August always brings to mind new beginnings as the kids get ready to head back to school for what we hope will be a year full of wonder and friends. If the turn toward fall rouses your desire for knowledge and community too, check out this month’s Fork and Spade offerings!
This fall Grow Food Northampton is hosting several workshops at the Grow Food Community Farm on Meadow Street in Florence. First workshop: Pollinator Health and Diversity in the Garden, on Sept. 15, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
This is an interactive workshop about pollinator health and diversity in your garden. We’ll start with a tour of the Pollinator Garden managed by members of the Western Mass Master Gardener Association. UMass Extension Educator Hannah Whitehead will talk about native bee diversity and demonstrate a common bee monitoring protocol. Participants will have a chance to practice this technique in different sections of the Community Garden, and we will compare our findings. Signups are open. (See below for link.)
Other fall workshops include Cover Cropping (mid-September); Composting in Small Spaces (October 11); and Sugar Beets: History, Harvesting, and Processing (early to mid-October). Specific times and details for all workshops are being worked out and will be found on the Grow Food website as plans are finalized. Keep an eye out! All information and signups will be posted here: www.growfoodnorthampton.org/fall-22-workshops/
In other news, Grow Food’s Tuesday Market has hit peak season! Summer crops are starting to cross over with fall crops — a bounty of options for late summer cooking. While you’re there, check out the 2022 Tuesday Market poster, which was recently awarded 1st place in the 2022 National Farmers Market Poster Contest sponsored by Farm Aid and the Farmers Market Coalition! Judges cited the Tuesday Market poster, which features a beautiful illustration by artist Sabrina Dorsainvil, specifically because “its message of inclusivity allows anyone to see themselves as part of the local food community.” The market runs until November 8.
And finally, if you are looking to do some extra good in the community this fall, volunteers are needed for both produce deliveries to food insecure neighborhoods in Northampton, and harvesting and tending the beds at the Giving Garden. Produce from the Giving Garden is donated to Star Light Center and Manna Community Kitchen, where it’s cooked into delicious meals. Families, individuals, and groups are welcome! Details about volunteering here: https://www.growfoodnorthampton.org/volunteer/
Inflation has not stopped the indomitable Manna Community Kitchen from their mission as they continue to serve healthy, nourishing meals six days a week. Recently they had their busiest day ever (other than a holiday meal), serving and delivering 334 meals to the Northampton community. Meal hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Johns; Wednesdays 6 to 7 p.m. at St. Johns; and Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Edwards Church.
In addition to meals, Manna’s Resilience Hub, located downstairs at St. Johns Church, is open for folks to shower, do laundry and get any needed peer and counseling support. And now, every Monday, guests can also get a wellness check with community primary care physician Dr. Bossie. Community Center hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Community Center’s many services are wonderful and also not cheap to maintain. Between staffing, hot water, clothing and other expenses, it costs $500 a day to keep the Center’s doors open. Manna is looking for generous souls and/or businesses who would be interested in sponsoring a day at the Community Center.
If you would like to volunteer or help support Manna, please contact Kaitlyn Ferrari at kaitlyn@mannanorthampton.org, or go to mannanorthampton.org.