Nice Westside Business

Last year I found this little hole in the wall Greenhouse on Western Ave next to Westside Hardware . Little did I know Martins Greenhouse has a rich History dating back to the 1920's . So I love the History , and when you talk to Jean you know she knows what she is talking about . Plus I just like the cool Veggies & Flowers . They are open from Mid April until Late June . Check out the Facebook Page . Support the Westside Local Business !!

3614 Western Ave

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=171748146211578&id=150947384958321&ref=notif¬if_t=feed_comment#!/pages/Martins-GreenhouseSouth-BendIN/150947384958321

Up Coming Classes

Unity Gardens Healthy Cooking & Nutrition Series!
This Free Series of Classes is sure to be a hit , Come to one or come to all
Tuesday Evenings: 6 to 7:30pm
Keller Park Church 1001 Bryon St South Bend IN
Take Sherman St off of Riverside north of Angela

May 3rd - Demystifying the Food Pyramid
Chef Alan Seidler , Chef and Child Chair of the ACF South Bend Chefs and Cooks Association, will share his culinary talent demonstrating a healthy recipe, followed by a class by
Eileen Dvorak explaining the new food pyramid.

May 10th – Proper Portions & Serving Sizes
Robin Melewski – Health Educator with the St Joseph County Health Dept will offer a healthy recipe and a guide to healthy portion size.

May 17th - Managing Salt – More Taste with Less
Edie Sutton - Purdue Extension Nutritionist, will offer a low salt recipe & cooking demo while teaching healthier ways to flavor food and reduce your sodium.

May 24th - All About Fat – Dietary Fat & Weight Control
Tama Crisovan, Purdue Extension Family Nutrition Program Nutritionist, will offer guidelines about dietary fat and weight control.

Sponsored by: PNC Bank and Sweeney-Julian Law Firm
For more information call 574 315-4361.

Growing Together
Sara Stewart RN MSN
Executive Director
Unity Gardens Inc.
PO Box 10022
South Bend, IN 46680
574 315-4361
growunitygardens@yahoo.com
www.theunitygardens.blogspot.com
Facebook Group The Unity Gardens

Organic Workshop

Thanks to Everyone Who Made This Happen !!

Directions to Keller Park Church

April 23rds Unity Gardens Organic Day
Keller Park Church
9am to 3pm ( Registration starts 8am )
1001 W Bryan St
South Bend IN
Take Riverside North off Angela to Sherman Street , Turn Left 2 Blocks to Church

http://classic.mapquest.com/maps?city=South+Bend&state=IN&address=1001+W+Bryan+St&zipcode=46616-1829&country=US&latitude=41.700772&longitude=-86.264595&geocode=ADDRESS

Thanks

We always like to thank the media for making our events go well . This week Fox , WNDU , And WSBT all promoted our free organic workshop, and opening of the Southfield Lakes Unity Garden . Thanks to them all .

LaSalle Square East

Something new at LaSalle Square this year . We are adding a new section on the East Side of the fenced in area . The city has put new water in, and the tilling is done. Something new is the community plots we are fencing in so people can grow their own garden. Plots are free and most will be about 10x10 . We are also putting some raised beds outside the fence that will be an extension of the open garden.

McKinley School

We Are Growing

Building Raised Beds at Southfield Lakes & Memorial Hospital . Southfield Lakes is going to be a Huge garden growing every year . Next Friday April 22nd in celebration of Earth Day we will be inviting everyone to come out & plant the Southfield Lakes Garden . Its on Miami St about a 1/4 mile south of Kern Please come Join us between 4 & 6pm

Touching Message

We are humbled by the support we get from our community .

This is a message we got on Facebook

Unity Gardens & the Center for a Sustainable Future's Rain Barrel Auction: I am an artist for one of the featured rain barrels to be auctioned at the Rain Barrel Auction on May 6th. (My barrel is located at Just Goods 714 E. Jefferson Blvd.) I was inspired by natures lifesource, water when I painted it. In my opinion the barrel holds what sustains life. "Water". I personally have my own barrel and use the water I collect to water my husband's garden. Anyway, half of the proceeds from my rain barrel earnings will go to the Center at IUSB and the other half is to be given to the artist (in this case, me). I am hoping that every barrel earns $300, but who knows?! However, I want you and Sara to know that my half is going to be donated to the Unity Gardens. I love what you are doing! It brings together the community, gives neighbors a sense of pride & ownership in their neighborhoods, educates, allows for social gatherings & relationships to form, and, it helps out people who are in need, giving everyone a sense of purpose and allows each person to feel that what they do matters. Every person has the ability to change their community and have a positive impact. Unity Gardens all over the city are transforming lives, not just the neighborhood. YOU ROCK! So, lets hope my rain barrel earns some good money for such a wonderful organization!

My Favorite Things

One of my favorite things is when we get to talk with kids . Going into the schools , kids in the gardens , or many of the events we do involving kids in the garden . Its where the disconnect begins with kids not making the connection to where food comes from . Its great to see more schools coming onboard with Unity Gardens or any gardens . Its really cool when we get a chance to help out . Today it was kicking off North Liberty Schools Unity Garden . Starting Seeds , and building raised beds . Off to a good start thanks to Will Groves getting it all going .

Thanks

Ok I am sure I will miss someone if I start a list of people to thank . So thanks to everyone that supports the Unity Gardens . For some its money , for some its volunteering , and for some its just spreading the word . The community support is so big . People that get it know its much more than a garden . They know if you grow enough food you can share with everyone , and tear down the barriers to healthy food. They know that if you come out of your house, and meet you neighbors it creates safe neighborhoods . They know if you teach a person to grow their own food they can be more secure . They know that learning healthy eating habits cuts down on health care cost. They know working in the garden builds strong bodies , and strong character . Most of all teaching our youth the art of gardening , and the benefits to healthy eating.

So Thanks to all the supporters of Unity Gardens . The Garden leaders who take on the task of organizing a garden to help their community . Thanks to the City who makes Unity Gardens life easy . Thanks to the people who have some spare time to help work in the garden . Thanks to the folks that support Unity with funds to keep .

One garden in 2008 , 50 in 2011 !! One persons vision , a whole communities support !!

Thanks

Getting Ready For Saturday

Getting Ready for Unity Gardens 2011 Season Opener Party this Saturday April 9th at Noon . Last Saturday a group of ND students we out to work . We have new beds ready to plant , Kids garden , and an educational isle .We also have new picnic tables & benches for everyone to enjoy . The Mayor & several others from the city are coming out . Plus PNC bank & Frank Julian from Sweeney Julian are coming out , they are the sponsors of this opening event . PNC also funded the education Isle . It will be a day of fun .

Michiana Horticulture Alliance

Herb Class

Great Class on Herbs by Moncia , and Pam Both are Purdue Master Gardener interns doing what Master Gardeners do" Teach ". They also did this to help support the Unity Gardens . We hope to have them return, and repeat this class at another event.

Communiversity Day

All Fools Day

Busy Day Getting Ready For A Sat ( April 2 ) full of Unity Events Herb Class 10am Potawatomi Greenhouse Notre Dame Service Day The University of Notre Dame students are helping "Grow Community" with Unity Gardens Saturday. Four different Unity Gardens projects have been chosen! 1. LaSalle Square Unity Garden Preparations for the 2011 Unity Groundbreaking Celebration: erecting a greenhouse, garden clean-up, assembling benches (3701 Prast Blvd South Bend, IN) 12 to 3pm 2. Ravina Park Unity Garden Spring Clean- up (1521 Dale South Bend) 10 to 1pm 3. Potawatomi Greenhouse Unity Garden tomato transplanting (2105 W Mishawaka Ave South Bend) 10:30 to 1pm 4. Stake painting at Robinson Center (921 N Eddy South Bend) Check out new Southside Unity Garden