LEAF To Host Open House On March 10
LEAF (Lakewood Earth and Food) Community will host an Open House on Sunday, March 10 from 4-6 pm. Stop by the multi-purpose room at Lakewood Public Library to find out more about its programs that promote a healthy, sustainable community.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Programs
Be healthy, be green and eat local! Consider signing up for a "share" in a CSA this season, which provides you with a weekly supply of seasonal produce each week. LEAF Community coordinates with several farms and programs that provide fresh, locally produced products each week at LEAF Community Farmers' Markets. The Open House will host several CSA programs that will be offered in Lakewood in 2013. Representatives from the various programs will be available to answer questions and talk about their farm or program and register members.
The "LEAF CSA Payment Plan" will also be available at the Open House. This is a payment plan offered to limited income individuals who are interested in participating in a CSA, but are deterred by the lump sum payment required at the start of the season. An application is required. LEAF will pay the upfront cost of joining the CSA, and then the member will pay LEAF back weekly. Payments to LEAF can be made with cash/check/EBT (Ohio Direction). The member participating with the payment plan will receive all of the same benefits from the CSA program as other members.
Community Gardens
Community gardening allows you to know where your food is coming from, have the pick of the crop when your produce comes in, gets you outside and in LEAF's community gardens you are likely to make new friends, learn new gardening techniques and feel like a bigger part of the community at large!
LEAF coordinates community gardens at four of Lakewood's parks and at the Westerly. For a $25 fee, Lakewood residents are welcome to "rent" a 10' x 10' organic garden plot for the season. Learn more about this opportunity from LEAF garden coordinators at the Open House.
Education
Curious about beekeeping? Want to learn about how to build better soil for your garden? Is food dehydration a topic you'd like to know more about? These are just a few of the education programs LEAF has planned for 2013. Find out more about the learning opportunities for the season.
Cookbooks for Sale
The LEAF Cooks cookbook is a collection of recipes submitted by vendors, farmers, gardeners, market shoppers, community supported agriculture shareholders, chefs and friends of LEAF. All recipes include local ingredients, available seasonally around Ohio. It will be available for purchase for $15 at the Open House—or online at www.leafcommunity.org.
Guest vendors, seed swapping and more
Select guest vendors will be at the open house, and some bulk dry goods will also be available for purchase. LEAF is hosting a seed swap again this year; bring extra seeds you'd like to trade (in clearly marked envelopes or bags).
In addition, LEAF volunteers will be on hand to share information about the organization and answer your questions.
To find out more about LEAF, visit www.leafcommunity.org or email leafcommunity@gmail.com.