Our Tour de Farms fundraiser event is back this year, but with a virtual twist. We’ll gather online at www.growingneighbors.org. July 26th at 2 p.m. for a live video tour of one of our Farmyards and post links to several more video tours that you can watch at your own pace. Donations will help us continue to equip our neighbors to cultivate environments where healthy food and relationships can be grown and enjoyed. Please share this image and/or invite a neighbor to join in the fun and let us know if you’d like to include a video tour of your garden!
Featured Farmer: Noelle
Noelle came on as an intern with us last month and has helped grow a variety of plants (including zucchini) as well as a variety of relationships while sharing free, fresh produce with neighbors near her home. Swing by our Hub Farmyard at 5508 N. Alberta for “Farming with Noelle” and other neighbors on Tues. from 4-7:30 p.m. or Fri. from 9:30-noon. Also, check out our list of plants, seeds, and food currently available for you to enjoy or share!
Featured Farmyard: Judee’s
Judee has a beautiful vision for transforming her front yard into a community gathering place including space to sit, play, garden, and eat together. We helped remove some sod just a few weeks ago and she now has beautiful raised beds in place. Want to join her or other neighbors near you to start or expand a GN Farmyard? You can do it! We can help 🙂
Join us at the Market
Come visit us at the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market at 2310 N. Monroe on Fridays from 3-7 p.m. All of our produce is offered on a “take what you need, pay what you can” basis. Invite a neighbor who could benefit from some local, organic produce. Please wear a mask as a way to care for others and let us know if you have excess produce to share. We’d especially appreciate your help harvesting and running the booth as our intern, Daniel, moves on to a new adventure in August!
Helping all neighbors grow healthy food and relationships
I am grieving and disturbed by the recent events highlighting racial injustice in our community and country. My pain is growing as I learn the depths of systemic racism and my complicity. I also recognize that the pain of the oppressed far surpasses my own. I long to help all neighbors, human and other-than-human, to experience abundant life. I want to live and lead in a way that puts the needs of others above my own, but I also know my lifestyle is full of comforts and conveniences that have been made possible by the racism, oppression, genocide, and theft that took place over the past several centuries.
I’m trying to listen, hoping to be transformed, and willing to act. I encourage you to listen to the voices of the Black community and be ready to act for equity and justice. Please listen for the voices of all the oppressed people, places, plants and animals and do what you can to empower and amplify them.
We are better together and need one another on this journey to reduce racism and seek reconciliation. Please reach out if you’d like to talk, have a resource to share, or need a word of encouragement or prayer. Finally, this Friday at the market we’ll donate 25% of all sales/donations to World Relief Spokane to support their work with local immigrants and refugees, largely people of color. You can also support them directly at worldreliefspokane.org
Johnny, Growing Neighbors Director
Veggie Starts READY to Share!
We’ve grown and gathered a good variety of plant starts that are ready to be planted ASAP. Would you like some? Swing by our greenhouse at 2506 W. Rowan to grab a couple and/or shoot us a message to coordinate a pick up or delivery! Here is an updated list of plants, seeds, and food we have available. You can enjoy them and/or share with your neighbors! Above is our friend Ross from 1st Pres. Church who is sharing some with neighbors in need on the lower South Hill.
Just Beet it!
Yes, those are carrots, but Monica harvested them to make room to plant beets! Check out our latest planting tutorial video focused on beets and other root veggies. What are you growing? Do you want suggestions or tips? Would you like to share some tips? Let us know what you think or what other plants and gardening techniques you’d like to learn about.
Phase 2 = Safe, Healthy Planting Parties!
There is nothing new about how essential it is to grow and share healthy food, but with Washington’s Phase 2 designation we can more confidently proceed with safely gathering in groups with up to 5 people outside of your household to plant, grow, harvest, and share with one another. Join us 5/26, (or any Tuesday) anytime between 4-6:30 p.m. for a fun, safe, planting party. Please wear a mask, bring gloves, and use the restroom before coming.
Johnny & Your Growing Neighbors Family
Whitworth Ministry Summit
Johnny will be studying indigenous eco-theology and reconciliation with Randy Woodley throughout the summer. Randy will be speaking at the Whitworth Ministry Summit June 23-25 and it will be a great online conference. Information is available at Whitworth Ministry Summit. Connect with Johnny if you have any questions.
Free Food, Seeds and Plant Starts
Johnny and the Growing Neighbors friends have put together a list of available food, seed packets and plant starts available at Shadle Park Presbyterian Church. Call the church office (509-327-5522) to arrange to meet someone or to have them delivered. This spreadsheet shows what’s available.
