Seeds, local vegetables and healthy cooking demonstrations. What more could you ask for? Invite your family and friends and head out to The J’s garden on Sunday, July 31, from 4-6 p.m. for your chance to take part in the Summer Seeding event during which you can plant winter vegetables and learn how to obtain healthy, local foods.
Plant cabbage, carrots and beets in the newly expanded garden plot, taste delicious foods from local vendors and watch healthy cooking demonstrations. Featuring local health food stores and organizations including Rainbow Blossom and New Roots, Summer Seeding will introduce the community to The J’s Jewish Outdoor, Food and Environmental Education program.
JOFEE is one of Hazon’s outreach programs. Hazon, a nonprofit Jewish environmental organization, works to build healthier and more sustainable communities. A select group of Jewish young adults with a commitment to sustainable living and a love of the outdoors go through a special three-week training program together and then venture out into communities across the country to raise awareness of environmental issues and engage as many people as possible in Jewish food and outdoor education programs. And that’s where JOFEE Fellow Michael Fraade comes in.
A native of Connecticut, Fraade arrived in town and began working as the Louisville-based JOFEE Fellow on June 20. He’s looking forward to working with The J’s Early Learning Center, Summer Camp and seniors. He’ll explore programming opportunities with YAD and would like to work in some adult education, too. He’s eager to work with as many groups as possible and wants to “figure out what people might be interested in and how we can address those interests.”
Fraade’s two biggest initiatives will be expanding the community garden and partnering with New Roots, a local food justice organization, to distribute fresh produce to places where it’s not readily available and where many people are food insecure. He will establish The J as a Fresh Stop Market for distribution. He’d also like to start a composting system.
Fraade said that on July 31, everyone will get to tour the current garden and fruit trees as well as the new garden space he’s helped create for the winter months.
“All of the winter vegetables families will get to plant will be harvested and ready to eat by around Sukkot,” Fraade said. “And the best part is, many of the vegetables will go to feed Louisvillians in need.”
Tapping into the growing interest in growing food, Summer Seeding will show some ways that food and outdoor activities intersect with health and wellness.
From demonstrating how to get fresh, local food to healthy living and wellness, Summer Seeding will have activities for people of all ages.
“People interested in health and wellness will love getting to meet some of our partner organizations at the event,” Fraade said. “They’ll be able to get a fuller picture of the local resources available.”
Fraade said he wants the community to know The J for the garden just as much as they do the programming.
“It’s my goal that this garden will be an educational resource for the different age groups such as the Early Learning Center kids, day camp kids, the seniors, and everybody in between” Fraade said.
The garden will provide food for the Jewish Family & Career Services food pantry and others who need access to fresh produce.
“The local vendors we’ll have there are exceptional and this will be the first opportunity the community has to see how The J fits into a larger network in Louisville designed to help people live out healthy, plant-based lifestyles,” Fraade said.
The Summer Seeding event is free and open to the public. The garden is located across from the Pavilion. For more information, visit jewishlouisville.org/event/summer-seeding.