CommUNITY Hero! Michael Pearson

A few years ago I met Michael. He had just returned to Manitowoc after trying life in Colorado. He returned home for family reasons and to do some good in his hometown.  I was impressed with his maturity and his drive, but I was especially impressed with his willingness to take a risk and to do without material gain or status to help Manitowoc recreate itself into something better. 

 Michael is my own personal hero!

He successfully described the Grow It Forward dream and brought a whole lot of people right along with him.

Early yesterday, before getting myself to the Clipper City Co-op table at the YMCA Earth Day event, I visited the site for the new community garden. There were at least 250 people working together with huge smiles on their faces, in spite of the chilly spring morning. Buildings, fences, fruit & nut trees, mounds of soil, and especially gorgeous people of all kinds working together!

I was overwhelmed! I have to admit that I shed a few tears of joy! Michael - YOU DID IT!

I take my hat off to Michael - and to all the volunteers - you are my heroes!

If you have not been out there yet then I suggest that you jump on your bike - or on the bus - or even take your car - and get over there and see the beginning of this amazing place.
This is just the beginning of something great and together we can grow an amazing food movement to feed ourselves and our neighbors. Lets GROW IT FORWARD - together!

Grow It Forward - 2015

From Michael Pearson at Grow It Forward - an exciting new Community Garden in Manitowoc

Over the past year members of Grow It Forward Inc., a non-profit community organization, have been working to develop a community education garden to increase awareness, availability, and accessibility to healthy, locally grown food. Grow It Forward's mission is to connect our community by growing food and educating for the future in the areas we live, work, and play. Community gardens promote healthy eating and provide food security for many low to moderate income persons. In an urban setting, community gardens are more than just a place to grow food. Community gardens strengthen community bonds and create recreational and therapeutic opportunities for a community. They also promote environmental awareness and provide community education. Many urban gardens exist in surrounding communities.

Currently we are developing an organically tended raised bed garden featuring lush vegetables, fruits, trees, flowers, and herbs at South 14th Street Community Garden (2344 S. 14th Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220). Mulched paths will lead visitors and gardeners of all ages through the raised beds with places to pause and reflect on the wonders of nature and enjoy a few pieces of garden related art installation. Clearings, surrounded by benches will provide space for personal reflection, to gather with friends, or to read a book from our on-site library. The garden will be just as conducive to growing food as it will be to growing relationships with food, neighbors, and nature.

Moreover, this nearly 2 acre site will be used as a community garden for local gardeners and as a model-urban farm for Grow It Forward to supply fresh-produce to Manitowoc residents. At the farm, community members learn gardening basics from Grow It Forward staff and have the opportunity to plant, tend, and harvest their own plot.  The South 14th Street Community Garden includes space for Grow It Forward to:

• Grow produce in raised beds for area residents
• Provide training and education of community residents who use allotment plots
• Encourage and assist in youth development, team building, and self esteem
• Support community outreach through education programs (Both garden and nutrition based)
• Provides availability of locally grown fresh, safe and healthy food that is grown using organic tended methods

Grow It Forward, in partnership with the United Way Day of Caring and Comcast Cares Day, are pleased to announce their Ground Breaking Event on Saturday, April 25th beginning at 8:00AM.  The United Way's Day of Caring and Comcast Cares Day is a nationwide day of community service.  Activities that day will include building and installing garden beds, filling beds with soil, laying mulch in paths, fence instillation, tree planting, and more!  If interested in volunteer opportunities for the United Way Day of Caring & Comcast Cares Day, either as an individual or group, or are interested in donating to the cause, please call 920-682-8888.

This summer we plan to kick-off our Garden Steward program, which is at the heart of Grow It Forward's mission.  The program will be offered to individuals or service groups who are willing to "Grow It Forward". Garden Stewards will be offered garden plots, use of tools, equipment, and water for plants at no charge!  Additionally, a select amount of seeds and started plants will be available for free to those that may need them. In addition to tending your own garden bed, this opportunity is made available only to those participating 6-8 hours each month throughout the growing season with general garden up-keep; assistance with the donation, education, and demonstration garden beds; support with on and off site activities; and are willing to donate a portion of your produce to need-based organizations.  For those interested in a raised bed but cannot commit to the Garden Steward program we will have additional beds available to rent.

Over the next few years, we plan to create educational programing, develop a food forest focused on perennial crops like fruit and nut trees and shrubs, and evaluate the potential to expand the model to other neighborhoods in Manitowoc and the surrounding area.  Grow It Forward is currently developing a Youth Garden program. This program will offer gardening, arts, nutrition, and environmental education to our community’s children. Children of all ages from area community centers, daycares, and schools will have an opportunity to plant and maintain garden beds, and participate in arts and other projects at South 14th Street Park. These young gardeners will get to regularly sample the fruits of their labor right off the vine, and may have an opportunity to take home some of the produce that they've grown. Produce from the Youth Garden will also be used for cooking lessons, community meals, and donations to needs-based organizations, community centers, and food pantries.

A visit to Artesian Fresh Farm

On a typical cold March day, we had the pleasure of joining farmer and entrepreneur Sam Lensmire, at his family farm, where he is growing greens all year round in arctic CLEVELAND, WISCONSIN!  

The Lensmire family farm has been operating for 25 years, mostly as a dairy farm. These lucky bovine creatures (and people) benefit from having their own amazing Artesian well right there on the property. The cattle are fed Lensmire’s hydroponically grown Barley or Wheat greens that are so brilliantly green they make your eyes pop out on a cold gray Wisconsin day! This family is dedicated to running a hormone free and natural, pesticide free farm, and all the plants, animals, and people are nourished by the amazing water. 

Twenty-one year old Sam was studying agriculture at LTC, but for health reasons he needed to return home and find another way to make a living. In February of 2014, Sam decided to start growing Micro greens for people, using this special water. Seeds he uses are GMO free, and some are Organic. 

Micro greens are certain vegetables and herbs that are harvested when quite young. These greens are used for salads, garnishes, omelettes,or sprinkled over entrees. They can be grown throughout the year - even in the winter if a green house is supplemented with heat and lights. 

At Artesian Fresh the micro greens are grown hydroponically with only fresh artesian water and light. According to research done by the University of Maryland Department of Nutrition and Food Science (2012), Micro greens have about 5 times more nutrients than mature plants. 

Sam is often asked, “What is the difference between sprouts & micro greens?”

His answer is that “sprouts are grown in dark, high humidity containers which can breed bacteria, and the seed root and sprout are consumed. In contrast, micro greens are grown in open trays with light and harvested when the plant reaches 1-3” and you consume the plant only - not the seed or roots. Micro greens are healthier.” 

We learned that Micro greens are tiny plants grown from seed to a height of 2-3 inches and include the stem and first leaves. 

Pea Micro greens have 4 times more Vitamin A than tomatoes & 7 times more Vitamin C than Blueberries - (Vitacress)

Sunflower Micro greens - high in fiber, protein, essential fatty acids, Vitamins A, B complex, C, D, and E. They also contain calcium, phosphorus, iron, iodine, potassium, magnesium, and the trace elements zinc, manganese, copper, and chromium. (Living Whole Foods, Inc.)

Radish Micro greens - high in Vitamin C, E, K and they taste like a radish. - (Good Water farms)

Sam is selling his Micro greens to a few restaurants, such as the Court House Pub in Manitowoc, and the Field to Fork Restaurant in Sheboygan. He also sells to some private parties and groups, and at Winter and Farmer’s markets. 

I took home samples of four types of greens which I used in salads and added to a stir fry (at the very end of the cooking time to maintain all those vitamins!). I also sprinkled them on omeletes and tacos. They were amazingly fresh looking and tasting - exactly what my family needed on these cold Wisconsin days. 

You can call Sam at 920-646-0036 if you are interested in purchasing Micro greens, or email him at artesianfresh@gmail.com for more information. 

Why a blog?

Why a blog?

Our Facebook page and website offer two perspectives of who we are, but I felt that our ongoing story needed to be told with words and images in yet another way.

When?

I will be posting 2-3 times a month.

What do I have to say?

Well this will unfold organically, but here are a few thoughts as we begin:

1. "Our co-op story is really YOUR story?"

By this I mean that Clipper City Co-op exists to bring the community together.  As a democratic organization our owner/members ARE the Co-op.  So, this blog will

tell many stories.  

• Who is growing and producing food?
• What are the needs of our families and individual
• Who are our community members?

2. Love of Neighbor:

Local support of our neighbors will enhance our local economy and our individual well-being at the same time.

• Who are our neighbors?  
• Why might it make sense to buy a locally produced bar of soap, or bag of greens, rather than one produced by a large corporation in some far away place?  
• How can we do this together?

3. The Food Movement:

There is positive change in the air!  OUR health depends on taking control of our food.  

• Who is making this happen, and how can we take part? 

From our own steering committee members to the people starting community gardens and health task forces, I will tell you what I know about and I also hope to learn from you. What is going on in YOUR neck of the woods? We will find ways to start a two way conversation.

Who am I?

Jill Iverson - A founding member of the Clipper City Co-op Steering Committee and I will be the voice of the blog, but will encourage others to write stories or share photos.

Feel free to read my bio on the Clipper City Co-op  website for more information, but in a nutshell I am a foodie, a chef, a lover of community, a gardener, a long term co-op owner/member, a mother of two sons, a wife, a sailor, a veteran, an artist, and most importantly, I am YOUR neighbor. Thanks for taking the time to look in.

         

Yours in community,

                         

 Jill