Hello, VINES family!
Good news! Gardening is not cancelled! Being outside is one of the safest places you can be. Breathing in fresh air, letting the sunshine warm your skin, and getting your hands in the soil are all healthy ways to get through this very trying time.
The VINES staff and board is busy ensuring that we have up to date knowledge about the COVID-19 virus, and we will be making changes to our programs so that all those involved with VINES stay safe but are supported and can look forward to an abundant growing season. VINES staff are working from home for the foreseeable future, so our office is closed. However, you can leave a message on our voicemail or text us (607-205-8108) and someone will return your call within 24 hours.
Updates on VINES programming at this time:
Green Thumb Workshops: The Gardening 101 workshop scheduled for 3/24 in Endicott is cancelled. VINES staff is preparing online education so that you can continue to plan your gardens and think about how to get your space ready for spring! We will evaluate workshops on an ongoing basis and update those who have registered on cancellations.
Community Gardens: Keep planning your gardens and start planting early crops like peas and spinach! Being outside is encouraged! Workdays will go on as planned and will be limited to 10 people for each workday. VINES encourages our gardeners to practice social distancing, and we will have sanitation stations set up for both hands and tools during workdays. Please continue to sign up for your plots via our online system.
Binghamton Urban Farm: Farmer Kyle is still working to get seeds started and the farm prepped for growing. Volunteer workdays are set to begin in mid-April and will be limited to 10 people. Keep an eye on social media and our website for updated dates and times.
Grow Binghamton: We are still accepting applications (due April 15th) for our summer youth employment program and nothing is changing with that program at this time.
Wellness Wagon: Trips will be cancelled until further notice. Food will be available through community partners on the North Side. If you need help accessing food, please call 211, First Call for Help.
VINES Farm Share: STILL ON! Our new Farm Share Manager, Alice, is busy catching up and creating the agreement for this year. You should be able to find the agreement on our website very soon – we will alert everyone via social media and email when the agreement is available.
We'll be updating Special Events as we know more.
Take care of yourselves and your neighbors (from a distance!). Soon enough those first pea shoots will be bursting through the soil.
|