Newman's Own Holiday Challenge

Starting today and running through January 3, the Newman's Own Foundation is challenging nonprofits to raise money to support their important causes and offering challenges and incentives to support these efforts.

To support GardenShare and help us earn some of these incentives, go here to donate.

You can also share the link with others to encourage donations and even set up teams of fundraisers to support GardenShare's work.

Cyber Monday - don't forget GardenShare

If you'll be shopping on Amazon tomorrow, don't forget that you can support GardenShare with every purchase.

Go here and do your shopping and a portion of each item will be donated to GardenShare!

Support GardenShare when you shop online

While we'd always prefer that you shop locally, we know that sometimes in the North Country that just is not possible.

When you need to shop online do it at smile.amazon.com/ch/16-1607595 and Amazon donates to Gardenshare.

Volunteers, donors, friends...

Canton Farmers Market Manager 

Jenn Whittaker

The leaves are starting to change, the air growing crisp, so it may feel like summer is drawing to a close. But things aren’t winding down at area farmers markets. You’ll surely still see Jenn Whittaker at the Canton Farmers Market every Tuesday and Friday throughout October.

Jenn is Canton’s market manager, and she is also a vital GardenShare volunteer and supporter. She serves as co-chair of our Outreach and Education Committee, and Jenn and Erik are members of our Sustainers’ Circle.

The Whittakers have long been interested in issues related to food policy and systems. “I’ve always been interested in how food gets to our plates,” says Jenn. But their interest became more personal and focused when their children, Arianna (15) and Braden (12), each developed substantial food allergies. “It became even more important for us to understand where our food comes from, how it is produced.”

It’s all in the family! Arianna (center) 

and friends provide music entertainment 

at the farmers market.

The Whittakers first became aware of GardenShare when they moved to Canton from the Malone area about seven years ago. “We had friends who were involved, and we were given a Local Food Guide to help us know where to find locally grown food.” She also remembers being delighted to find that she could use her credit or debit card to buy tokens to purchase produce at the farmers market.

As she learned more, she decided to get more involved. “This work is incredibly important,” says Jenn. “Food is a necessity, people can’t choose if they want to eat.” Jenn joined the O&E Committee, the kids pitch in helping at the farmers market and stuffing newsletters, and they all joined in the fun creating a float and representing GardenShare in Canton’s Dairy Princess parade.

Erik and Braden marching for 

GardenShare in veggie costumes 

in the Dairy Princess parade!

Erik and Jenn are GardenShare Sustainers, meaning they have made a three- year financial pledge to support the organization. “It’s just so important the people aren’t hungry,” says Jenn with her characteristic passion. “GardenShare brings people together and builds partnerships to solve issues of poverty and hunger. For us it’s a starting point to strengthen our community in our food justice efforts,” she says. “That’s why it’s so important to us to support and contribute to GardenShare’s work.”

It’s friends like the Whittaker family whose support and hard make GardenShare’s work possible in so many ways.

Fight Hunger 5K Update

Thank you ALL for a wonderful turn out at last Sunday's Fight Hunger 5K. We certainly were lucky with the weather...maybe a little too lucky!

Congratulations to the committee, staff, and volunteers on pulling off a smooth-running and very successful event. We will have an official report and numbers soon, but a current snapshot shows 122 registered participants (I suspect with children and others who weren't on a registration form, that number is a bit higher) and with sponsors and donations we raised more than $10,000! We'll have to wait on the bottom line on that, too, once all expenses are accounted for and final donations straggle in. All in all, we exceeded our goals, and we have a lot to be proud of. Thank you all.

If you haven't seen some of the fun pictures Brianna took, check out our Facebook page.

If you were meaning to make a donation but never quite got around to it, there is still time - go here!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Celebrating GardenShare's Sustainers Circle

Last evening, we gathered for a reception at The Grange at 1844 House to celebrate the members of GardenShare's "Sustainers Circle."

Sustainers, as we call them, are individuals, families, or organizations who have made a three-year or longer pledge to GardenShare.  These multi-year pledges are so important to GardenShare's stability and ability to keep doing our work year after year.

While not everyone could join us last evening, twenty-eight people were there to enjoy some good food and fellowship with like-minded people, along with some brief updates from GardenShare's President and Executive Director.

So, thank you, thank you, thank you to all the dedicated folks who have already signed up to be part of the Sustainers Circle.  Will you consider joining us?  A pledge of any amount for three or more years is all it takes to be part of this special group.

Special thanks to the 1844 House for hosting us last night.

Community Bank donates to GardenShare

Thank you to Community Bank in Canton who have made a $250 donation to support GardenShare's Bonus Bucks program.  These dollars will go directly to helping an area family secure locally-grown, fresh, healthy food.

Pictured are:  GardenShare Executive Director Gloria McAdam, Community Bank Branch Manager Marsha Watson, and GardenShare Board of Directors President Carol Pynchon.

Fundraising dinner and auction a huge success!

Thank you, thank you, and thank you to everyone who helped with last night's event in anyway!  To the team at Jake's on the Water a very special thank you.  And whether you bought tickets, donated an auction item, purchased an auction item or a raffle ticket, volunteered your time, or sponsored the event, you helped GardenShare in a big way!

GardenShare's eighth annual Fundraising Dinner and Auction set a new record!  The sold-out crowd, amazing auction, and our business sponsors helped GardenShare raise a total of $9,718!  Just for perspective, this compares to $5,783 last year.

It was an amazing evening all the way around.  Here's just a sampling...

The full house during the cocktail hour made it hard
to even get to the silent auction items!

100 people purchased tickets and joined us -
a record-setting crowd for GardenShare and
testing the limits of the great team at Jake's!
(They cane through with flying colors!)

Marc Compeau and Chef Josh Taillon
welcome the guests

Mark Berninghausen was clearly happy to
get his Senators shirt and some SLU hockey
tickets in the auction!

Thank you to Megan Bowdish of Never Tire Farm
who donated plants we used for center pieces and
that guests were able to take home with them.

Very special thanks to our business sponsors!

Presenting sponors:

Friend sponsors:

Frazer Computing

Green Hammer Construction

Farmers Market season is arriving - can you help ensure that everybody eats?

Spring is finally arriving in the North Country and we are looking forward to those fresh, tasty, and healthy vegetables and fruits grown by our local farmers.  Bet you are, too!

But we also know how many people here in the North Country struggle to put that kind of nutritious and delicious food on their tables.

And we recognize how many area farmers are also struggling to build a successful business that will support their own families and contribute to the local economy.

Our core programs at GardenShare work to tackle both of those challenges at once! 

By raising money for our Bonus Bucks program which helps lower-income and working families purchase local food, we are also strengthening sales for our local farmers.

Dulli Tengeler of Birdsfoot Farm said it best.  “Last season we had about 45 CSA members and 10 percent of our members were Bonus Bucks recipients.  This year we are looking to increase our CSA memberships to 60 to 80 shares! Bonus Bucks will make it possible for more people to join our community!”

That’s truly a win-win.

Dulli also shared this story, “One of our repeat CSA members who has really become a staple member of our community almost had to give up their share last year because of affordability.  But because of the Bonus Bucks program provided by GardenShare they were able to keep their share and we were able to keep our community together strong.”

Will you consider a donation to support this work?  You can donate here.

Thank you so much.

One father’s story… I just wanted to say that the Farmers Market SNAP incentive program has been a godsend thus far.  Normally, I wouldn't be spending my SNAP/EBT funds at a farmers market (because most of the produce is from slightly to much more expensive than the stuff you can get at the store), but with the grants it's been an excellent resource.  My daughter and I have greatly enjoyed the higher quality produce and local meats (heirloom strawberries and tomatoes = so much better flavor than the supermarket), as well as the fresh baked goods on offer.  The value has been excellent, the staff extremely friendly, and it's been a pleasure supporting local farmers and producers. Thank you all, from me and my daughter, Andrea.  -Jason

You can make a difference for families like Jason’s!

·         $250 helps a family of five have healthy food by paying for half of their CSA share

·         $100 doubles the buying power at the farmers market for a young mother who relies on SNAP and helps her provide fresh local produce to her children

·         $50 helps a working family who makes a little too much to receive SNAP benefits get $100 worth of farmers market produce

·         $25 helps a senior citizen double the value when they shop at the farmers market

And your gift of any amount or your commitment of volunteer time helps GardenShare reach our vision for our community…

Healthy Food s Healthy Farms s Everybody Eats

Cabin Fever Trivia Night a Success!

GardenShare's fifth annual "Cabin Fever Trivia Night" was held on March 18, 2017 and was a record-setting event for the organization.  Sixteen teams of four took part in the event and answered questions about farming and farmers markets, the Adirondacks, North Country food and beverage, local sports, and music.  When we finished that evening, we had raised over $2,500 to support GardenShare's work to solve the problem of hunger in St. Lawrence County!

The winning team represented Deep Root Center for Self-Directed Learning in Canton.  

Second Place went to a team of Potsdam residents who called themselves “Wilson.” 

The prize for the best team uniform went to the team representing the Buccaneer Lounge in Canton.  

There was also a prize for the best team name, which went to “The Alternative Facts.”

Tony Lynn

Presenting sponsors who helped make this event possible included St. Lawrence Health System and Stauffer Farms.  Other sponsors included Save-a-Lot, Sandstone Family Dentistry, and Mort Backus and Sons.  Tony Lynn, morning show host at The Wolf 95.3 was the evening's Master of Ceremonies.

The amazing volunteer committee that organized this event demonstrated the difference that a small group of people can make.  All of the local farms and businesses who donated made this event possible and demonstrated their commitment to building a strong and vital community where people care about each other. Isn't it great to be part of such a place?

Some of the prize baskets

Thank you to all those farms and businesses who donated to the prize packages for the winning teams, including:  Bittersweet Farm, Canton Apples, Canton Farmers Market, Circle G Farm, Eight O’clock Ranch, Fullers Farm, Harmony Farm, Kent Family Growers, Martins Farmstand, Raymond Watkins, Red Wagon Farm, Smith Farm Chicken, Sweetcore Farm, Tupper Hilltop Maple Treats, and Warren’s Rustic Creations.

Cookies from Sugar Valley Bakery

Thank you to all who donated food for the event, including:  ARAMARK, Potsdam Food Co-op, Stauffer Farms, Stewart’s Shops, and Sugar Valley Bakery.  Special thanks to Brick and Mortar Music who donated the use of a sound system.

Go here for even more photos.

Funds raised will support GardenShare's work to solve the problem of hunger in St. Lawrence County.  GardenShare's annual Local Food Guide, farmers market promotion, and promotion of Community Supported Agriculture help ensure that the County has a vibrant, local food system where our food choices are healthy for us, for our communities, and for the environment and where local farmers are able to make a living that supports their families.   GardenShare also makes it possible for people to use food stamps at area Farmers Markets and helps low-income families buy CSA shares so that everyone in the County has access to enough nutritious and affordable food to sustain a healthy lifestyle.  

We love getting mail!

Today's pile of mail included this note:

"Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all at GardenShare!  This is on behalf of my colleagues at work in lieu of office gifts.  thank you for all the ways you benefit our community and all who live in it.  I wish this check could be for a million $!"

We all might wish for that million dollar check, but the reality is that it's the donations of $10, $25, and $100 that keep us going and let us do GardenShare's work out in the community.

If you were thinking about a year-end donation, it's simple, safe, and secure at this website or you can mail a check to GardenShare, PO Box 516, Canton, NY  13617.

Thank you!  And Happy New Year!

Help GardenShare make an impact

If you've been reading our "12 days - 12 ways" series, you already know that you and the community made 2016 the most amazing year yet for GardenShare's work to solve hunger, a fitting way to mark our 20 years of service.  Just a few highlights of the year just past:

• SNAP usage at the farmers markets increased by 70%, benefiting both low-income families and local farmers.  Some local farmers said their sales increased by as much as 50%!
• Participation in our CSA subsidy program for low-income families increased by 56%.
• Our Local Food Guide generated many comments along the lines of, "the best Local Food Guide ever!"
• We rolled out "Hunger 101," an experiential learning program about the issue of hunger.
• Through a grant from the state, we are actively working on engaging more volunteers on fighting hunger in the region.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

With your continued support, we'll implement some big plans in the new year, including:

• Expanding the concept of the Bonus Bucks program from just CSA shares to include farmers market shoppers who are lower income, but not on SNAP.
• Expanding a program we piloted this past spring to provide farmers market tokens to families whose children receive backpacks of food at school.
• And, of course, continuing and building on the 2016 successes.

Your donation before the end of the year will help continue all of this important work and also help ensure that we will be here serving the community as long as needed!

Will you make a gift now?

It's easy and secure at this link

12 days - 12 ways GardenShare is making a difference - day 11

As we wind down our review of 2016 at GardenShare, we just had to highlight September's Fight Hunger 5K!

On Sunday, September 11, 116 people turned out to run or walk the 5K course - more than twice as many participants as last year!  Together with the business sponsors, the participants raised $8,500 to support GardenShare's mission of solving the problem of hunger in St. Lawrence County.  The funds raised will help low and moderate-income people access fresh, locally grown food and in the process, support our local farmers. 

We're excited about the success of this two-year-old event, not just in fundraising, but more important, in bringing people together around the issues of hunger, local food, and food systems policy.  

Planning will begin soon for next year's Fight Hunger 5K and it takes a dedicated group of volunteers to make this work.  Would you like to help?  Get in touch!

Read the rest of our 12 days series here.

12 days - 12 ways GardenShare is making a difference - day 8

Day 8 of our review of 2016 takes us back to a hot evening in August as we celebrated some key donors and their contributions to GardenShare.


GardenShare's "Sustainers Circle" is a group of donors who are committed to our mission of solving hunger and building a stronger local food system and who have made a three-year or longer pledge to support that mission.

These generous donors provide the backbone of support that lets us do our important work and we cannot thank them enough!  Each summer, our Board of Directors hosts the Sustainers for a reception.  This past August, on one of the hottest afternoons of the summer, we gathered at littleGrasse Foodworks for some conversation, some good homemade treats, and a tour of the farm from our 2015 Growing Community Award recipients, Flip Filippi and Bob Washo.

Bob and Flip give a farm tour.

Read some of our other highlights:

Day 7 - new collaborations to fight hunger

Day 6 - the people of GardenShare

Day 5 - Summer intern and "Farmer Friday"

Day 4 - New York State Council on Hunger and Food Policy

Day 3 - Local Food Guide

Day 2 - Making CSA's affordable

Day 1 - Growing Community Award

NY farmers donate 11.4 million pounds of food

In what has been a difficult growing season, New York’s farmers have still come through in a big way with food donations across the state. New York Farm Bureau members along with the Food Bank Association of New York State announced today that nearly 11.4 million pounds of fresh food and farm products have been donated by farmers this year through the month of November. That translates to nearly 10 million meals being provided to New Yorkers in need. And with a month to go in the donation effort, the large number is expected to climb. In addition, the New York Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee gave a $200 contribution today to the Food Bank Association of New York State.

Read more

Nature's Storehouse Raised Over $500 for GardenShare

Nature's Storehouse customers donated $505 to support GardenShare's work to solve the problem of hunger in the ten days before Thanksgiving.  Customers were asked to donate a $1 as their orders were checked out.

L to R, Gloria McAdam, Executive Director of GardenShare; Maria Corse, GardenShare Board of Directors;
and Rainbow Crabtree, Leslie Schwartz, and Lisa Lazenby from Nature's Storehouse.

"We're thrilled with these results," said Rainbow Crabtree, co-owner of Nature's Storehouse. "Our customers care about health and the environment and they were so generous with this promotion, it's clear they also care about their neighbors here in the North Country.  When asked for $1, a few even donated $10!"

"Thank you to everyone on the team at Nature's Storehouse and to all of the customers who donated," commented Gloria McAdam.  "For a small organization like GardenShare, this is a huge support and will make a significant difference in our year-round work to fight hunger in the region."

Nature's Storehouse raising money for GardenShare

Starting today, Nature's Storehouse will be asking their customers to support GardenShare during this season of Thanksgiving.  Customers will be invited to make a donation to GardenShare while checking out November 13 - 23 and have the option to add their name to a wall of donors.  When you stop in for healthy food for your Thanksgiving feast, you'll be able to support GardenShare's work to help ensure healthy food for all of our neighbors.

"Many people feel that healthy food is inaccessible. We are inspired by the work that Gardenshare does to help ensure access to healthy food, and we are proud to partner with them in this fundraising effort." Rainbow Crabtree, Co-Owner of Nature's Storehouse.

"All of us at GardenShare appreciate this so much," said Gloria McAdam, executive director of GardenShare.  "Nature's Storehouse customers care about fresh, healthy food and this promotion will give them the opportunity to help everyone in our community have access to locally grown food."

United Way supports GardenShare

GardenShare has partnered with the United Way of Northern New York for the first time this year.  United Way raises money for a variety of great charities in St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Lewis Counties and we are glad to be on the team.

Yesterday, Bob Gorman, President of United Way of NNY, came to Canton and presented a check for GardenShare to the Treasurer of our Board of Directors, Anneke Larrance.

GardenShare's allocation from the United Way this year is $1,800.

Thank you to everyone who has made a gift to the United Way and helped make this possible.

Second Annual Fight Hunger 5K

September 11, 2016

Second annual Fight Hunger 5K

Race - Fun Run - Walkathon

At the Remington Trail in Canton

Registration at 12:30 PM, Walkers leave at 1:00, Runners leave at 1:30

Run, walk, pull the kids in a wagon or push a stroller - whatever works for you!  Join us to raise awareness of the issue of hunger and funds for GardenShare.

How to get started:

Either fly solo or gather a team from work, school, or your place of worship!

Download the registration form and/or make a page on this website and start asking friends, family, classmates, and co-workers to make a donation to sponsor you.

Bring your signed registration form and any cash or checks you have collected to the registration booth on September 11.

Dress for the weather!

Thank you to these companies who have already signed up as sponsors:

Presenting Sponsors:

and

Friend Sponsors:

     Curran Renewable Energy

     North Country Savings Bank

     Save-a-Lot

     St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union

     Tupper Lake Supply

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield supports GardenShare

All Farmers Markets in St. Lawrence County are equipped to accept debit cards or SNAP-EBT benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called food stamps).  To use these cards, the customer should visit the Market Manager's booth, where the cards can be swiped and tokens will be provided to spend with the farmers.  GardenShare manages this service for the Farmers Markets and more information can be found here.

GardenShare President Carol Pynchon and Executive
Director Gloria McAdam, accept the award from
Jim Reed. Regional President, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield

This year, thanks to a generous grant from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, GardenShare will be able to double the value for anyone purchasing at the Farmers Market with a SNAP-EBT card.  For each $5.00 charged to the SNAP-EBT card, the customer will receive $10.00 worth of tokens that can be spent for SNAP approved items like fresh fruits and vegetables, seeds, or food plants at the Farmers Market.

In addition, SNAP-EBT customers will receive a frequent customer card.  After visiting and purchasing food at the market five different days, the SNAP-EBT customer will receive an additional $20.00 in tokens to be spent at the Farmers Market for these food items.  This benefit is also supported through the grant from Excellus BlueCross Blue Shield.