Ashland Farmers Market (AFM), under the umbrella of Ashland Healthy Harvest, is making available mini-grants up to $1,000 each for projects that serve Ashland. Public entities, non-profits and community groups serving Ashland, especially those who have not applied in the past, are encouraged to apply this year.
The projects awarded must support an aspect of the AFM mission: to contribute to a vibrant town center; create access to local food choices; improve public health through information, education and training about nutrition, diet, exercise, local and sustainable farming, waste reduction, and related topics; and contribute to community building.
Applications offering creative approaches that support viable and sustainable solutions for Health Community concepts within the Town of Ashland will be given highest preference. AFM encourages ideas that will benefit the entire Ashland community.
The application form is available at www.ashlandfarmersmarket.org. The deadline for submission is March 28.
Where Does the
Garbage Go?
In 2016, AFM awarded a mini-grant to Meghan Clark, Warren School kindergarten teacher, for books on waste reduction. The funded books covered the three Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle — which then led the students to use recyclable materials to make their own reusable tote bags used for family shopping at AFM. Clark explained, “The literature was enormously important in helping students learn and connect with the concept. All the books I was able to purchase will live on in my classroom, and I will teach this unit each spring!“
AFM also awarded a mini-grant to the Ashland High School (AHS) Earth Club with advisor Christine Graham for a triple stream waste reduction program. The AHS Earth Club has been educating the entire student body about reducing their energy consumption and carbon footprint. To reduce the amount of trash designated for landfills, the club created a three-part trash-bin system in the cafeteria, similar to the system used at AFM.
Issue Date:
March, 2017
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