New Partnership Brings Fresh Produce to Redwood Food Pantry

The belles of Better Farm transport Redwood's Community Greenhouse to its new home.

A new partnership has turned the Redwood Community Greenhouse into a produce operation that will supply fresh greens and veggies to the Redwood Food Pantry.

Greenhouse Goes Up in Redwood

Redwood Neighborhood Association Vice President Jim Stine holds the metal greenhouse arch in place.

Members of the Redwood Neighborhood Association met last Saturday at the Redwood Volunteer Fire Department to construct a community greenhouse for the public.

With funds secured from the local not-for-profit Hearts for Youth, the neighborhood group's plan was to build a structure to house seedlings and plants for the community. Local residents interested in participating can sign up to help tend the plants, with all excess produce going to the local food pantry.


At the commissioners' meeting at the fire hall April 10, I presented the idea of the greenhouse being put on that property. The group voted unanimously in favor of providing the host site for the greenhouse.

Here are some shots of the construction (thanks to Rick Lopez for the design, Jim Stine for donating some of the materials, and the Better Farm crew for lending a hand!):

All that's left to do are the doors and the greenhouse plastic. Want to get involved, as a volunteer or gardener? Shoot us an e-mail or call (315) 482-2536. And stay tuned for an upcoming announcement on our planting day!

Harvest Festival Tomorrow!

Some version of what could occur at tomorrow's Harvest Festival in Redwood.

Redwood's First Annual Harvest Festival kicks off tomorrow at 9 a.m. with a 5k road race through the hamlet sponsored by Noah's Ark Pre-School. A chicken barbecue fundraiser hosted by the Redwood Historical Society will be held at noon in the Redwood Tavern, while reps from Better Farm and the Redwood Neighborhood Association hand out free pumpkins to children for Jack-o-Lantern carving.

Several local organizations, including Better Farm, will have tables set up at the event. Stop by our booth for brochures, Better Farm T-shirts, betterArts mugs, to sign up for our mailing list, buy some fresh fall produce, and even get your face painted. But be sure to bundle up—it's going to be chilly!

For more information or to volunteer, call (315) 482-2536 or e-mail info@betterfarm.org

Earth Day Cleanup

Save the Date: Second Annual Friends & Families Day set for March 6

The Redwood Neighborhood Association, Hearts for Youth, and Healthy Communities Coalition are joining forces to bring you the Second Annual Friends and Families Day from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at the Redwood Fire Hall.

This year's theme is "*Health *Nutrition *Safety *Physical Activity" and will include raffles, display booths, contests with cash prizes, and a taste-testing.

Individuals and businesses are invited to volunteer, make a donation, or set up a booth display at the event.

If you would like to participate in some capacity on this day, please call Kim at (315) 482-6814.