Shared Harvest™

Through Sept 28

2009-09-28T07:49:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of the Farmer's Market Vendors and Individual Gardeners who are giving so generously. Our top donor is K&K Honey Farms, who has given over half a ton of corn and other vegetables.

Week Donated Food (in Pounds)
8-Jun 95
15-Jun 155
22-Jun 158
29-Jun 268
6-Jul 133
13-Jul 237
20-Jul 194
27-Jul 365
3- Aug 1,831
10-Aug 883
17-Aug 1,445
24-Aug 2,156
31-Aug 1,077
7 -Sept 1,437
14-Sept 2,293
21-Sept 1,191

Grand Total 13,918

Adopt A Tomato Newsletter

2009-07-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Foster Families:

Thank you again for adopting orphan tomatoes. Now for some news to help you foster your new friend.

1. Your tomatoes planted a week or more ago should be taking off. Some may have flowers that will be tomatoes in a few weeks. Some may already have small tomatoes.

2. It May Be Time to Think About Giving Them a Stake or a Tomato Hoop to lean on.

3. Remember to Feed and Water your Adopted Plants Once a Week. Last week and this week were dry, so you might want to check your tomatoes out on Tuesday or Wednesday to see if they are thirsty.

4. Nurse a Tomato Line: If your Tomato is looking sickly (or if you have any other questions about plants), call the Winnebago County Plant Health Advisory Hot Line at 920-232-1986 or visit the Master Gardener Booth next to the Shared Harvest Tent at the Oshkosh Farmer’s Market.

5. At the Farmer’s Market: Shared Harvest will be promoting produce adoptions of some kind each week What's next? We can't always say for sure, but we will have Coffee Grounds for Hungry Tomatoes and Forget-Me-Nots on Saturday, July 11. . . So stop by every week and check us out.

Weekly Report

2009-07-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

Contents in This Report

1. Last Week
2. Coming Up
3. Volunteer Opportunities.
4. Adopt a Tomato
5. What do volunteers do at the Farmer's Markets?
________________________________

1. Last Week: Donations and Networking – Thank You Vendors and Other Donors
Tuesday Festival Foods Farmer's Market - not open (starts July 14).
Wednesday, Downtown Farmer's Market – not open
Saturday City Hall Farmer's Market - Mike Audit, Sherry Lynch & Ken Friedman helped around 40 families adopt tomatoes, peppers and onions and collected 178 pounds of produce. Total to date: 431 pounds.
Saturday Lorraine Yarbough checked the Sawyer Street Market. The vendors had already given downton.
Sunday, Sawyer Street Market – Lorraine Yarborough collected produce on Sunday
WEEK BY WEEK

Week Donated Food (in Pounds)
8-Jun 95
15-Jun 155
22-Jun 158
29-Jun 268

Grand Total 676

Adopt A Tomato: 390 Adoptions

* Including a chicken from a CSA and about 18 loaves of Great Harvest Bread.
**Adoptions and Volunteer are estimates for first four weeks

2. Coming Up: This Week And Next:
Tuesday: Christine Anne garden program

Wednesday: Salvation Army will collect donated produce from downtown.
Christine Anne garden program

Saturday: Oshkosh Southwest & Friday Rotary will staff the Oshkosh Farmer's Market.
There will be more veggies available for adoption at the farmer's market.
Lorraine Yarborough will check the Sawyer St. Farmer’s Market

Sunday: Curt Reese will collect donated produce from the Sawyer St. Farmer’s market
(open Sunday and Saturday)
Christine Anne garden program

3. Volunteer Opportunities:

Tuesday: Festival Food Farmer's Market volunteers: Two shifts: 8 to 10:30 and 10:15 to 1 PM Tuesdays: July 14 to October 15.
Saturday: Oshkosh Farmer's Market at City Hall volunteers: Two Shifts 8 to 10:30 and 10:15 to 1 PM Tuesdays July 14 to October 15.
Saturday: Oshkosh Area Food Pantry needs volunteers on Saturday morning.
Saturday: Sawyer Street Farmer's Market:
Any day: Potters needed to start pots of orphan vegetables and herbs for farmer's markets. 50 to 100 starts needed each week.
Food Pantries and Meal programs: current list of locations and hours is attached.

Schiek's Kolpein Street Farm: Starting in mid-July Rotary and the Oshkosh Community Pantry will collect from produce farmers on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

4. Adopt A Tomato

Your Tomatoes planted a week or more ago should be taking off. Some May Have Small Tomatoes. May Have Flowers That Will Be Tomatoes in a Few Weeks.

It May Be Time to Think About Giving Them a Stake or a Tomato Hoop to lean on.

Remember to Feed and Water your Adopted Plants Once a Week. We will have Coffee Grounds for Your Tomatoes on July 11.

Shared Harvest will be promoting produce adoptions of some kind each week.
What's next? We can't say for sure, but keep tuned. We are watching our hot peppers, onions, tomatoes and herbs.

5. What do Volunteers Do at Farmer's Markets?

Specific Instructions for each market will be at the booth and/or emailed to volunteers. Volunteers introduce themselves to all of the vendors at the farmer's market and hand out our brochure and plastic bags (while they last). Volunteers collect produce from individual and from vendors at the end of the market. Volunteers give introduce themselves to vendors, shake their hand and say "Thank you." After the market. take the donations to the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry on Jackson Street who will coordinate donations to all pantries in the area. Volunteers must also dismantle the booth and return the tent, sign, etc. to the food pantry or to Ken Friedman's office at 141 N. Sawyer St.

Thank you everybody. Remember to volunteer to help at the downtown market and (later this summer) at Festival Foods. And call me if you have questions.

Newsletter Week of June 30

2009-06-30T13:38:00.000-07:00

Contents in This Report

1. Coming Up
2. Volunteer Opportunities.
3. Last Week
4. Adopt a Tomato
5. What do volunteers do at the Farmer's Markets?
________________________________

1. Coming Up: This Week And Next:
Tuesday: Christine Anne garden program

Wednesday: Salvation Army will collect donated produce from downtown.
Christine Anne garden program

Saturday: Downtown Rotary will staff the Oshkosh Farmer's Market.
There will be more veggies available for adoption at the farmer's market.
Lorraine Yarborough will check the Sawyer St. Farmer’s Market

Sunday: Curt Reese will collect donated produce from the Sawyer St. Farmer’s market
(open Sunday and Saturday 11-4)
Christine Anne garden program

2. Volunteer Opportunities:

Tuesday: Festival Food Farmer's Market volunteers: Two shifts: 8 to 10:30 and 10:15 to 1 PM Tuesdays July 14 to October 15.
Saturday: Oshkosh Farmer's Market at City Hall volunteers: Two Shifts 8 to 10:30 and 10:15 to 1 PM Tuesdays July 14 to October 15.
Saturday: Oshkosh Area Food Pantry needs volunteers on Saturday morning.
Saturday: Sawyer Street Farmer's Market:
Any day: Potters needed to start pots of orphan vegetables and herbs for farmer's markets. 50 to 100 starts needed each week.
Food Pantries and Meal programs: current list of locations and hours is attached.

Schiek's Kolpein Street Farm: Starting in mid-July Rotary and the Oshkosh Community Pantry will collect from produce farmers on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

3. Last Week: Donations and Networking – Thank You Vendors and Other Donors
Tuesday Festival Foods Farmer's Market - not open (starts July 14).
Wednesday, Downtown Farmer's Market - Salvation Army collected lettuce and other greens/
Saturday City Hall Farmer's Market - Roberta & Walt Messer, Lorraine Yarborough and Cecil Streeter helped around 70 families adopt tomatoes and collected 178 pounds of produce. Total to date: 431 pounds.
Saturday Lorraine Yarbough checked the Sawyer Street Market. The vendors had already given downton.
Sunday, Sawyer Street Market – Lorraine Yarborough collected produce on Sunday
All Week: Oshkosh Area Community Pantry: Has facilitated more than 125 adoptions of tomatoes and peppers. Peppers are popular

4. Adopt A Tomato

Adopted Last Week - around 70
Total Adoptions 2009 – around 400

Your Tomatoes planted a week or more ago should be taking off. Some May Have Flowers That Will Be Tomatoes in a Few Weeks.

It May Be Time to Think About Giving Them a Stake or a Tomato Hoop to lean on.

Remember to Feed and Water your Adopted Plants Once a Week.

Shared Harvest will be promoting produce adoptions of some kind each week.
What's next? We can't say for sure, but keep tuned. We are watching our hot peppers, onions, tomatoes and herbs.

5. What do Volunteers Do at Farmer's Markets?

Specific Instructions for each market will be at the booth and/or emailed to volunteers. Volunteers introduce themselves to all of the vendors at the farmer's market and hand out our brochure and plastic bags (while they last). Volunteers collect produce from individual and from vendors at the end of the market. Volunteers give introduce themselves to vendors, shake their hand and say "Thank you." After the market. take the donations to the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry on Jackson Street who will coordinate donations to all pantries in the area. Volunteers must also dismantle the booth and return the tent, sign, etc. to the food pantry or to Ken Friedman's office at 141 N. Sawyer St.

Thank you everybody. Remember to volunteer to help at the downtown market and (later this summer) at Festival Foods. And call me if you have questions.

Shared Harvest Update: Week of June 15

2009-06-25T13:13:00.000-07:00

Contents in This Report

1. Coming Up
2. Volunteer Opportunities.
3. Last Week
4. Adopt a Tomato
5. What do volunteers do at the Farmer's Market

________________________________

1. Coming Up: This Week And Next:
Tuesday:
Task Force Meeting at Kindt Phillips Friedman & Fremgen 7:30 AM;
Christine Anne garden program

Wednesday:
Salvation Army will collect donated produce from downtown.
Christine Anne garden program

Saturday:
City Hall Farmer's Market
Southwest Rotary will staff the Oshkosh Farmer's Market. (Volunteers Needed)
50 Orphan Tomatoes with no place to grow will be looking for foster families.

Sawyer St. Farmer’s Market (Cerebral Palsy of Mideast Wisconsin Pickup)

Sunday:
Cecil Streeter will collect donated produce from the Sawyer St. Farmer’s market
(open Sunday and Saturday 11-4)
Christine Anne garden program

2. Volunteer Opportunities:

Tuesday: Festival Food Farmer's Market volunteers: Two shifts: 8 to 10:30 and 10:15 to 1 PM Tuesdays July 14 to October 15.

Saturday: Oshkosh Farmer's Market at City Hall volunteers: Two Shifts 8 to 10:30 and 10:15 to 1 PM Tuesdays July 14 to October 15.

Saturday: Oshkosh Area Food Pantry needs volunteers on Saturday morning.

Saturday: Sawyer Street Farmer's Market: Volunteer needed to pick up donated produce on Saturdays about 3:30 to 4 PM.

Any day: Potters needed to start pots of orphan vegetables and herbs for farmer's markets. 50 to 100 starts needed each week.

Food Pantries and Meal programs: current list of locations and hours is attached.

Schiek's Kolpein Street Farm: Starting in mid-July Rotary and the Oshkosh Community Pantry will collect from produce farmers on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

3. Last Week: Donations and Networking – Thank You Vendors and Other Donors

Tuesday
Festival Foods Farmer's Market - not open (starts July 14).

Wednesday,
Downtown Farmer's Market - Salvation Army collected lettuce and other greens/

Wednesday,
The Northwestern ran an article on Adopt a Tomato on Wednesday, June 17. Thank you Americorp volunteers for writing a press release and getting it published.

Thursday,
Lil Hansche, Lori Loken, Maureen Muldoon and Ken Friedman planted the herb garden with the help of a resident and her son.

Saturday
City Hall Farmer's Market - Jeff Pots, David Hayford & Ken Friedman helped 75 families adopt tomatoes and collected 158 pounds of produce. Our traveling tomatoes will be giving donations to pantries in Shawano, WI and Westerville, IL. Total to date: 253 pounds. Bob Fried of the Landscape Company at 708 Nicolet (behind the laundry on Bowen) donated a tray of onions and HOT peppers

Sunday,
Sawyer Street Market - Curt Reese (Mastergardener) collected produce on Sunday

All Week: Oshkosh Area Community Pantry: Has facilitated more than 125 adoptions of tomatoes and peppers. Peppers are popular

4. Adopt A Tomato

Jeff Potts (and Mandy, Southwest Rotary, David Hayford (Downtown Rotary, Sue Panek (Downtown Rotary, United Way Director), Maureen Muldoon (Winnebago County Master Gardener, UW Prof of Geology), and Ken Friedman (Southwest Rotary, Attorney with Kindt Phillips Friedman & Fremgen) and the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry have helped over 300 families adopt tomatoes for their gardens. Almost all were from Oshkosh, but traveling tomatoes found homes in Marinette and Shawano and in Westerville and Westmont, Illinois. This was great fun. We have contact information for over 140 of our tomato foster families

We got lots of positive feedback and encouraged lots of gardeners with big, full gardens to donate when their crops are ready. We talked with a couple of dozen families with young children who were eager to adopt a tomato plant. (Each of them was told that the tomatoes had an birthday every Saturday. They were instructed to say happy birthday to their tomato each week and to give it some coffee grounds or a tea bag or a piece of banana peel and lots of water for their birthday gifts.

The Northwestern ran an article on Adopt a Tomato on Wednesday, June 17. Thank you Americorp volunteers for writing a press release and getting it published.

As we near the end of the Adopt a Tomato project, we want to make sure we thank. Judy Richey of Oshkosh Family and Steve Vickman of the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry who each independently creating the idea. Thank you Pat Menke, Nick Schneider and Hannah, and the North High School Horticulture students for providing the tomatoes and peppers. Thank you, all of the volunteers from Rotary, mastergardener volunteers and Americorp volunteers from the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry and my wife, Sue, for potting tomatoes, helping set up and take down the booth and encouraging dontations.

What's next: We can't say for sure, but keep tuned: Shared Harvest will be promoting produce adoptions of some kind each week.

5. What do Volunteers Do at Farmer's Markets?

Specific Instructions for each market will be at the booth and/or emailed to volunteers. Volunteers introduce themselves to all of the vendors at the farmer's market and hand out our brochure and plastic bags (while they last). Volunteers collect produce from individual and from vendors at the end of the market. Volunteers give introduce themselves to vendors, shake their hand and say "Thank you." After the market. take the donations to the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry on Jackson Street who will coordinate donations to all pantries in the area. Volunteers must also dismantle the booth and return the tent, sign, etc. to the food pantry or to Ken Friedman's office at 141 N. Sawyer St.

Thank you everybody. Remember to volunteer to help at the downtown market and (later this summer) at Festival Foods. And call me if you have questions.

June 6, 09 -Thank You's - Volunteer Request FYI: You, Too, Can Adopt A Tomato For Shared Harvest(tm)

2009-06-06T13:59:00.001-07:00

I am excited about all of the good things that are happening for Shared Harvest, and still looking for volunteer commitments for the dates listed below.

ALL THE NEWS: Blog, Donations, Grower’s Support, Donations, Volunteers and the Adopt A Tomato Project.

BLOG: look up www.oursharedharvest.blogspot.com for all the news, instructions and contact information. This letter will be posted there, too.

Donations. 4Imprint gave us $500 worth of small eco-friendly shopping bags with the Shared Harvest Logo. Cheryl Cina coordinated the gift. We are handing these out to with information on donating fresh produce to gardeners and donors at Farmer’s Markets, Associated Bank and Fernaus. We have one to every vendor at the Saturday farmer’s market. I was surprised to learn that almost every one of the craft vendors had a large garden (goldmine!). The produce vendors were pleased to get the information as well. I was surprised how many smiles came out for the bags! 4Imprint also donated the dirt for the Christine Anne Garden (thanks Vicki Schroeder).

Growers: I will be meeting with Jim Schieck and several of the produce farmers who lease from him this Thursday. We are probably going to be picking up excess produce several times a week as the crops mature.

Donations: Farmer’s market vendors and individual donors gave lettuce, rhubarb, green onions, and green garlic (same idea as a green onion, but garlic). We were approached by vendors who have cheese products and meat products who may wish to donate. Of course, we said yes, thank you.

Volunteers: Michelle Bernard from Salvation Army and Friday Morning Rotary will cover the Wednesday (Live at Lunch) market. Oshkosh & Southwest Rotary will cover the Tuesday (Festival Foods) and Saturday (Oshkosh City Hall Markets). Thanks to Michelle, Jack Klein, Kathy Murphy, Peg Schiek, Glen Steinbrenner and Rich Kern, Sue Panek, Cecil & Sue Streeter for volunteering and other scheduling hours . Thanks to Winnbago County Master Gardener Volunteers Lillian Hansche, Linda Loker, Ann Murphy and Tom Weber for volunteering to help build, prepare and maintain the Christine Ann Vegetable Garden.

Adopt A Tomato Project: Pat Manske, a friend of Paul Fowler’s has been selling plants along highway 45 for many years. She donated about 100 tomato plants to be adopted by patrons of the the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry Project and private gardeners who agree to donate the fruits to Area Pantries. The Langkau family of Oshkosh, adopted six plants this afternoon. Nick Schneider, UWEX and Winnebago County Agricultural Agent and his friend Hannah are fostering another 100 or so tomatoes that will soon be up for adoption.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SATURDAY AND TUESDAY MORNING MARKETS:

I am hoping that everyone will fill comfortable taking on three shifts at the various markets over the summer. As usual, the second shift will be responsible for taking down the tent (and taking it to my office or Robbins) and delivering the produce to the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry on Jackson Street.

Ken Friedman

Oshkosh Rotary Southwest

Winnebago County Master Gardener Volunteers Share Their Harvest

2009-04-29T19:31:00.000-07:00

The Winnebago County Master Gardener Volunteer Association (WCMGVA) support Shared Harvest™ with several programs.

Nick Schneider, County Agricultural Agent, is offering vegetable seeds to any gardener who wants to grow vegetables to donate.

WCMGVA members and others can participate in vegetable seed trial comparing two varieties of beans, corn, kohlrabi, melons, peppers, squash. Join the fun. Sample. And donate your crop.

WCMGVA members and others can help residents of Christine Anne Domestic Abuse Center plant, care for and harvest vegetables for their own kitchens and to donate to food pantries.

For more information:
- email Nick Schneider at nick.schneider@ces.uwex.edu,
- post a comment here or
- email friedken@gmail.com