Project GROWS, a non-profit educational farm located in Augusta County, will host its inaugural Harvest Party and Open Farm event on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Project GROWS farm site in Verona. Co-hosting the event will be Staunton Music Guild (SMG), which will celebrate its fourth year of promoting local music events, music education, music outreach and music-related businesses.
Free to the public, this family-friendly event will feature an afternoon of live music, garden tours, and a fresh, locally grown meal. Mike Berenstain of the Bereanstain bears will attend the event, signing copies of the newly released book, the Berenstain Bears Go Green. Music starts at 11am and the musical lineup will be: John Tracy, Mockingbirds, Eclectic Fiddle and Danny Dolinger. There will be an open jam starting at 3pm.
“This event will be a great opportunity for folks in the community to see what local youth have been up to at the farm this summer, and enjoy the healthy fresh produce the youth have helped to grow,” said Ryan Blosser, Project GROWS’ Program Coordinator.
With the help of the Project GROWS team, food grown on the farm is planted and harvested by children and youth as a part of programming and activities that address Project GROWS’ mission to reduce youth obesity in Staunton, Augusta and Waynesboro. Fifty percent of food grown at Project GROWS is donated and 50 percent is sold in order to raise funds for educational programming. Donated food goes to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. Members of the community may purchase weekly deliveries of food through the Project GROWS Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, or by visiting the Project GROWS booth at North Augusta Farmer’s Market every Wednesday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Verona Government Center Market dock.
Project GROWS is funded through a grant from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth and a multi-year grant from the Augusta Health Foundation. Project GROWS is a host organization of the Allegheny Mountain School Phase II fellowship and was awarded two fellows for the 2013 year. For more information contact Project GROWS (540) 480-0371 or visit online www.ProjectGROWS.org andhttps://www.facebook.com/ProjectGrows.
The Staunton Music Guild is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to support the performance and growth of music in the Staunton area through promotion, education and community outreach. Showcases, scholarships, workshops and a variety of community events were accomplished in 2013. Visit www.stauntonmusicguild.org or Facebook for more information.
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Chris Graham
