Camillus House’s Post

Gardening / planning season is upon us! (if you're in Seattle, don't miss the Tilth Alliance May Edible plant sale on the 2nd!) And while you're planning, please consider growing a little extra to donate. Donating your extra harvest is a fantastic way to make an impact this growing season and the Fresh Food Connect app makes it easy to find local donation partners like pantries and hunger relief organizations. Last year alone, Fresh Food Connect facilitated healthy food access for over 30,000 individuals. Home gardeners like you and me donated a whopping 50,000 pounds of produce through the app. This translates to approximately 40,000 healthy meals served and a significant reduction of 26 tons of CO2e emissions. How Can You Help? You can pledge as little as 1 pound of produce (which is roughly equivalent to 3 medium-sized tomatoes). Even if you’re a newbie gardener, like me, this is a super manageable amount that can make a big difference. The Fresh Food Connect team has set a goal of 25,000 pounds of homegrown produce pledged by May 31! Ready to pledge? Click on the link in comments and share the bounty from your garden! 🌱🍅🥕

LinkedIn friends, we need your help! One of our charities has a specific need. The amazing team at Sweetpea Smallholdings CIC is in need of gardening tools to support its mission to provide homegrown vegetables to food banks in Exeter Sweetpea Smallholdings is a new Community Interest Company (CIC) based in Exeter, and focuses all its efforts on supporting the local community. It's on a mission to increase the opportunities that are currently on offer to the local disabled community and has done just this by creating a meaningful and accessible volunteering programme. Sweetpea’s volunteers come together regularly to work towards a worthy goal: to grow and deliver food for those most in need across Exeter. Everything that is grown at Sweetpea Smallholdings’ allotment is donated to local food banks. In 2022, Sweetpea Smallholdings donated a whopping 1.4 tonnes of fresh produce to families experiencing food hardship in Exeter. This year it would like to increase its donations, and is in need of gardening tools to enable more volunteers to get involved. ▶ Find out more and donate items: https://bit.ly/3EgIRfe #charity #charitydonation #circulareconomy #upcycle #sustainability #circulareconomy #charitywork #charitydonation #local #community #sendlesstolandfill #recycle #supportlocal #supportlocalcharities #supportlocalbusiness #gardeningtools #garden #growyourown #vegetables #marketgarden #exeter #exeterbusiness

JOIN OUR TEAM: there is a growing movement towards sustainability, healthy living, and fostering stronger family and community ties. Amidst this trend, an innovative initiative has emerged by our charitable organization, Vlada’s Seeds of Life: seed donations to public libraries. This seemingly simple act holds the potential to make a profound impact on individuals and communities alike, promoting sustainable practices, encouraging healthier lifestyles, and fostering more quality family time. The “Little Sprouts” seed donations to public libraries represent more than just a practical solution for accessing seeds; they are a catalyst for positive change within our communities. By promoting sustainability, encouraging healthy living, and fostering quality family time, these initiatives are sowing the seeds of a brighter, more resilient future. As we continue to embrace the values of self-sufficiency, environmental stewardship, and community building, let us remember the profound impact that something as simple as a packet of seeds can have on the world around us. Together, let’s cultivate thriving communities from the ground up.

Accurate Visitor data helps charity improve targeting The Feed Ducks Initiative, a scheme dedicated to a more sustainable way of feeding ducks in public places, has been embraced by parks all across the UK. Matthew Knight, founder of The Feed Ducks Initiative, said: "Our partnership with Place Informatics marks a significant milestone in our mission to promote sustainable duck feeding practices. "We are so grateful for the team’s support and by utilising their visitor data, we can strategically expand our network of solar-powered dispensers, benefiting both the parks, the animals and local communities.” https://lnkd.in/eJGqaUPC #FeedDucksInitiative #SustainableFeeding #PlaceInformatics #DuckFeeding #SustainablePractices #VisitorData #ParkNetwork #CharityImpact #VisitorBehaviour #Footfall #TownCentres #LocalCouncils #VisitorInsights #GreenSpaces #PublicRealms #FootfallAnalysis #EconomicImpact #TownCentreInsights #RetailTrends #LocationAnalytics #FootfallData #UKFootfall #PublicRealms #GreenSpaces

We imagine a world where spaces around homes are effectively converted into forest gardens that will produce food for humans while providing habitat and food for local flora and fauna. Recently we changed our strategy to achieve that. Currently, we are focusing on children creating gardens around their homes. We hope to slowly bring the whole family on board to make and maintain these gardens. We already see the reflection of that strategy working in Ankan’s family. During our last weekend visit to Ankan’s family, his father wanted to create a garden on abandoned land. The idea came from Ankan’s uncle, who also watched our work. We went to inspect the patch of land. It comes under very little rainfed lowland that remains in the village. This was ideal for rice cultivation. But thanks to the irregular rain in the last couple of years, cultivating rice does not make much sense. When most land around it started converting the land into acacia plantations for fetching money by selling timber, Ankan’s family was considering an alternative. We have been sincere, saying we might be unable to help generate income from the land. IndeedWe can work towards transforming the ground in a way that the market dependence of the family on vegetables reduces significantly in the next couple of months. We often forget saving money on our daily expenses is also a form of income. 😊 The family seemed to understand that and agreed to it. We will start preparing the land by the end of October when the sogginess in the soil is gone. In the meantime, we are slowly considering how to design the garden. It makes us very happy, and the whole family slowly gets involved. The family already had the intention; it’s our work Ankan gave a nudge what they needed. We are confident this early group of adopters will bring more families on board as we progress. If you identify without cause: you can invest with us in many ways: procuring seeds and plants, designing gardening, and other activities with children. You can also invest your time and energy in raising funds which will be used to employ local youth to do experiments on how we can make our project partially self-sustaining and create a local economy. P.S: In the picture, you see Ankan standing with his grandmother, sister, and father. With lots of love, Team bon

When's the right time to step down from a governance role with a charity??? There's no easy answer. When you've run out of new ideas? When it get's too comfortable? If you’re at that point, you’ve left it too long. What about when the organisation needs a new direction and you can't take it there? Or when you've already contributed a lot and there's others with energy and new ideas who can take it forward? If you’ve lost your mojo for the charity’s cause and mahi, then it’s definitely way passed time…. In fact at that point you’ve let your team down as well as yourself. Smaller charities are different to larger charities - a smaller executive team means trustees often do more, and it also typically means a smaller pool of people queuing up to go on the board. It's great if you can step down at a time when the wider team regards you as ‘still on top of the game’ and you have succession in place. No one is indispensable. After a long innings on the board of Men's Health Trust New Zealand I recently stepped down. For me it was tinged with sadness because I'm passionate about the cause - but also joy at what we’ve achieved. I suspect there's seldom ever a perfect time to step down but we need to find the time that instinctively feels right for ourselves, the board and the wider organisation. As well as giving you a question about governance (when to step down), I'd also like to point you to an auction live on trademe with proceeds going to Men's Health Trust. Thank you Two Dudes for auctioning your last bottle of Two Dudes 'back, crack and sack wash' - please feel free to bid generously for this exclusive item and great cause...! #governance #stepaside #decisionmaking

Ten years ago, my wife Jane and I embarked on an ambitious dream: to grow sustainable, organic fruit and vegetables on our small community farm in West Lancashire. Our journey started with an idealistic vision of making a positive environmental impact. Little did we know, our farm would evolve into something much more profound. Initially, we focused solely on producing fresh, organic produce. Our transition to wholesale farming kept the farm running, providing quality vegetables to many. However, almost from the beginning, we began receiving unexpected calls from job centres, West Lancs CVS, and various mental health charities. They suggested that individuals they worked with could benefit from spending time on our farm. What started as a trickle turned into a steady stream of volunteers. We noticed remarkable transformations in those who joined us. People who arrived shy and withdrawn began to bloom alongside our crops. They found a sense of purpose, joy, and community through their work here. One particular story stands out: A young man sent by the job centre seemed disengaged at first, absorbed in his smartphone and distant from farm activities. Over time, he became increasingly involved, finding fulfilment in growing, tending the land, and even driving the tractor. One day, he asked if we were paid for him to be at the farm. When I told him we weren’t, he said, “You should be, because this is changing people’s lives, and it’s changed my life.” His words brought a lump to my throat. We realised our farm had grown beyond a simple agricultural project into a sanctuary where nature and nurturing combined to uplift and heal. This transformation wasn’t something we planned, but it has now become the heart of our mission. Today, Burscough Community Farm is not just about growing organic produce. It’s about fostering a space where people find peace, purpose, and a path to better mental health. Our woodlands, meadows, and riverbank offer a serene landscape that inspires and restores. Thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey. We look forward to continuing to cultivate not just crops, but hope and resilience in our community. If you want to know more about the farm, please visit our website: https://lnkd.in/e_n4BwDr. #OrganicFarming #CommunityImpact #MentalHealth #SustainableLiving #WestLancashire

Meet Ray, one of our incredibly volunteers! Every week, he rescues fresh food from a grocery store and delivers in to the No Cost Grocery Program at Spirit of the Sun. Want to volunteer with us? We have shifts every day of the week, and they take less than 2 hours. Sign up through the link in our bio, or at DenverFoodRescue.org. #foodaccess #foodrescue #foodjustice #foodsecurity #healthequity #healthequitynow #healthequityjustice #healthequityforall #foodwaste #denvervolunteers #volunteer #foodpantry #denverfood #denver #giveback #sustainability

Accurate Visitor data helps charity improve targeting The Feed Ducks Initiative, a scheme dedicated to a more sustainable way of feeding ducks in public places, has been embraced by parks all across the UK. Matthew Knight, founder of The Feed Ducks Initiative, said: "Our partnership with Place Informatics marks a significant milestone in our mission to promote sustainable duck feeding practices. "We are so grateful for the team’s support and by utilising their visitor data, we can strategically expand our network of solar-powered dispensers, benefiting both the parks, the animals and local communities.” https://lnkd.in/eJGqaUPC #FeedDucksInitiative #SustainableFeeding #PlaceInformatics #DuckFeeding #SustainablePractices #VisitorData #ParkNetwork #CharityImpact #VisitorBehaviour #Footfall #TownCentres #LocalCouncils #VisitorInsights #GreenSpaces #PublicRealms #FootfallAnalysis #EconomicImpact #TownCentreInsights #RetailTrends #LocationAnalytics #FootfallData #UKFootfall #PublicRealms #GreenSpaces

🌱👩🌾 Young Cooks Dig Into Community Garden Project! 🍅🥕 Exciting things are happening at The Kind Kitchen Group! Our Young Cooks have rolled up their sleeves and gotten their hands dirty (quite literally!) as they begin building planter beds for our community garden project. This initiative is about more than just growing fresh produce - it's about cultivating a sense of ownership, responsibility, and pride in our young people. By involving them in every step of the process, from building the beds to planting the seeds to harvesting the vegetables, we're helping them develop valuable life skills and a deeper connection to their food and community. As they assembled the beds, our Young Cooks demonstrated incredible teamwork, problem-solving, and perseverance. It was inspiring to see them encourage and support one another, share ideas, and work collaboratively towards a common goal. This community garden project is a perfect example of the hands-on, experiential learning we believe in at The Kind Kitchen Group. By engaging our students in real-world projects with tangible outcomes, we're helping them build confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning. We can't wait to see how this garden grows and its positive impact on our students and community. Stay tuned for updates as our Young Cooks continue to nurture this project from seed to harvest! If you'd like to support initiatives like this that empower youth and strengthen community bonds, please consider donating https://lnkd.in/dRe_YDu8 Every contribution helps us plant the seeds of change! #CommunityGarden #YouthEmpowerment #ExperientialLearning #GrowingTogether #SustainableFuture #CulinaryStorytelling #FoodMemories #YouthEmpowerment #VirtualLearning #GratefulForOurCommunity #Durham #Food #FoodAccess #resilience #WhereFoodMeetsPurpose #KindKitchenGroup #CulinaryImpact #SupportYouth #YoungCooksSociety #ChefSicilyJohnson #CulinaryArts #SocialImpact #YouthEmpowerment #CommunityBuilding #CulinaryArts #YouthEmpowerment #CommunityBuilding #KindKitchenGroup #ChefMelanieWilkerson