A Farm Meant To Teach

Photo provided by appleseedsnwa.org

In 2014, Apple Seeds Inc. is looking to expand to reach the greater NWA community by developing the Apple Seeds Teaching Farm in the Heart of Fayetteville. Apple Seeds has a mission of inspiring healthy living through garden-based education.

By building a Teaching Farm in the center of town, they hope to better serve the needs of a growing community. They envision the space to be a regional resource for teachers and school garden volunteers, providing demonstration gardens, school garden workshops, and educational tools. The farm will host events, including Plant-to-Plate field trips and summer camps — giving students the opportunity to harvest the produce and prepare fresh snacks. The produce will also be used to supplement Apple Seeds’ student-run school garden markets. Currently, they’ve reached their $10,000 funding goal on Kickstarter and are looking to raise even more for the infrastructure and necessities of such a project. To learn more and/or to donate, visit appleseedsnwa.org.

Fayetteville Earns Volunteer Award

Twelve communities have been selected to receive the 2013 Arkansas Volunteer Community of the Year Award. The communities were chosen for the award based on efforts by volunteers working in each community. Chosen to receive recognition were first-time winners Murfreesboro, Vilonia and Redfield; the communities of Bentonville, Blytheville, Clarendon, Clarkridge, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Heber Springs, Norfork and Van Buren, which are past award winners, also were chosen as 2013 winners.

“We are proud to recognize these communities for their volunteer spirit. Their volunteers work hard to make sure area needs are met and that makes these communities better places for everyone to live,” said Sherry Middleton, director of the DHS Division of Community Service and Nonprofit Support.

Pet Food Drive

Fayetteville Public Library’s Ranger’s Pantry Holiday Pet Food Drive has begun for 2013. Ranger’s Pantry helps keep Fayetteville families and their pets together by providing pet food on a limited basis to prevent struggling families from having to surrender their pets because they cannot afford to feed them. Donated dry or canned food may be dropped off at the Christmas Tree near the Children’s Desk in the library. Cash donations are also welcome and can be sent to City of Fayetteville Community Services, 113 W. Mountain, Fayetteville AR 72701. Checks should be made out to ‘City of Fayetteville’, please put “Ranger’s Pantry” on the memo line.