Shanah Tovah U’metukah — A Good and Sweet Year from In the Gardens
Shanah tovah! That means “A good New Year to you.”
We are approaching the High Holy Days in the Jewish calendar. These days begin with Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Days of Awe or the Ten Days of Return. The season quickly gives way to Sukkot, an eight-day holiday celebrating the harvest and the earth’s bounty. We acknowledge that the Creator and the earth have provided for us for another year. We pray for rain so that next year, too, will be abundant.
During this season we reflect on our lives, looking at our successes and disappointments, and our personal strengths and weaknesses, with an eye toward how we can better ourselves, and hence, the world in which we live.
It is in this context that we share with you some of the harvest of this year’s work at In the Gardens.
In January, In the Gardens was born as a nonprofit entity. Shortly thereafter we submitted our first grant proposal with Chicago Eco House, for two high tunnels for high schools in Englewood. We got the grants!
In April, we hired our first intern, who readied us for the spring season.
In May, we planted our on-site garden as well as our first off-site garden.
In June, two more interns were hired to plant, maintain and harvest the sites.
In September, our website went live: inthegardens.org.
In mindfulness programming, we held three retreats, three courses﹣including our first online course, brought classes to two businesses, and provided one-on-one trainings.
We donated 640 pounds of fruits and vegetables to food pantries and other programs serving the hungry, and there is still plenty more to harvest this season!
As the season changes, we are turning our attention to bringing indoor gardens and mindfulness practice to schools, communities, businesses, congregations and individuals.
All in all, it has been a very good year!
Each of these goals have been achieved as a result of generous donations. Here is what your contribution can help to provide:
A donation of $25 purchases one fruit tree or one shovel.
A donation of $75 provides growing media of compost and soil amendments.
A donation of $100 purchases seeds for one school garden.
A donation of $250 covers materials for a water- and money-saving drip irrigation system.
A donation of $450 purchases supplies to build and install a raised bed.
A donation of $1500 sponsors one intern for one month; sponsorship for the season is $10,500.
A donation of $1800 brings a course in mindfulness training to a school’s teachers and staff.
Because we can only achieve these goals with the assistance of generous donations from members of the community, I write to ask you to consider making a contribution. What better time than this holiest of seasons to help fund this effort?
May your New Year be healthy, sweet, and productive, and may every hungry mouth have enough food.
With blessings,
Rabbi Robin Damsky