March BFCG News


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March 2025 Newsletter

In this issue:

Spring Cleaning volunteer days
Spring Fling fundraiser
Season Kick-off meeting
Volunteering
Value of volunteer hours
Remind text app
Calendar (sort of)
Co-Gardener waiver
Garden Committee monthly meeting info

Kickstart Your Volunteer Hours!

Spring is here! It’s time to get the garden ready!

We know you're eager to get your hands in the dirt but it's a bit too soon and there’s plenty to do in the meantime—clearing monkey balls, reinforcing the deer fence, spreading woodchips, tidying up, and more.

Join us on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to around 2:30 p.m. (weather permitting):

March 29th
April 26th
May 3rd

No sign-up needed—just stop by, pitch in, and be part of the garden community. Stay as long as you like, and when it’s time for a break, we’ll have the grill going with hot dogs (and veggie dogs) and other refreshments to keep you fueled!

Join us for our annual fundraising event to support Greater Cleveland's oldest and largest community garden! A Cle Landmark, we've been growing both food and community since 1981, donating thousands of pounds of produce to local food pantries and logging thousands of volunteer hours. However, seasonal plot fees alone aren’t enough to sustain operations. To cover vital expenses like equipment, soil, and grounds maintenance, we rely on grants and donations. Your support ensures the garden remains a thriving resource. Enjoy dinner, drinks, door prizes, 50/50, basket raffle (best in town!) while helping us continue this vital work.

Spring Fling Fundraiser at the Sachsenheim Sat., April 5. Get your tickets now from Rick 216-375-5104

Tickets are available now!
Tables may be reserved for parties of eight (8) or more.
Vegan options available upon advanced request.

Donate to the fundraiser

There's still time to donate your prizes and pledge your baked goods.

Raffle Baskets & door prizes

We welcome your basket of goods for our basket raffle! Or, if you would like to donate a gift card, bottle of wine, or an item $10-20 value, we would love to give it away as a door prize! NEW items, only, please. Contact Marissa at (757) 880-4420
or Jennette at (216) 543-2820. For your convenience, door prizes may be dropped off at the Historical Society of Old Brooklyn Museum, 3430 Memphis Avenue on Tuesdays,
Thursdays, or Saturdays from 1–5:00 p.m. Please contribute by Wed., April 2nd and leave your name with the item you are donating so your contribution can be recognized.

Bakery

We are in need of baked goods for our fabulous dessert buffet. This is your chance to show off your baking skills! We are expecting around 200 attendees, and we’d like to have 2-3 pieces of dessert available for each person. Please use this form to sign up to bring bakery: https://forms.gle/dotkyJiXi2of.
..
THANK YOU for your support of our main fundraising activity of the year.

Kick-off Meeting 5/5

Join us for our Season Kick-Off Meeting on Monday, May 5, 7:00 p.m. at Mary Queen of Peace Parish Center Cafeteria, 4427 Pearl Road. Enter from the rear parking lot.

50/50 and free seeds will be available as well as the season's plots chart.

Sign up!

Make sure to create an account on SignUp.com. We will use this platform again this year to sign up for volunteer opportunities.

Open opportunities will be on our website under "Volunteer Ops."

Make sure to check your email, the website, and Remind for opportunities throughout the season.

All volunteer time will be logged in the volunteer book found at the garden. Time is logged under the main gardener name.

Text message notifications

Reminder about Remind

We use Remind, a free text messaging app, to communicate announcements and reminders quickly and efficiently — straight to your phone (or your email). Never miss out!

More information and easy sign up details on our website.

Calendar

Our calendar is still in process. Stay tuned for more garden event dates and details. Use Remind, check the website, check bulletin boards. Here's a preview:

Pre-season cleanups – Saturdays, March 29, April 26, May 3, 10:00 a.m.–
Spring Fling Fundraiser – Saturday, April 5, 6–10:00 p.m., Sachsenheim Hall
First Timers meeting – Thursday, May 1, 6:00 p.m., Garden classroom.
Season Kick-Off Meeting – Monday, May 5, 7:00 p.m., Mary Queen of Peace Parish Center Cafeteria, 4427 Pearl Road. Enter from the rear parking lot.
Garden opening – Saturday, May 17 (the "creek don't rise" date)
Pedal for Prizes – Saturday, May 17 (our Garden is a "stop" on this community event)
Ice Cream Social – Wednesday, July 23, 6–8:00 p.m.
Harvest Picnic and Annual Meeting – September TBD
Garden closing – Saturday, October 11, 4:00 p.m.

Shortly, we'll post the lineup for our top drawer Music in the Garden Series. Meanwhile, mark your calendars for the first and third Saturdays of June, July, August, September, 6–7:00 p.m.

REMINDER

Everyone working in the garden must have a waiver on file. All main gardeners filled out a waiver when completing their application. If you are a co-gardener and have not filled out the form, you can find the link below.

https://form.jotform.com/25051...

Garden Operating Committee Monthly Meetings

Your Garden Operating Committee meets year round! Unless otherwise indicated, committee meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at

Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation
4274 Pearl Road, rear entrance.

All gardeners and members of the public are welcome to attend!

Ben Franklin Community Garden

1905 Spring Road
Mailing Address: 4274 Pearl Road
Cleveland Ohio 44109
A program of
Old Brooklyn Community Development Corp.

communications@benfranklincommunitygarden.org

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