Salvation Army in Ansonia to hold community garden day Saturday

 

Salvation Army in Ansonia to hold community garden day April 11

ANSONIA - Community members and interested community gardeners are welcome to join us for this spring service day at Salvation Army's community garden, 26 Lester St.

We'll be doing mostly organizational work of getting beds ready for planting later in April or early May. Only steady rain cancels. 

Come prepared to shovel or rake; all tools provided. Stop by even if you have questions about getting involved in a garden this year!

Shared from The Salvation Army - Ansonia Facebook page.

Derby Public Library seeks volunteers to help with community garden

 

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host presentation by master gardener

DERBY - The Griffin Community Garden at Griffin Hospital is helping individuals learn to grow healthy fruits and vegetables with a free presentation on garden insects at 5 p.m. July 30.

This “Good Bug, Bad Bug” presentation will feature Master Gardener Robin Michalak discussing how to identify beneficial insects vs. insects that are pests and how to incorporate integrated pest management applications to prevent infestations. 

The event is part of the Garden’s Know to Grow Series, which aims to teach the Griffin Health community how to start gardens and to promote the health benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

Registration is required for this free event. Visit www.griffinhealth.org/good-bug-bad-bug to sign up or for more information.

Opened in 2018, the Griffin Community Garden is designed to engage its neighbors to actively participate in selecting, planting, maintaining, harvesting, and preserving fresh, nutritious produce. 

The garden is part of Griffin's commitment to its Planetree patient-centered care which stresses the importance of nutrition for overall health and well-being, and to help alleviate one of the biggest social obstacles to good health.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Salvation Army in Ansonia to hold clothing giveaway, garden fun Thursday

Happy National Salvation Army Week!! What are we doing to celebrate in the Greater Valley you ask… Doing some of what we do best!!

Come check us out on Thursday!!

Please Share!!

Salvation Army in Ansonia to host community garden season wrap up

 

Derby Public Library seeks volunteers to refresh community garden

 

Derby Public Library to host community garden

DPL's Community Garden

Join us weekly in the garden (Dates TBA)

Scan QR code or visit https://bit.ly/3xOGJvo to submit your background info and interests.

Learn how vegetables are grown and help us provide produce for the community.

No garden experience necessary. Just a willingness to get involved.

**funded in part by Valley Community Foundation

This is shared from Derby Public Library's Facebook page.

The Salvation Army's community garden in Ansonia open to all

Come by every week for a fun session in the garden.

This week we will be there TODAY July 3rd from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

For those interested in volunteering or participating as food recipients please contact Caty at valleycommgardens@gmail.com.

This is shared from The Salvation Army - Ansonia Facebook page.

Quinnipiac students clean up garden site behind Salvation Army HQ in Ansonia

 

ANSONIA - Quinnipiac University students recently cleared brush and prepared raised boxes at the community garden located behind Salvation Army headquarters in Ansonia.

Photos by Bob VanEgghen, chairman, Salvation Army Advisory Board 

A big thank you goes out to the students for their hard work getting the community garden ready for the season.

Team Rubicon assists with expansion of gardens at Little Free Pantry on Skokorat

Team Rubicon members gather at Little Free Pantry.

Volunteers take a break after assembling garden beds.

SEYMOUR - Team Rubicon members arrived Saturday at The Little Free Pantry on Skokorat to assist with expanding the pantry’s community garden footprint. Team Rubicon’s seven volunteers provided the manual labor to lay landscape fabric and mulch,cut, and assemble seven additional 4x8 garden beds, and fill them with almost 14 yards of compost and soil.

Team Rubicon is a national veteran-led humanitarian organization serving global communities before, during, and after disasters. They also offer an opportunity for our veterans to continue to utilize their talents and skills serving both locally and abroad. 

Team Rubicon connected with The Little Free Pantry on Skokorat through local business owner Lauren Cust of Tranquil Hive Honey Co. in Seymour. Cust is a member of TEAM Rubicon and also serves as the pantry’s beekeeping mentor. The Little Free Pantry on Skokorat first opened on July 4, 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.The initial goal of the pantry was to provide an additional community resource for neighbors struggling to put food on the table. 

Its mission now includes organizing, advocacy, education as part of All In For Seymour and the broader All In Movement throughout the Valley. 

All In groups from Ansonia/Derby, Shelton, Oxford, and Milford are working with TEAM, Inc., a national leader in not-for-profit management and program performance in the field of human services, early childhood, family support, and community engagement in Derby. The goal of All in for Seymour and the broader All In Movement is to advocate for everyone to access to a safe and affordable place to live, a place where access to food is secure, and place in the decision-making that affects our lives. 

The Little Free Pantry on Skokorat is run by Seymour native Jenny Rice along with her husband and two children out of their home at 58 Skokorat St. 

The site is open 24/7 and includes the pantry, a little free library, community garden, and off-street parking space. 

This is a press release from The Little Free Pantry on Skokorat.

Cassetti, volunteers prepare Valley United Way garden in Ansonia

Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti starts planting a row of collard greens Thursday afternoon.

Volunteers work Thursday afternoon at the community garden on Central Street.

ANSONIA - The Valley United Way’s "Grow Your Own Garden Party 2019" was held Thursday with the first garden planting on Central Street. Several volunteers including Mayor David S.Cassetti and members of his staff assisted with garden prepping. 

This is VUW's third season of gardening success throughout area towns.

Community gardens have also been set up elsewhere in the city: at Gatison Park on Fourth Street, Valley YMCA, Howard Avenue (across from the Boys & Girls Club) and a debut garden at the Salvation Army.

The gardens are open to all city residents who volunteer to plant, maintain, and harvest as needed. 

Anyone interested in becoming a garden volunteer or with related questions can call Yvette Thompson, 203-926-9478.

This information is shared from the City of Ansonia Facebook page.

Ansonia Nature Center offers gardening, readies Earth Day celebration

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, will offer a variety of fun and educational activities in April.

ACOG MEMBERSHIP DRIVE – April 6, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. 

Are you interested in getting your own garden plot over by the Ansonia Nature Center? 
Stop by the ANC, learn about ACOG (the Ansonia Community Organic Gardens), and sign up for a plot! $20 for a 20' x 40' plot; $10 for a 20' x 20' plot; and $10 per small elevated bed.

ACOG ANNUAL MEETING – April 7, 10:30–11:30 a.m. 

Are you a new or returning member of the Ansonia Community Organic Gardens? Come to their first official meeting of the gardening season! Find out what's going on at the gardens and how you can help! Open to all ACOG members. FREE!

WHITTLING 101: Carving a Bird – April 7, 2 p.m.

Using local soft pine wood from the Nature Center, Ranger Amie will teach safe carving techniques and show how to make a small bird carving using a mat knife. She will show some of her own carvings for inspiration. 
This class is geared for teens 16 years of age and up as well as adults.  Registration and release forms are required. Class size is very limited. FEE: $10. 

SPRING TERM JUNIOR RANGERS – Thursdays, April 11–June 6, 3:30–5 p.m.

Calling all children 11-14 years old who love nature! Has your child wanted to work with animals, garden, help maintain our trails, and help with special events? This is the opportunity to help the Nature Center during our 8-week after school program. Parental permission is required. 
Registration began in March. Class size is limited; this class fills up fast!  FREE.

CONSERVATION PROJECT: Wood Duck Box Installation – April 13, 10 a.m.

Be a part of maintaining healthy habitat for the wild native animal species that call the Ansonia Nature Center home. Join Ranger Dan in an introduction to the benefits of artificial nesting structures for birds. Take a short walk to our pond, where Dan will install a newly constructed Wood Duck box. Children must be accompanied by an adult. FEE: $6 per person. Please register.

SPRING NATURE DAYS – April 15–18, 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

For children from 6 to 11 years old who love the outdoors and wildlife, these popular classes will not only be educational but also a chance to explore our 156 acres. 
We will visit a variety of habitats in the park such as wetlands, fields, and woodlands. Great time of the year for amphibian searches too! TUITION: $125 priority students (Ansonia residents and current family-level FANCI members), $150 all others. 
(While you’re here, register for Summer Nature Days! See the notice at the end of the calendar!)

GETTING YOUR GARDEN READY – April 17, 6–8 p.m.

Join Massaro Community Farm and the Ansonia Nature Center for a workshop at the Nature Center. We'll share steps to prepping or starting your garden for spring and summer plantings. Learn organic techniques to grow a healthy and bountiful garden. 
Register online at MassaroFarm.org. 

FAMILY ORGANIC GARDEN PROGRAM – Tuesdays, Apr. 23–June 18, 3:30–5 p.m.

We’ll lead fun, family-friendly activities in our organic garden. Learn about growing a variety of fruits and vegetables. Dress appropriately; you will get water and/or soil on your clothing. FREE, with the potential to take home fresh local produce!

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION – April 27, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Every day is Earth Day at the Nature Center! We invite you to honor Mother Earth with our Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. co-hosting this annual event. Enjoy hikes, live animals, music, environmental exhibitors, interactive activities with Nature Center staff, and more! 
Food and snacks available from local vendors. No park admission fee. All ages welcome; bring family and friends to celebrate Spring!

***ONGOING PROGRAMS***  

Creature Features – Saturdays, noon.
Come to meet our furry, scaly, and feathery animal ambassadors. You’ll have the chance to touch and hold them in this FREE family program for all ages.

Sunday Guided Hikes – Sundays, 1 p.m.

Join a Nature Center guide on Sunday afternoons for fun, exercise, and learning about our trails! See the above listings for hikes with a specific theme.

Monday Night Trail Run – Mondays, April–June, 5:30-6:30 pm

This is a call to all of the runners who want something out of the ordinary! Ranger Dan will lead you through our 156-acre park’s network of trails, while you burn off the weekend's extra calories. We guarantee that this program is the best way to start your week. FREE; must register and wear appropriate footwear. Adults only. Class dates are subject to change.

Fiber Arts Group – Tuesdays, 6 p.m.

Get together with others to work on your fiber arts projects! Bring any kind of fiber work—knitting, felting, crocheting, etc. A great way to dedicate time to your handiwork and socialize too. FREE.


This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center. 

Griffin Hospital in Derby, Valley United Way to host cooking demo

Cooking demonstration slated at Griffin Hospital Community Garden./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital and the Valley United Way will host a free cooking demonstration  from 4-5 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Griffin Community Garden in front of the hospital, 130 Division St.

Chef Remo Santilli, Director of Food Services at Griffin Hospital, will demonstrate how to make a quick, easy, and delicious summer dish which highlights some of the fresh vegetables in the Griffin Community Garden.

The event is free and open to everyone. For more information, call the Valley United Way at 203-926-9478.

Grow Your Own initiative

The Griffin Community Garden is part of the Valley United Way’s Grow Your Own initiative, which helps bring fresh produce to residents who need assistance getting healthy food. With gardens in Derby, Ansonia, Seymour, and Oxford, Grow Your Own is designed to engage Valley neighborhood residents to actively participate in selecting, planting, maintaining, harvesting, and preserving fresh, nutritious produce. 

The ultimate goal is to help “food insecure” residents obtain healthy fruits and vegetables to supplement what they are currently getting from local food pantries – as well as to encourage neighborhood residents to start their own gardens and improve their eating habits, helping alleviate one of the biggest social obstacles to good health.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital, Valley United Way partner to create garden in Derby

 'Grow Your Own' initiative

Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital and the Valley United Way recently celebrated the opening of a new community garden at the hospital that aims to grow good health in community.

Located at the intersection of Division Street and Seymour Avenue, the 2,000 square foot Griffin Hospital Community Garden is part of the Valley United Way’s Grow Your Own initiative, which helps bring fresh produce to residents who need assistance getting healthy food. 
The garden has 12 raised beds to grow a variety of vegetables and herbs, including broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, chard, collards, onions, eggplant, thyme, basil and parsley.

Griffin sponsored the construction of the garden, but the project was a community effort with donations of funds, supplies and labor from Haynes Group, RD Scinto, Nicolock Paving Stones, The American Heart Association, Ion Bank, and Aetna. 
Valley United Way volunteers filled the beds and will tend to the plants.

“Griffin is pleased to join the United Way in the Grow Your Own effort,” said Griffin Hospital President and CEO Patrick Charmel. “Griffin believes that hospitals should lead the transformation of the U.S. health care delivery system by shifting the industry’s focus away from being a reactive sick care provider to being a population health manager that addresses the underlying causes of disease and acute episodes resulting from poorly managed chronic illness.  
"By assisting community residents to add more fruits and vegetables to their diet and improve their nutrition, we can help prevent or control many chronic diseases in both children and adults putting them on a path to better health and well-being.”

This is the 10th Community Garden in the United Way’s Grow Your Own Program.  
With gardens in Derby, Ansonia, Seymour and Oxford, “Grow Your Own” is designed to engage Valley neighborhood residents to actively participate in selecting, planting, maintaining, harvesting, and preserving fresh, nutritious produce. The ultimate goal of this is to help “food insecure” residents obtain healthy fruits and vegetables to supplement what they are currently getting from local food pantries – as well as to encourage neighborhood residents to start their own gardens and improve their eating habits, helping alleviate one of the biggest social obstacles to good health.

In addition to addressing the nutritional needs of the community, the garden features a welcoming patio design with chairs and benches for residents to enjoy the peaceful outdoor atmosphere and to participate in nutrition and healthy lifestyle educational programs that will be held in the garden.  

Contributed photo 

Griffin Hospital and the Valley United Way recently celebrated the opening of the Griffin Community Gardens. Attending the celebration were, from left, Valley United Way board member Joseph Pagliaro Jr., Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan, and Griffin Hospital President and CEO Patrick Charmel.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Seymour to start community garden

Sharing from the Office of the Seymour First Selectman's Facebook page:

Seymour is getting a community garden! 
We have partnered with the Valley United Way to create a community garden at the Community Center that will benefit those in our community who suffer from food scarcity. 
If you're interested in volunteering, please see the attached flyer for information. 
Also, come to our kickoff event Friday, May 4, if you're interested!

Derby schedules signups for Osbornedale Community Gardens

Sharing info from Derby Town Clerk Marc J. Garofalo's Facebook page:

DERBY - Signups for community garden spots at Osbornedale State Park will be held from 7-9 p.m. April 9 at Derby City Hall, 1 Elizabeth St.

Do you want to plant a garden but don't have the space? Come sign up for a plot of land at the Osbornedale Community Gardens. They will answer questions too.