Louisville Grows » Uncategorized

Breaking Ground at Coleridge Taylor Elementary, May 1st

Leah — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 13:18:39 +0000

What a beautiful weekend! If you would like to spend it outdoors doing some fun work then please join us in building gardens for Coleridge Taylor Elementary School, 1115 West Chestnut Street Louisville, KY 40203. The buildout will begin at noon tomorrow, sunday May 1st. They have a wonderful plan which includes an edible flower garden! Hope to see everyone there!

JCC Workday Today! – April 17th

admin — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:01:07 +0000

Calling all volunteers! This is our first garden workday of the season, and how exciting it is. This garden will be built at the Jewish Community Center on Duchmans Lane right at its intersection with Cannons Lane. A youth group will be overseeing the garden this growing season with our Garden Liaison providing technical support. This garden will sport a large rain water collection system and in-ground beds hosting a variety of healthy vegetables. The harvest will be donated to a nearby food bank which feeds families and persons in need.

We will be all the way in the back by the outdoor patio at 12:30. This project is in partnership with the Center which provides everything from recreation to inspiration. Although its name implies Jewish affiliation, 70% of its members are non-Jewish and all walks of life are welcome to become members and use its facilities.

Help Us Create a Community Garden Resource Page!

admin — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:38:30 +0000

We are currently working on creating a resources page that will list all of the steps of creating a thriving garden while also providing a list of community resources and we need your help to do this right. If there is anything I have learned in my life is that doing something right saves everyone time and energy. Here’s what we are looking for:

Community Garden Addresses – if you already have a garden send us the address, size, basic rules, and if plots are available
Donation Sources – if you know of a business or group who have anything that could be of use to community gardens share with us the material and the group contact info
Tips and Experiences – if there is something you have learned from your experience please share
Funds – if you know of any grants or methods of raising money or donations for these projects let us know
Volunteer Groups – if you know of any organization that has its members volunteer send the info our way
Anything else you think should be included

This information is invaluable and will help future gardeners get their feet under them. Please contact us and include your personal information so we can give you credit.

New! Photo Gallery

admin — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 01:20:06 +0000

We’ve got a photo gallery showing some of the work we did so far this year. Check it out and let us know what you think!

Click here to see the Photo Gallery

Tonight – National Environmental Conference – Bioneers

admin — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:57:22 +0000

I don’t know what you all are doing this weekend but I am going to be at the Bluegrass Bioneers. The key note speakers are fabulous as are the activities. Here’s what their website says about it and a schedule summary:

Featuring JANE GOODALL (Renowned Primatologist & UN Messenger of Peace), LYNNE TWIST (Pachamama Alliance founder), JAMES HANSEN (Director, NASA Goddard Institute), ANDY LIPKIS (TreePeople founder), GARY HIRSHBERG (Stonyfield Farm founder), JOHN FRANCIS (The Planetwalker), and many others. LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE VISIONARY LEADERS IN THE VIDEOS BELOW.

The second annual Bluegrass Bioneers will combine national plenary speakers and experts beamed in via satellite from California with live local & regional speakers, experts, and performances for an entertaining and enriching event that encourages innovative, creative solutions to help Louisville and the rest of the world build a more just and sustainable society.

Schedule at a glance:
(Tabling & Re-skilling Fair will take place throughout the weekend.)

FRIDAY:
12-4:30pm – NATIONAL PLENARIES & LOCAL KEYNOTE
4:30-6:30pm – BREAKOUT SESSIONS
7-10:45pm – FILMS & ENTERTAINMENT

SATURDAY:
9-11am – SEED/HARVEST EXCHANGE & YOGA
10-11am – BREAKOUT SESSIONS
11am-3:30pm – NATIONAL PLENARIES & LOCAL KEYNOTE
3:30-6:30pm – BREAKOUT SESSIONS
6:30-7:30pm – SLOW FOODS DINNER
7:30-10:45pm – GREEN SLAM & MUSICAL PERFORMANCES

SUNDAY:
9-10am – YOGA for the SOUL
10-11am – OPENING CIRCLE: Celebrating Earth Community
11am-12noon – KEYNOTE & CREATION of OPEN SPACE SESSIONS
12-5:30pm – NATIONAL PLENARIES & OPEN SPACE SESSIONS
2-5pm – UN PEACE FAIR
5:30-6:30pm – CLOSING LIVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

Here’s the Full Schedule

New Forum for Local Gardens!

admin — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:07:40 +0000

We have created a forum page that is meant to help people organize their growing efforts and spread their extra garden goodies around. Come check the Garden Forum out.

If you have a garden/project that you want to organize using this resource simply send us a message and we will create a dedicated forum area for you. Please, please, please tell your friends about it – the gardens, co-opts, and ad-hock community groups don’t even have to be in the Louisville area.

Events – The Next Two Weeks

admin — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:35:16 +0000

We have three events coming up these next two weeks, all of which make an effort to be different venues and with different focuses so you can pick the one that fits you. Come out and show your support!

10/22 through 24 -
UofL Rauch Planetarium -
3 Day Event, check website for times -
Bluegrass Bioneers Conference, which is an event that explores solutions to our environmental issues found in nature. This year’s will feature JANE GOODALL (Renowned Primatologist & UN Messenger of Peace), LYNNE TWIST (Pachamama Alliance founder), JAMES HANSEN (Director, NASA Goddard Institute), ANDY LIPKIS (TreePeople founder), GARY HIRSHBERG (Stonyfield Farm founder), JOHN FRANCIS (The Planetwalker), and many others. You can learn more about this event at their website.

10/29/10 -
YUM Center Downtown -
3pm-9pm -
“Local Village” event before the My Morning Jacket Concert which will showcase local non-profit groups and businesses. We will be there with our trusty booth.

11/6/10 -
Nature Center, 3745 Illinois -
11am-6pm -
Harvest Hootenanny is a community event that has art, music, food, yoga and the like. It will prove to be a fun day in the sun.

Program Dir. Paige Battcher Completes the Iron Man!

admin — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:03:08 +0000

Paige has been a blessing to this organization and our community. She has spearheaded one of our most successful project, the Garden Commons at UofL, and most recently raised over $15,000 for persons born with heart defects. Follows is a letter from her:

I finished my first IronMan triathlon (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike,
26.2 mile run) in 14 hours, 32 minutes and 33 seconds!! Wooh. I
spanked my goal of 16 hours, crossed that finish line with a smile on
my face, and made everyone including myself proud. Thanks to everyone
for the incredible support and encouragement.

Most importantly, we raised $14,294.20, and will recieve $750 from the
Janus Foundation for our sixth place finish, for a total of
$15,044.20. The money raised will benefit the lives of children and
adults born with heart defects. If you’d still like to contribute,
the website will be open until Monday, Sept. 20 (donate online:

http://bit.ly/charitypaige).

Thank you to my family and friends who stuck by my side when I was a
social outcast training 20+ hours a week. Thank you to my sponsors who
became dear friends throughout the journey(the crafty, kind, and
brilliant people behind Dirty Tease, Parkside Bicycle Boutique, V02
Multisport, 732 Social, mperfect designs, and An.Automaton Designs).

Thank you to the tons of you who believed in me and the mission of
Team Grace enough to contribute.

PICTURES FROM START TO FINISH
(Album created by Kali Schloth, Sandra Wendt, and the imfamous Media Pass)

http://picasaweb.google.com/paigebattcher/WorthATri?feat=embedwebsite#

VIDEO
(This video was played at the Lousiville IronMan closing Awards
Ceremony –they interviewed a few athletes before the event…I made
the final cut!)

NEWS
(Courier Journal Article)

http://www.courier-journal.com/fdcp/?1284591837056

To life’s adventures, cheers!

Paige
www.whynotoptimism.org

Help Create Green Jobs – A Message from Jonathan Miller

admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 01:44:06 +0000

Today I received an email from a colleague, champion for green color jobs in Kentucky, and all around good guy, our Secretary of Finance, Johnathan Miller asking for us to help him spend stimulus funds. Read his message for more details.

Dear Friend:

In recent months, the Beshear Administration has used Recovery Act dollars to launch or prepare for launch three important new energy efficiency programs under the umbrella of the Clean Energy Corps: KY Weatherization (a grant program for low income households), KY Home Performance (a loan and rebate program for moderate and above households), and the Green Bank of Kentucky (a revolving loan fund for public facilities).

With more than $100 million of funding from the Recovery Act and private resources, we now are ready to certify, train and employ a
new green rehab workforce, creating jobs and/or saving jobs in the struggling construction industry.

We need your help.

If you have or know of a business that can help us complete these energy efficiency projects across the state, and therefore help us build a new clean energy workforce, please go to:

http://cts.vresp.com/c/?JonathanMiller/876a7d147a/4ae677bdeb/7031293365

For someone who is passionate about preserving the environment, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and empowering our citizens with new job skills and employment opportunities as we stimulate our state’s economy, I’m thrilled that the time to get to work is now upon us. If you are interested in rolling up your sleeves and getting to work, or you know of people who would be willing to help us in this effort, I urge you to join us today.

Best wishes,

Jonathan

Looking for a Finance Director and We Have Seeds for Sale!

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:07:47 +0000

Hey all,

Two brief things.

Tell your friends and neighbors! We have had resounding success in our first year of operation and we are looking to add to our board. The piece we are missing is a Finance Director. This position will have two main functions: accounting for funds and donations while sourcing grants and other sources of funding. The board meets once a week and the candidate would be working closely with the Executive Director. We’re a fun group of impassioned individuals and are looking forward to meeting our next member.

Second thing, we have a partnership a-brewing with Nature’s Crossroads which provides local seeds. If you click on the add at our site, 25% of the cost of the sustainable seed you purchase goes directly to use and from us to our projects.

Wondering what to plant? It’s not too late to start tomatoes from seed! Plant them indoors now and transplant them to your garden in early June when the soil is warm and there is no risk of freezing. Already have tomatoes growing? April is a great time for direct seeding greens (spinach, kale, lettuce, arugula, chard) as well as root crops like beets, radishes, turnips, and onions. Want some growing help? Sign up for the Midwest Natural Gardening Guide (free gardening tips by e-mail) when you place your order.

Others You Can Plant this Week
Seeds that can be directly sowed this week:
Beet, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Green Onion, Lettuce, and Radish

Seeds that can be started indoors this week:
Cauliflower, Cucumber, Eggplant, Melon, Pepper, and Tomato

Thank you for being involved with us,

Mason Roberts