Goodness Grows News

This Sunday, December 10th, from 10 to 3, is the Winter Market at the Austintown Township Park. Our friends at the Austintown Farmers Market know how to end the year with a celebration of all things local. Come on out to the Stacey Pavilion and find that special gift or addition to your holiday feast that you can't find anywhere else. We will be there with Jungle Jam and hand-painted snowmen. Shop local this season and support the farmers, makers, and artisans in our community.

We had an amazing first weekend in December! Goodness Grows participated in the Youngstown Flea at the DeYor and the Canfield High School Craft Show. If you missed those two events, you missed some amazing people and products. There was so much to see everywhere you looked. The organizers of both deserve a round of applause for pulling off fun, festive, and (as far as we saw) problem-free events. Thanks for including us. We can't wait for next year!

We are so proud of our clients for all the hard work they put into special projects this fall. They poured their hearts into building and crafting beautiful seed covered birdhouses. These cute and reusable homes will feed your feathered friends and can then be re-covered with edible glue and birdseed or left alone to become an avian refuge. All of us are so thankful for the many shoppers at the Holiday Flea that saw the potential for cheery bird retreats at their own homes!

Edible Glue

1/2 cup water

1 pkg. unflavored gelatin (1/4 oz.)

3 Tbsp. corn syrup

3/4 cup flour

Heat up the water and dissolve the gelatin in it. Mix in the corn syrup and flour. Whole wheat flour makes a light brown glue, white flour becomes a white glue. (Whole wheat flour does provide some extra nutrition for the birds, but either type is perfectly fine. We had white flour, so that is what we used originally.) This glue needs to be used quickly, as it begins to set within a half hour. You are now ready to spread it on your birdhouse, add nuts and seeds, and provide a fine dining experience for your winged visitors.

Currently we have 5 different Jungle Jams available:

• Blueberry Jalapeno
• Cranberry Jalapeno
• Hot (Jalapeno Habanero)
• Cherry Habanero
• Pineapple Habanero
  

We have sold out of Peach and Strawberry Jungle Jam as well as our summertime favorite, Juicy Jam, but they will all return next year! Our jam is available at Reach for the STARS in Salem, or contact us to arrange a pick up or delivery.

Jungle Jam - not just for crackers anymore!

Do you have a creative use for Jungle Jam? We would love to hear about it! Last month, we listed some ways that we know our customers enjoy our flavorful pepper treat. We have recently learned of a few deliciously new ideas:

• on crostini with goat cheese
• on a turkey sandwich, to give leftovers a new identity
• by the spoonful!

Of course, it is also a fantastic gift to give or receive! Have you found a way we haven't listed? Drop us a line and let us know your favorite way to use Jungle Jam!

Our staff and clients are pretty excited that it is Christmastime. They have been busy decking the halls, trimming the trees, and even making gingerbread cookies. There is absolutely nothing like the smell of cookies baking during this "most wonderful time of year!" We feel pretty lucky at Goodness Grows to experience the joy of the holidays with our crew of folks of all abilities. So, from our home to yours, we wish you the merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Years! As Tiny Tim says in A Christmas Carol, "God bless us, every one!"

As a small non-profit, Goodness Grows depends upon generous supporters who give of their time, money, and supplies. A contribution to Goodness Grows is tax-deductible, to the extent allowed by law. As you are pondering what organizations to support for Christmas or with your year-end donations, please consider a gift (one-time or on-going) to Goodness Grows. Your donations help us to continue our mission, "To cultivate personal, social, and community growth through gardening, education, and opportunity for people of all abilities." We want to say a big thank you to all the folks who gave in so many ways this year. We appreciate you!

Goodness Grows is a faith-based 501(c)3 non-profit operating out of Common Ground Church Community. We are working to improve people's lives through social and therapeutic gardening practices. We would love for you to join us!

Email: kitty@goodnessgrows4all.org
Website: www.goodnessgrows4all.org/
Location: 2310 West South Range Road, North Lima, OH, United States
Phone: 330-549-9408
Facebook: facebook.com/GoodnessGrows4all/
Twitter: @GGrows