Have you noticed Rondout Valley farm fields waking up? Snow is gone. Farmers are prepping the fields -- replacing fall cover crops, turning the earth, planting seeds and welcoming in a new generation of calves, kids and chicks. Birds are breaking into song. Plant life is popping, browns glow green in new growth as tree blossoms sweeten the air. Spring is decidedly here!
It is an exciting time in the fields and at RVGA as well, with several new projects in the hopper with students and the community, and programs experiencing major growth.
• Since RVGA's founding nearly 15 years ago, the number of farms joining with us has doubled -- from 35 to over 70!
• Over 68,000 lbs. of fresh produce was donated last year by 17 growers to our Farm to Food Pantry program, with new partners joining us to support food security in Ulster County. Since 2009 this program has blossomed from 22,000 pounds donated by four farms distributed to a dozen food pantries to today with more than 17 participating farms and food to over 30 food pantries!
• The number of attendees at our annual Harvest Hoedown/Barn Dance and Local Food Barbecue has more than doubled, from 200 to over 500 people of all ages enjoying the Rondout Valley bounty and dancing their boots off!
We are thrilled to be making such an impact on our community and are more committed than ever to keeping local farming strong.
As this springtime vibrancy reaches its peak, we are jumping in with an ambitious goal: from now until Memorial Day, raising $5,000 dollars to help cover the day-to-day costs of our organization: putting gas in our Farm to Food Pantry delivery truck, updating our Grower Directory, enriching our educational programming for farmers, students and the community at large...Keeping the lights on, and so much more.
Help us rise to the spring challenge, by making making a tax-deductible donation to RVGA!
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