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Hello!
My name is Jordan and I live on a decommissioned airforce base in rural Upper Peninsula Michigan called K.I. Sawyer. Though it was once thriving with the hustle and bustle of airforce soldiers, these days it consists of around 3,000 residents and there is not much happening economically. Prior to the pandemic there was already a serious lack of access to affordable, nutritious fresh foods. The pandemic highlighted cracks in the food system including how and where it is grown, manufactured and distributed. In the UP Michigan we import over 90% of our food! The exposure of these cracks via empty shelves has left many people (including me!) feeling insecure about our food sources.
As a problem solver and someone whose career has previously been in event production, I suddenly had time to do some research last April 2020. Which is when I discovered Victory Gardens! In 1942 the government asked people to help support the war effort by supporting themselves through gardening. By 1944 (Just 2 years later!) victory gardens accounted for 40 percent of all the fresh fruits and vegetables consumed in the United States (inspiration!).
We may not have a grocery store but we do have plenty of land-- and where better to revive Victory gardens than on a decommissioned airforce base? After talking to some community members I discovered these barriers to growing their own food: Time and location- people are busy (especially parents!) they don't want to drive or take a long walk to a community garden every day. In their own yard the soil quality is sandy and in need of compost and amending. The cost of starting with tools, seeds, starts, containers, compost and soil just seemed too high. Last but not least, knowledge and confidence- they "wouldn't even know where to start."
Taking this into consideration I put my Event Production skills into action to design, plan and produce a pilot program around the clients needs (#my neighbors) and designed Let's Grow KI!-- Empowering young parents with the tools, knowledge and confidence to grow, prepare and preserve nutritious food for themselves and their families, at their own homes.
But we need some help! We have scheduled and confirmed the instructors and have partnered with multiple local organizations whose missions are aligned to help provide us with resources, but we still need a fiscal boost to get this party started- removing the barriers of cost and providing them with needed containers, soil, compost, seeds, transplants and garden tools along with any kitchen tools needed to prepare those foods and 12- hands on workshops between June and October!
There is an old adage that if you give a man a fish, they will eat for a day but if you teach a man to fish he will eat for a life time. Your donation will not only teach someone how to fish it will point out the best fishing holes, provide them with the pole, line and tackle and show them how to gut and cook the fish. DISCLAIMER: The "fish" will actually be vegetables.
Thank you so much for your time! If you can't donate, please consider sharing with your friends and family. Also please consider gardening! People have been doing it for thousands of years all over the planet-- you can too!!!
Sincerely,
Jordan Russell
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