There are community gardens in Clarksville, Hubbardston, and possible other new sites include the City of Ionia, Portland, and Belding. Our other partners are the MSU Extension, Master Gardeners, DDA, Ionia County Health Dept., along with representatives from each community garden. We are looking for volunteers/organizers of local food pantries, soup kitchens, and other food distribution sites to join the group as well. Anyone who wants to help with community gardens, volunteers in the county, or distributing food to those in need are welcome to join.

It is the mission of the Ionia County Community Food Network to facilitate the development and on-going support of community-grown food sources and related distribution systems in order to provide locally grown, donated fresh produce to county residents in need.

The Ionia County Community Food Network is a Planning Group designed to support Community Gardens and Food Distribution Resources.  Representatives from several local organizations meet on the first Tuesday of each month at the MSU Extension (MSUE) Office to assist with garden coordination, distribution needs, resource development, marketing, volunteer recruitment, and educational planning.  This group is open to anyone who is interested in helping.  Volunteers from local service groups help out each garden including MI Works Summer Youth, MSU-E Master Gardeners, and the Ionia Kids Club.  

More volunteers are always needed and always welcomed at special events and work days. Krazy Acres and Maple Row are requesting help. If you would like to help at Krazy Acres, click here for details. If you would like to volunteer at Maple Row, click here for details.

Helping to Feed Ionia County Families in Need
Fresh fruits and vegetables grown in local community gardens are distributed to families in need through local food pantries, soup kitchens, and other distribution resources.  Volunteers pick up produce from the gardens, sort and package the produce into family size portions and deliver it to food pantries.  Food pantries then distribute the available produce to clients who need help.  Other distribution resources include the Food Truck run by Feeding America and local Soup Kitchens.

In 2009, volunteers contributed over 935 hours in community gardens and provided over 34,155 lbs of fresh produce to local food pantries.

The Ionia County Community Food Network meets regularly on the first Tuesday of the month at 1:30 PM at the MSU Extension Office (in the old State Police Post) at 50 E Sprague Rd.

Volunteers can join a committee to help with planning gardens, fundraising, marketing, distribution, or volunteer events.  Volunteers can also volunteer at one of the Community Gardens or Food Pantries.

Coming Events
The 2010 garden meetings are set . Volunteer Application, Food Preservation Class Information, Organization Questionnaire. and
Planting Schedule
(click on blue link to view .pdf file)