**Vote on the NEW Slogan!**

 

The Community Food Network is a member of the Michigan Food Councils working with Community Gardens and Food Pantries in Montcalm & Ionia Counties. Our partners include the MSU Extension, Master Gardeners, United Way & Volunteer Connections, Ionia County Health Dept.and the Mid-Michigan District Health Dept. The planning committee is formed with representatives from each community partner, community garden and many local food pantries. Anyone who wants to help with community gardens or distributing food to those in need are welcome to join.

It is the mission of the 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.

CFN Planning Committee .

The 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 Monday of each month 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 with meetings taking place at 1:30pm at the following locations.

 MSU Extension-Ionia
April 2nd
June 4th
September 3rd
November 5th

Mid- Michigan District Health Department
March 5th
May 7th
August 5th
October 1st    

Sub-Committee Meetings (scheduled as needed)
Garden and Food Pantry Committee- Watch for an Open House Soon!
Awareness and Resource Committee- Working by email
Volunteers and Special Projects Committee- Working by email
Education Committee- Monthly on the 3rd Wednesday of the Month.

Community Gardens are maintained by volunteers and produce is donated to local families in need.

Volunteers from local service groups help out each garden including MSU-E Master Gardeners, the United Way & Volunteer Connections and the Ionia Kids Club.  

More volunteers are always needed and always welcomed at special events and work days. Work days will be scheduled soon, please check the calendar link for specific days or contact the garden coordinator for the garden that you would like to volunteer at!

Volunteers can join a committee to help with planning gardens, fundraising, marketing, distribution, educational classes or volunteer events.  

Helping to Feed Local 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.

 

News:

HandsOn Connect is a **NEW** Volunteer Resource available in Montcalm & Ionia Counties and our Community Gardens will be some of the first organizations using website. Visit our PARTNERS page for more information!

Please fill out this Garden Survey to tell us about your plans for the 2012 Planting Season. 2012 Community Garden Survey

 

Farmers and Markets Accepting Bridge Cards for the 2012 Season in Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa and Newaygo Counties

Printable Poster PDFs

Community Farmers Markets Accepting Bridge Cards	12"x18"	8.5"x11"
Farmers Accepting Bridge Cards at Their Farm Markets	12"x18"	8.5"x11"
Mercados Comunitarios Aceptando 'Tarjetas Bridge'	12"x18"	8.5"x11"
Agricultores Aceptando 'Tarjetas Bridge' en sus Mercados	12"x18"	8.5"x11"

Questions or corrections? Call Gordie Moeller at 616-293-4727 or send us an e-mail.
Hosting courtesy of Nonprofit Innovations, Inc

Attention, Bridge Card holders: Double Up Food Bucks will be back at your area’s farmers’ markets starting in June.  When you use your Bridge Card at a participating farmers’ market, the Double Up Food Bucks program will match you dollar for dollar with bonus funds – up to $20 – that you can use in the market to buy more fresh, Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables.  It’s that simple – spend up to $20 on your Bridge Card at the market, and you’ll get up to $20 more, free, to spend on healthy, local foods.  Most farmers’ markets and some on-farm produce stands in Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon Counties are participating.  Visit www.doubleupfoodbucks.org or call toll-free 1-866-586-2796 for market locations and more information, or just visit your favorite market starting in June! 

Double Up Food Bucks is a project of Fair Food Network, with local support from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation.  www.fairfoodnetwork.org

Agencies: For more information or a more detailed article, contact Rachel Chadderdon Bair, Program Manager, at 734 213 3999 x 203 or rbair@fairfoodnetwork.org. 

Download the Double Up Bucks Poster!

Coming Events

Greenville Trailside Garden Fundraiser

The Clifford Lake Inn gives back 20% to the Greenville Trailside Community Garden!

Tuesday, May 15th after 4:00PM.

You must present this ticket!

Does not apply to gift card purchases.

RESERVATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED

 

Community Food Network Slideshow

Pictures taken at various community gardens in Montcalm and Ionia Counties! To submit a photo or request permission to use a photo please contact the Community Food Network.