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Cultivating Hope

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Cultivate Hope seeks to create a sense of optimism, health and possibility in flood-impacted Taylor and Time Check neighborhoods. Cultivate Hope will introduce residents to the benefit of fresh local produce and provide the skills and knowledge necessary to prepare and preserve food. Cultivate Hope will build community by bringing people together through gardening and by planting and installing decorated planters throughout these neighborhoods.

Flower Pot Project

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In 2009, after a dreary and frustrating winter, we at Matthew 25 decided that we could use a little more hope and beauty. Thus began the Cultivate Hope annual flower pot event. Each spring, volunteers young and old join together to decorate large flower pots, fill them with beautiful flowers and distribute them throughout flooded neighborhoods. If you'd like to get in on the fun, get a hold of us. There's plenty of room for more hope.

Home Gardens

The Home Garden program involves installation of gardens at homes in the Taylor and Time Check neighborhoods. By offering classes and other educational opportunities we will help our neighbors learn about gardening, composting, food exchanges, food preservation and seed preservation.

Participation in the program will allow access to seeds, transplants, education programs and classes, and a discounted membership in the Tool Library, where residents can access gardening equipment. The home gardens will utilize the natural, organic Square Foot Garden Model implemented by Mel Bartholomew. This simple system adapts to all levels of experience and physical ability using less space and water than conventional gardening.

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CSA Shares

CSA shares program will bring fresh local organic produce into these neighborhoods and enrich the lives of 12-15 families. The program includes educational classes, field trips, and farm trips among other activities.

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Our partners in this program are ZJ Farms in Solon and Local Foods Connection in Iowa City.

Urban Farm

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Out of floodwaters the seeds of new growth are sometimes sown, and the Matthew 25 Urban Farm is just such a situation. When the Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids was flooded in June 2008 they decided not to rebuild in that location. Matthew 25 obtained permission from them to use their vacant land and abandoned playground to build an Urban Farm to supply our Summer Meals Program with fresh local produce. We've filled multiple raised beds with many many plantings using the square foot gardening model, as well as made use of the blacktop by filling swimming pools with compost and planting them to make use of as much space as can. This produce will be harvested throughout the summer and included in the Friday lunch meal. Additionally, we are making connections with local restaurants and farmer's markets to sell our excess produce with all proceeds going back in the Cultivate Hope program to further our neighborhood involvement and local food programs. We're very excited to be partnering with the Linn County 4-H group in the maintenance, support and upkeep of this community asset. As our program grows we hope our partnership does as well!

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Cultivating Hope

Cultivating Hope

Flower Pot Project

Home Gardens

CSA Shares

Urban Farm

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