Recent Events
In May 2014, growingSOUL was awarded a $75,000 capital grant to purchase a compost dehydrator that converts 1500 pounds of compostables to 150 pounds of an inert, nutrient rich product usable for animal fodder, or, if lime is added to lower the pH, a compost that is ready to use for direct planting for food production. We were also awarded a $20,000 grant from the County Executive for salaries to support our workforce apprentice training program.
In February 2014, growingSOUL was awarded a jumpstart grant from the County Council to establish our Putting Stock in Your Community Food Recovery initiative.
In February 2013, growingSOUL launched the FIRST curbside compost pick-up in Montgomery County. Every Wednesday for 6 months the Vida-Vita-Vegemobile drove through northern Takoma Park, collecting compostables from 65 pilot households who opted into our pilot. We averaged 10 pounds of food scraps per household every week that was diverted from being burned at the Montgomery County incinerator, and was insterad turned into Soil with SOUL that is being used to produce food at our partner farms.
Earth Day 2012, growingSOUL organized a composting pilot at Montgomery County Public School's Burning Tree Elementary School and set up a worm bin in their 3rd grade classroom. This is the FIRST composting pilot for MCPS!
For Sandy Spring Friends School's Earth Stewardship Day, growingSOUL teaches over 50 friends how to make their own pickles and kimchi!
Spring 2011, growingSOUL co-founded the Montgomery County Food Council to advocate for a just, sustainable system in our nation's capital. On October 24, 2011, the first National Food Day was celebrated with Montgomery County Councilmember George Leventhal and County Executive Isiah Leggett, formally announcing the formation of the Montgomery County Food Council. The council was launched in February 2012.
In February 2014, growingSOUL was awarded a jumpstart grant from the County Council to establish our Putting Stock in Your Community Food Recovery initiative.
In February 2013, growingSOUL launched the FIRST curbside compost pick-up in Montgomery County. Every Wednesday for 6 months the Vida-Vita-Vegemobile drove through northern Takoma Park, collecting compostables from 65 pilot households who opted into our pilot. We averaged 10 pounds of food scraps per household every week that was diverted from being burned at the Montgomery County incinerator, and was insterad turned into Soil with SOUL that is being used to produce food at our partner farms.
Earth Day 2012, growingSOUL organized a composting pilot at Montgomery County Public School's Burning Tree Elementary School and set up a worm bin in their 3rd grade classroom. This is the FIRST composting pilot for MCPS!
For Sandy Spring Friends School's Earth Stewardship Day, growingSOUL teaches over 50 friends how to make their own pickles and kimchi!
Spring 2011, growingSOUL co-founded the Montgomery County Food Council to advocate for a just, sustainable system in our nation's capital. On October 24, 2011, the first National Food Day was celebrated with Montgomery County Councilmember George Leventhal and County Executive Isiah Leggett, formally announcing the formation of the Montgomery County Food Council. The council was launched in February 2012.
Check out Our Curriculum Opportunities
Read about our exciting COMPOSTING PILOTS
For the City of Takoma Park
for Montgomery County Public School's
Burning Tree Elementary
And read about our programs in
The FRESH Blog, Green American, & The Washington Post
See us on WUSA News
For the City of Takoma Park
for Montgomery County Public School's
Burning Tree Elementary
And read about our programs in
The FRESH Blog, Green American, & The Washington Post
See us on WUSA News
Read our End of the Year Summary &
The History of Our Programs below.
end_of_the_year_summary.doc.pdf | |
File Size: | 455 kb |
File Type: |
gs.dfms.final.brochure.small.compressed.pdf | |
File Size: | 1308 kb |
File Type: |
BOOKSAnimal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating by Jane Goodall Holy Cows and Hog Heaven by Joel Salatin In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan Silent Spring by Rachel Carson The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan VIDEO CLIPSgrowingSOUL working with Manna to close the food cycle loop
Breaking New Grounds documentary, a similar model A Fresh clip on Growing Power A Fresh clip on Polyface Farms Will Allen summarizes his work Will summarizes Growing Power, from the MacArthur Foundation Hoop house growing of salad mix Vermicomposting Aquaponics water system ARTICLES |
MOVIESAn Inconvenient Truth
Dirt! The Movie Fresh Food Inc Fuel King Corn Pig Business Supersize Me The Future of Food WEBSITESwww.chefscollaborative.org - a national organization that promotes sustainably raised, locally grown, artisan food
www.compostguide.com - a comprehensive compost guide www.earthsave.org- John Robbins' foundation based on the effects of food choices on our health and the earth www.edibleschoolyard.org- Alice Waters program offers its model to engage children in organic gardening and cooking www.localharvest.org- a nationwide directory of CSA's, farmer's markets, small farms and other local food sources www.mbayaq.org- The Monterey Bay Aquarium's website where you can download their Seafood watch wallet card www.organicconsumer.org- a grassroots non profit public interest group focusing on corporate food responsibility www.slowfood.com- an international association that defends food and agricultural biodiversity worldwide www.sustainabletable.org- from the Global Resource Action Center for the Environment |