Building Resilience in Appalachia

Here at CFI it has been a busy few months building resilience in Southeast Ohio. We are happy to share with you several program updates that have been helping us continue on the quest of building resilience in our region. 

• This fall in October our Gardens Program Coorindator Basil Stein gave seven workshops in all Athens County Public Library locations. The workshops discussed how to use food scraps and leftover greens to plant microgreens and other scraps in jars to grow new edible foods.
  
  
• Our Donation Station is on track this year to match the poundage that we distributed to low socioeconomic individuals last year via local partner food pantries and other locations. As of November, we have distributed 62,000 pounds of produce.
  
  
• In September, 3 members of our staff, 1 community member, and 2 Ohio University students had the opportunity to attend the Nourishing Networks Train the Trainer Conference at West Virginia University Jackson Mills. We had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the Nourishing Networks curriculum and connect with other food access specialists from across the state of West Virginia to discuss best practices and best ways to reach food insecure individuals. We are excited to be planning and organizaing our first Nourishing Networks trainings to be held in Nelsonville in early 2020.
  
  
• Our School Gardens curriculum has made its debut in two local elementary schools, which includes doing hands on gardens work with 126 first graders allowing them to spend time in the school garden and discover new fruits and vegetables. Our Gardens Program Director and Sprouts volunteers have already taught over 28 lessons to the first graders.

As this is the season of gratitude, we here at CFI are thankful and gracious for all those who take part in sharing the harvest with us. Whether it be donating to our campaign or contributing volunteer hours, we are all very thankful that you have shared your harvest with us during this year. We hope all our well-wishers have a very Happy Thanksgiving!