Seed Saving
Community Gardens
Composting
CFI Donation Station
Edible Schoolyards
Community Food Initiatives is an Athens, OH non-profit that works to increase local food security and self reliance. We do this in the following ways:
"From Seed to Self-Reliance"
Through our Seed Saving Program, the seasons of independence and food security are brought full circle. We work to educate the public about the benefits of saving open pollinated, heirloom varieties of vegetable seeds. We also host several free seed and tomato plant giveaways. We distributed hundreds of seed packets, 14,000 lbs. of potatoes and nearly 70 flats of free tomato plants through the help of Jackson Area Ministries and the Society of St, Joseph this year.
Composting creates healthy soil, which creates healthy food, and ultimately healthy people. CFI educates the public on small scale, relevant composting techniques. Our "Composting Angels" are hard at work organizing compost tours and workshops for late summer and fall. Watch for announcements with details about upcoming events.
Our Community Garden Program is thriving with over 6 gardens in 2 Counties. We are facilitating leadership development and organizing these gardens to ultimately become independent organizations. This project is starting with the over 150 member Westside Community Garden. CFI Manages gardens in Athens, Nelsonville, Chauncey, Stewart, Glouster, and Chesterhill. There are open spots in all of these gardens!! For more information on obtaining a community garden plot please contact us.
We are currently creating a curriculum and gathering materials to prepare for the upcominng schoolyear. This curriculum has already recieved positive reviews at East and The Plains Elementary Schools. Also, we are currently establishing an attractive and Productive garden at The Plains Elementary through a relationship with Kids on Campus.
The CFI Donation Station meets Athens County's most immediate food security issues. We gather monetary donations at the Athens Farmers Market that are used to buy the fresh, local and healthy goods sold there. We also recieve donations from community gardeners and market vendors themselves. These products are then distributed to over 35 locations in Athens County. Halfway through 2010, the donation station has supplied over 25,000 lbs. of fresh produce to those in need.
Harvest Moon Feast:
October 7, 2010
6:00-9:00 pm
American Legion Hall, 520 W. Union St., Athens
Come learn about CFI's continuing efforts to create resilient communities through community gardening, farm-to-school initiatives and community orchards, while sharing an amazing dinner.
Featuring a five-course Locavore Gourmet Dinner. Keynote speaker Dr. Frank Schwartz will discuss how socioeconomic stress affects the risk for obesity and diabetes. A limited ticket supply is available by calling 740-593-5971
