Workdays this Thursday at 9 and 4 and Saturday at 4:30 AND Citizen’s Co-op Garden Bike Tour coming to the farm this saturday at 1‏

Hello Friends of the Gainesville Organic Blueberry farm,
 
I want to welcome everyone we met at the Fabulous Food on the Lawn Fair at UF last Monday (a wonderful idea, so productive and so much fun! Thanks to everyone who made it happen!)For those of you who are new, please check out the ‘about’ page on our website the see what we are about, and I must apologize that we are having trouble with our website www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org it is back in working order now, and will be improved again soon (Thanks Cheryl!) And Once again I want to thank the kids from Job Corps for coming out and doing a great job cleaning up the 2 bridges patch last Thursday( they found some turkey egg shells out there- COOL!) – it, and the others we have been working on, are looking beautiful too, thanks to all of YOU! There is only about a month ’til the start of the season so it’s time to get out there and get workin’! The berries have almost all set and are getting bigger, we just need a decent rain and I think it will be a great crop this year(and that goes for blackberries too!)
 
In the last 2 years we have been working like field bees to keep these blueberry bushes healthy and productive and this year you can really tell the difference from when we started in Spring of ’08. Last year was rocky because of a late freeze which killed most of the berries, and a beehive and blueberry bush thief who took much from the farm, and some people who, through taking without giving back, limited access for all. But, despite all that, much work was done by dedicated members and this year the rows look better than ever and where there were 3 beehives now there are 9. This year we hope to have record participation, because people are beginning to see that helping out on the farm is good for everyone, and so much fun!
 
This Thursday at 9am and 4pm, and this Saturday at 4:30 I will be by the barnyard gardens with plenty of tools. You bring gloves, long sleeves, a hat and plenty of water, and we will continue the soul-cleansing, high energy work of saving the berry bushes so that generations to come can enjoy discovering the wonder of picking delicious organic berries right off the bush, right here in town! If you have never been to the farm, just come out and see it – then sign up and get started, only work as long as you like – there will be other work days and you only need 8 hours total working in the rows to earn picking rights all season long. You’ll thank yourself for the time spent at the farm improving a great resource in the community, while working alongside the sweetest folks in Gainesville! Come check us out!

Kids are very welcome, but please leave pet friends at home. (its a good idea to bring a snack and dress kids in long pants). We usually only work 2 to 4 hours and in different patches so please arrive on time so you know where we are (its a BIG farm).
 
And if you like gardens and biking, check out the Garden Bike Tour details below in the Citizen’s Co-op update (highlighted in yellow) They will be coming to the farm between 1 and 3:30 on Saturday!
 
Hope to see you soon down on the farm!

maureen
www.GvilleBlueberryFarmFriends.org
PS=> the Citizen’s Co-op is taking flight – help them out and reap the rewards!=>Please read on for details!=>

Member Workdays, Updates, & More

515 Members & Growing! Member Workdays       This Friday, 10am to 5pm Member Workday! Help us clean up and prepare for the Bike Tour & Music Festival on Saturday. We’ll be working from 10-5pm @ 435 South Main.  Bring Tools: cleaning rags, cleaning supplies, work gloves.  Earn $10 Food Credit for every hour worked.   Saturday, 10am to 5pm Need volunteers for:  Registration Table, 10am-12pm Bike Tour Leaders, 12-5pm, Follow the route & help other riders Making Refreshments – Iced Tea, Lemonade, & Water  Lending large drink coolers for the day   Join the Bike Tour & Festivities for free if you donate drinks or work a minimum of 2hours.   Friday, April 30th, 10am to 5pm Member Workday! Help us finish moving in/out of storage and prepare the space for electrical work, plastering, & painting. Set up for ArtWalk friday evening. Earn $10 Food Credit for every hour worked.     Upcoming Events       Bike Tour – Saturday, April 24th Registration: 10am-12pm at Bo Diddley  Downtown Plaza  Bike Tour: 14 mile loop around gainesville Music Festival: 5-11pm at Co-op Space  Musicians: Susan Perko, Reuben Anderson, The Hip Replacements, The Captives, and Irration Food Vendors: The Jones Eastside Local Products & More! Register Online: citizensco-op.com/events $20 General / $15 Students / $10 Music Festival Only   Downtown Art Walk Friday, April 30th, 7-10pm Featuring local artisans, crafts, and products in the co-op space at 435 South Main. Local wine & cheese tasting.     In This Issue Member Workdays Upcoming Events General Manager Please see the attached Job Description for General Manager. We are accepting Resumes at citizenscoop@gmail.com through April 30th. Our General Manager will be selected at this time. He/She will announce job descriptions for staff needs in the store, interview, and hire these positions by May 15th. We hope to have the store open shortly after this process is complete!          Nominate Your Board! It’s time to elect our first representatives to sit on the Co-op Board. The board’s role is to oversee major decisions about the store, and integrate long-term goals with sustainable operations of the co-op. Board service requires attendance at one monthly meeting, phone conferences, and frequent emailing in between.   Please nominate your Member Representative at citizenscoop@gmail.com by April 30th. We have received two nominations so far.     Tropicals by Robby Barbaro Get Tropicals While You Wait If you’d like to start ordering delicious back-yard tropicals from South Florida or bulk organic produce from the Florida distribution list of Global Organics, Robby Barbaro can help you out now. He’s taking orders every Monday for pick-up at 435 South Main every Tuesday from 12-6pm. More information at his website.