LEAF Community’s Rutabaga Nights Returns

LEAF welcomed spring with our second annual Rutabaga Nights party. Thanks to all who helped organize, volunteered, and donated to support the local food efforts in Lakewood. The event featured performances by Xela, One Dollar Hat, Hobo Monk, Mobius, and the Morrison Dance Company. Guests munched local goodies, viewed a drum parade, created a May Pole and Sprout Gardens and bid on silent auction items donated by local businesses and artists.  

Thanks for the Auction Items:

Artists: Amy Bennett; Ellen Brinich; Jaime Bouvier; Richard Cihlar; Suzanne Cofer; Annabelle Fisher; Michael Gill; Dawn Hartle; Jeff Hulligan; Ivor Karabatkovic; Andrew Kiser; Rhonda Loje; Ursula Ryan; Josh Soderberg; Kimberly Soderberg; Jim Stahlheber; Stacey Torma; Beth Whalley

Businesses: Westshore Montessori School; Charles Scott Salons & Spas; West Park Station Restaurant & Bar; Italian Creations; Ride and Workout; American Greetings; Jazzercise; Trinity Lakewood Community Outreach; Lakewood Garden Center; Geauga Family Farms; Tremont Scoops; Cleveland Public Theater; Green Pastures Poultry; Lakewood Garden Center

 Thanks for the local goodies:

Restaurants: 2 Dad’s Diner; 56 West; Aladdin’s Eatery; Beer Engine; Breadsmith; Dewey’s Pizza; Gypsy Beans & Baking Co.; Hungry Howie's Pizza; India Garden; Karen Bosworth Confections; Kenilworth Tavern; Louise Bakeshop; Root Cafe; Spice of Life Catering

And a very special thank you goes out to the following businesses, who went above and beyond to make Rutabaga Nights 2 a success:

Frank Lanza Photography

Gypsy Beans & Baking Co. 

Karen Bosworth Confections

Lakewood Garden Center

The Lakewood Observer

Musicians: Mobius,  Xela, and Hobo Monk

The Root Cafe 

Chuck Karnack of All Go Signs!

If you are interested in sponsoring or donating for Rutabaga Nights III, please contact leafcommunity@gmail.com

THIRD THURSDAY Educational Series

The guest speaker for this month's Third Thursday Speaker Series will be Barb Holtz, naturalist at Look About Lodge. She will be speaking to us about Native Plants from the Old Stone House in Lakewood Park on Thursday, August 19th at 6pm. The Old Stone House has an herb garden featuring native plants and plants common at the time it was built, and LEAF has partnered with the Lakewood Historical Society to work the garden this year. Many thanks to the Historical Society for allowing us to use the venue!

We know it's hard to believe but the 2010 growing season is approaching. Download your application and waiver release and mail them in today. Our mailing address is: LEAF Community PO Box 770374 Lakewood, OH 44107.

Returning gardeners are asked to renew their garden plot by sending their application, release and $25 check by March 4th. Open plots are then distributed to new gardeners on a first come first served basis.

Download the 2010 Community Gardening Application

Download the 2010 Community Gardening Waiver Release

          Community Supported Agriculture

All three of our CSA programs (City Fresh, Geauga Family Farms, and Covered Bridge Gardens) have started for this year - email leafcsa@gmail.com with questions about joining one of these programs.

The Lakewood Earth and Food Community is planning another great year of local produce! The City Fresh and Covered Bridge Gardens programs will be delivered on Wednesdays (LEAF Night) at the Lakewood Library from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. A third program, Geauga Family Farms, certified organic CSA will also be offered in Lakewood. The delivery for the Geauga Family Farms CSA will be on Thursdays at the Root Cafe. Visit the CSA page of our website to download the applications. We are always seeking additional volunteers.  Please contact leafcsa@gmail.com if you have questions about any of the CSA programs or are interested in helping out.

More information and CSA Brochures

Join the LEAF Community on Facebook! 

Stay up to date and show your support by joining the LEAF Facebook Group.

Once you join, you will receive updates, invites to our events, and have the ability to post messages and have discussions with other members.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10201667065

Thank you to everyone who pitched in over the past couple of years either at the library, City Fresh Distribution Center, or in the many other ways by which volunteers added their unique character and support to the project. Without the help of dedicated volunteers, LEAF Nights would not have been possible.

To meet the growing demand for our programs, we need to expand our volunteer base. There are many volunteer opportunities; in fact, there are options for all ages, interests and skills. If you haven't told us about your interests already please fill out the form at the bottom of the page. This will help us identify whom to contact for future events and volunteer opportunities. We are also seeking applications for board member positions, which can be indicated below.