KIDS SUPERPOWERS TO PROTECT WATER. EACH DAY WE DOVE INTO WATER-RELATED MISSIONS THAT TACKLE REAL-WORLD ISSUES. ON THE LAST DAY OF THE CAMP, WE HELD A SHORT CELEBRATION TO RECOGNIZE THE KIDS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND COMMITMENTS TO KEEPING WATER CLEAN AND PLENTIFUL. LAUNCHED THE CLIMATE BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION GROUPS WITH DOZENS OF MEMBERS.