Using the interest generated by our participation in the Cooperative Community Fund, The Food Co-op will offer small grants to qualifying, local nonprofits to help them grow a healthy community.

Our grants are focused on the four pillars of community sharing:

1. Improving food access

2. Sustainable agriculture (both land and sea stewardship)

3. Healthy kids, families and animals

4. Supporting the cooperative model

   
   

An update from last year’s winner: The Community Wellness Project

A Healing Garden project that was funded by last year’s Grow Funds.

The Healing Garden, also known as the Fourth Grade Native Plant Study, is nearing completion at Chimacum Elementary School. With the irrigation system being fine-tuned and signage awaited, the garden has already garnered significant attention from passers-by, sparking pride in this collaborative community project.

The fourth graders at Chimacum Elementary took the lead in researching and creating the garden. They embarked on two field trips to identify native plants and, after extensive brainstorming and discussions about feasibility, safety, and flexibility, designed a dynamic garden space.

Community involvement played a crucial role. A local resident provided excavation and beautiful logs, another led the students in making stepping stones, and local landscape artists and herbalists assisted with plant selection and placement. Chimacum garden educators coordinated the effort from inception to its near completion.

The garden features four distinct zones representing different habitat types: a lowland, dry, beachy zone; a higher elevation mountain zone; a forest undergrowth zone; and a riparian zone. Each zone includes plants endemic to the Puget Sound region with traditional medicinal and food uses, such as blue elderberry, Oregon grape, Cascara, camas, Puget Sound gumweed, yarrow, nodding onion, and pearly everlasting.

Highlights of the garden design include a central circle of sitting stones, three paths with concrete stepping stones bearing impressions of native plants, and a log bridge. A special thank-you goes to Candice Cosler, a longtime school garden supporter, who led the students through a thoughtful design workshop.

Although the Grand Opening has been postponed to early next school year, the project continues to make strides. Tasks such as designing signs, finalizing plant identifiers for the school website, and preparing a press release for The Leader remain.

This project has been an exemplary place-based learning experience for the fourth graders, providing them with a substantial challenge and the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to their school and community. The forthcoming sign will welcome visitors in both Chemakum and English, and the students' research will be accessible via a plant guide on the Chimacum School District website. The Healing Garden stands as a testament to their hard work and the power of community collaboration.

• Application process for the 2024 year will be open from August 1-31.

• Non-Profits and Community groups are encouraged to apply.

• 2024 Funds available: $1500

• For full details about the fund and how to apply please go to: https://www.foodcoop.coop/grow-fund.