The letter below was sent home to our families last Friday, with the best info we had at the time.
Right now, as I type this, we remain open at GG. Our classroom visits have now been put on hold
until further notice. Since we are such a small group, and since it has not (yet) been announced that we need to close, we are here to offer our services to our clients. As you can imagine, disruption of daily routines is difficult for all of us and it can be especially hard on our special needs folks. We will be here for them as long as we can, to try and keep this portion of their lives as normal as possible. We continue to follow this evolving situation and all CDC guidelines about hand washing, disinfecting, staying home if not feeling well, etc. and we will let you know if things change here and we have to shut down temporarily. Even if we have to close to clients, we still have plants to take care of for this upcoming growing season and CSA program so staff will keep on growing goodness in North Lima.

We were very pleased to start the month of March off with the return of our Transition friends! They came back to GG on March 3, right at the very beginning of planting time. This group was a huge help in starting some early crops indoors so that they are ready for transplanting in May.

After enjoying their company and appreciating their hard work for two weeks, we are sad to have to put visits on hold for now. With the current need for closed schools and social distancing, all classroom visits will be cancelled until further notice. We look forward to being able to welcome back all the students, staff, and teachers as soon as possible!

We don't usually have peach jam in March, but we just couldn't wait! We decided that we wanted to welcome spring this year with a summer favorite. We might also jump the gun on Peach Lemonade Juicy Jam. Can you tell we are ready for the sunshine and warm weather to arrive?!?

​Currently we have ~

Jungle Jam: Cranberry Jalapeno (only 4 left), Blueberry Jalapeno, Berrylicious Jalapeno, Hot (Jalapeno Habanero), Pineapple Habanero, Cherry Habanero

Juicy Jam: Cranberry Orange (only 12 left)​

Give us a call at 330-549-9408 or contact us online to arrange a pick-up or delivery.

​Jungle Jam is also available at Reach for the STARS in Salem.

Jungle Jams contain hot peppers -
either jalapeno, habanero, or both.

Juicy Jams are fruit and 'lemonade' jam -
no peppers here!

Donations, fundraisers, CSA subscriptions, and sales of jam, crafts, veggies, etc. get poured right back into our programs. Your investment in us stays right here to support our work in this community with special needs students and adults, as well as their typically developing peers. It allows us to welcome classrooms and youth groups to our property and provides the needed funds for supplies and resources to give them meaningful work and learning experiences with some fun thrown in. Every dollar is put to good use, is greatly appreciated, and makes a difference in so many ways!

Goodness Grows is licensed through the state of Ohio as a Department of Developmental Disabilities service provider. We are a site that provides daily programming - vocational habilitation - for adults with disabilities. This means we provide training in a wide array of life skills. ​Our clients spend their time here learning how to cook, bake, do laundry, clean, take care of gardens, shop, build and repair items, and much more. We also have plenty of time for fun activities - we do puzzles, celebrate birthdays, take time for drawing, go hiking, learn about nature...one never knows what adventures we are going to have! Take a moment and meet our fabulous clients below. Their bright smiles are guaranteed to cheer you up, even in the midst of all the ongoing anxiety. We know that we, as the GG staff, are lucky to work with these fine folks!

I like Goodness Grows because I like working.

My favorite thing to do here is cook with Mrs. Weaver.

I like to eat peanut butter and jelly.

I like coming to Goodness Grows because I am good at making jam.

My favorite job here is making Peach Lemonade Jam. Sweet!

My favorite animal is fat cat because I love cats.

I like being at Goodness Grows because it is fun to work here.

While I am here I like to clean. I like to dust the chairs.

When I am at home I clean and do chores for my mom.

I like working at Goodness Grows because it is fun and I get to try different things, like making jam and doing stuff with flower beds.

At GG, I have learned to how to plant different plants.

One of my favorite things to do is to watch a movie at the movie theater.

Ethan is our newest client/team member.
He has a great sense of humor, likes cooking, and raises chickens.

With the current coronavirus situation, I was not able to get Ethan's answers to "getting to know you" questions like I did for the others. When things get back to normal, we will do this again with some new questions and answers to share more about our fabulous clients.

Have you been thinking about enrolling in our 2020 CSA program? We are only offering a limited number of shares this year, on a "first come/first served" basis. Sign up and pay for a WEEKLY share by April 30th to get the Early Bird price. Final deadline for order and payment for WEEKLY and BI-WEEKLY shares is May 29. Call us at 330-549-9408, email jlynch02@gmail.com, or contact us on our website. Even if we are not open for clients, we will be farming and staying connected online and by phone. Reach out anytime and we will get back to you asap.

One of our favorite things is to have friendly visitors stop by GG. On March 5th, we were very excited to get to spend time with our friend Sara and one of her therapy bunnies (in training), Maeve. They were here to pick up some parsley that we dried for the therapy and rescue bunnies as well as some treat tubes Common Ground's Youth Group made for the bunnies. Everyone enjoyed petting and cuddling Maeve, showing her the goodies, and talking with Sara. We always learn new things when "the bunny lady" and her friends visit!

Frisky Ferrets, Fuzzies, & Feathered Friends Rescue & Sanctuary and Bunnies in Baskets Therapy Rabbits are an amazing organization, located right here in the valley. Formerly housed at the Old School Marketplace in North Lima, the bunnies are in search of a new home. If you know of a home they could call their own, contact them through their website: https://www.f5rs.org/contact/, on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/F5RS1/, or let us know and we can get in touch with them.

Our bunny friends didn't arrive empty handed. They remembered that we collect items all year for our October Coat & Clothing & More Giveaway. While our bunny treats were going in the bunny van, out came a box of hangers, a bag full of neckties, and a bag of clothing. Thanks for thinking of us, Sara! We appreciate all the generous donations like this from community members. You all help us make the Giveaway a success each year!

Originally scheduled for April, now rescheduled for August.

On August 29th, 2020, prepare yourself for a fun day of great food, entertainment, local art and retail vendors and, of course, GREAT and unique craft beer, cider and hard seltzer! There will be a line-up of beverages from breweries from all over the world as well as from our amazing local brew houses.

Big Tap In Festival will again benefit Project MKC. Project MKC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in NE Ohio dedicated to the most vulnerable in our local community, the children.

The Big Tap In is held at the Metroplex Expo Center, 1620 Motor Inn Drive in Girard, Ohio. All attendees must be 21 or older, and have identification with proof of age.

Goodness Grows will be there again this year with all sorts of Jungle Jam and Juicy Jam.
Come out and see us!

Tickets and info here: https://bigtapin.com/.

After enjoying our "Bloomin' Butterfly Garden" (created in 2011 by Mrs. Kromer's class!) for many years, it is time for a redo. We will be working this spring to re-dig and replant the area and our friend Mike has already worked to set up our new design. Thanks, Mike! Keep watching for updates on this exciting project...and stop by in the summer to see some blooms and butterflies.

Goodness Grows is a faith-based 501(c)3 non-profit operating out of Common Ground Church Community. Our mission is to cultivate personal, social, and community growth through gardening, education, and opportunity for people of all abilities. We are working to improve people's lives through social and therapeutic gardening practices. We'd love for you to join us!

Create. Cultivate. Thrive.

Email: jlynch02@gmail.com
Website: www.goodnessgrows4all.org/
Location: 2310 W. South Range Rd., North Lima, OH 44452
Phone: 330-549-9408
Facebook: facebook.com/GoodnessGrows4all/
Twitter: @GGrows