Eat Local Challenge !

Green Umbrella’s Local Food Action Team (LFAT) is working to strengthen our regional food system by encouraging all consumers to take the 10% Shift: Eat Local Challenge.

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​Participants pledge to shift at least 10% of their food budget to local foods that includes homegrown items or those purchased from local producers and restaurants that serve locally-sourced foods.  Are you up to a challenge:  Make the pledge today!

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PROMOTE LOCAL FOOD CONSUMPTION

National Farmers Market Week begins August 5!

To celebrate, LFAT members will assist shoppers with taking the pledge at markets across the region. If you’d like to help spread the word, sign up to volunteer at a farmers market or share information about the campaign using the hashtag #Shift10Local. ​

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Warren County Ohio's Largest Playground - Farmer's Markets:  ​

Find a diverse collection of farmers' markets, explore natural goodness, farm fresh tastes, hayrides, corn mazes and much more.
https://www.ohioslargestplayground.com/shop/farmers-markets/

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​Green Umbrella - Local Food Action Team - 2020 Goal: 
"Double the production and consumption of fruits and vegetables
​grown within our region."

Green Umbrella Regional Sustainability Alliance Mission:  The Local Food team brings together local farmers, distributors, farmers markets, cooperatives, community gardeners, community supported agriculture organizations, health professionals, restaurants, extension services, educational organizations, government entities and processors to develop strategies to increase the demand for local foods, increase production and identify new markets for local foods. 

You can participate by taking the 10% Shift to Local Food and pledging to shift 10% of your food budget to purchase local foods. Learn more here! You can also join in the work by joining Green Umbrella and attending Local Food Action Team meetings--typically held the first Thursday of the month.  greenumbrella.wildapricot.org/Local-Food

Action Plan:

• Strategic Plan 2017- 2018
• Promoting local food consumption
• Developing baseline data of production farms, farmers markets, processors of local food, etc. 
• Sharing best practices.  
• Collaborating to promote the annual Central Ohio River Valley (CORV) Local Food Guide.

Waste less, want more:  Epicure Cincinnati aims to reduce unused food

Greener Living:  https://www.epa.gov/environmental-topics/greener-living

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Master Gardener Volunteers - OSU Extension

​What is the Master Gardner Program?  The Master Gardener Program provides intensive training in horticulture to interested gardeners, who then volunteer their time assisting with educational programs and activities for Ohio residents through their local Ohio State University Extension county office.

​How can I qualify to become a Master Gardener?

• You want to learn more about plants and gardening.
• You are eager to participate in a practical and intensive training program.
• You enjoy sharing your gardening skills or knowledge with others.
• You have the time to attend training and serve your community as a volunteer educator.

​Information about state-level Master Gardener Volunteer programs and activities is available at http://mastergardener.osu.edu.

​Warren County Extension will be hosting the next Master Gardener volunteer class beginning in September 2018. This training will run through November. If you have any questions contact Beth Giffin at 513.695.1311 or giffin.4@osu.edu . The application deadline is August 17, 2018.  You must be accepted to the program, attend an eight-week class, and complete 50 hours of volunteer activity.  More information, including costs, a program application and a flyer can be found here:  ​​​https://warren.osu.edu/program-areas/master-gardener-volunteers/becoming-master-gardener

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Active Master Gardner Projects in Warren County, Ohio:
​https://warren.osu.edu/program-areas/master-gardener-volunteers/active-master-gardener-projects​

Working with county Extension personnel, Master Gardeners provide such educational services to their communities as: answering gardening questions from the public; conducting plant clinics; gardening activities with children, senior citizens or disabled persons; beautifying the community; developing community or demonstration gardens; and other horticulture activities.

Contact a Project Leader to Volunteer!
​Local Ohio State University Extension Warren County Office:
​https://warren.osu.edu/program-areas/master-gardener-volunteers