Tonight was my first ever board meeting with Local Foods Connection. I've talked about the non-profit organization before: here, here, and here. I volunteer off and on for Laura, the woman who conceived of and runs Local Foods Connection. I try to make it down every week for at least three hours, and I would like to volunteer more often, but with my summer I've just been so busy. I plan on putting in a lot more time over the next several months as my life settles back down into the routine.

It's amazing, as ever, as I realize how little Local Foods Connection receives from the community in the form of donations and grants. Laura works as long as any person with a full-time job, and yet she makes less money than I do a year, which is mind boggling considering I don't have a job. Better yet, even though she isn't even making a real paycheck doing this job she does for practically free, she is supporting over thirty families in our community with a CSA share. Here is the report from the year 2007 on the families she supported. Here is the financial statement from the year 2007, which shows her paycheck - under employees wages. $1,847.22. How would you like to make that much a year?

If you have a little extra at any point over the next few months, even $5-15, I recommend that you find a local non-profit organization that tugs on your heart strings like Local Foods Connection tugs on mine. Can't find one? Perhaps you could donate to the political party of your choice. Or, if you are really struggling to find a way to spread the love, let me suggest Local Foods Connection.

Everyone I've met who works with and for a non-profit organization appreciates the assistance of generous people of the public. (Can't afford any money? See if you can find some way to give a little of your time. You can't do that either? That's okay - maybe some day you'll have the time or ability to do so.)

Labels: volunteering

Last night, we packed up everyone to go over to Indian Creek Nature Center. They were having a frog walk which I thought the children would just have a blast with. Unfortunately, when we left to head over there it was sprinkling a little, so I was hoping we weren't going to have another rash of bad weather that had us hanging out in basements and interior hallways like the night before. When we arrived, there was only two other people there for the walk (and the guide), but we were assured it was still on.

Nate was so excited about seeing the "froggies and fishies" (as he persisted in calling the tadpole). The guide had a small tupperware container of tapioca (bead-like things) in a gelatin-like mixture. Nate stuck his finger in it, "Gross, slimey!" The guide laughed and explained that it is supposed to feel like frog eggs. A while later some other people showed up, late, and she passed around the faux frog eggs again. Nate wandered up to her with a pleading look on her face. She responded, "But you didn't like it last time!" She handed them over and Nate stuck his finger in there gamely. "Slimey!" He wiped his finger on his pants and everyone laughed.

She had one reversible puppet showing how a frog changes from a tadpole to a frog. Nate seemed interested in that. I thought it was pretty neat. After that we all listened to frog calls and ways to remember what they sound like. The spring peepers sound like jingle bells, the western chorus frogs sound like running a finger over a comb, and the leopard frogs (?) sound like a wood pecker.

The trails were flooded so we didn't get to do the "walk" part of the program, but we drove over to the wetlands to hear the frogs in person. Nate was fascinated by the train nearby, but he also loved listening to the frogs. Sammi was, I think, just happy to be doing something other than sitting around the house.

I think one of the more important things she mentioned was that with the way frogs operate - taking in moisture through their permeable skins, etc. - it is really easy for them to become sick from all of the pesticide run-off from people putting chemicals on their lawns and from farmers. She said that frogs are sometimes called the "Barometer of the Environment." She also mentioned that this year has been declared, internationally, the Year of the Frog.

From the Year of the Frog website: "The IUCN has classified four amphibians in the U.S. to be critically endangered, the Mississippi gopher frog, the Chiricahua leopard frog, the mountain yellow-legged frog, and the Wyoming toad. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed thirty-seven amphibian species under the Endangered Species Act. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums may be their only hope for survival."

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Last week, sight unseen, I had talked to one of the women that work at the center about volunteering for them. Aaron, myself, and the kids had so much fun last night that I'm really glad I'd had the faith to do that. I go in on Monday to talk to - ironically - the guide that we had last night about what I can do and where. Meanwhile, tonight they are having a talk by one of the local CSA farmers about her thoughts on why "Food Matters." I'm looking forward to it.

Right now, though, I get to go work on a farm for Local Foods Connection. I'll be honest. My life has gotten a lot more interesting now that I'm volunteering actively in my community. Before I just sat at home watching kids and doing homework. I am enjoying how I'm getting out and doing things (for free!).

I hope your weekends are all doing as well as mine!

Labels: mommy blogging, random, volunteering

Local Foods Connection caught my eye about a month ago. I've been looking for a good place to volunteer after not enjoying my time with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the one day I put in at Miracles in Motion (how I loved the horses). LFC uses volunteers to earn credits on local CSA Farms, gets cash from families and some grants, and then turns around to donate shares from the CSA Farms to local low-income families. In short, they support the local agricultural economy while simultaneously helping low-income families receive fresh fruits and vegetables most likely grown in an organic sustainable manner.

How cool is that?

I know that I plan to spend a lot of time helping LFC in any way I can. Helping on the farms? Sure - it'll help me gain insight on how to manage my own backyard garden. Helping in the office? Why not - I am bored most of the day. I was even told if necessary I could bring my kids with me. Score! Right now I'm volunteering from home, helping update some of the website.

And once I get some cash on the side, I will definitely be donating to this organization.

Does anyone else know of any organizations like this in their local community?

Labels: cooking, environment, volunteering