OT: #EATING gardens to work with Flint Elementary Schools
Hello everyone,
Its Vince here (Vincent Smith the running back) and I wanted to reach out to you all on MGOBLOG with an update about our work in Flint. You all know about Flint and their water and lead situation. Team Gardens and our #EATING project is partnering with the CRIM Foundation in Flint to serve Elemntary Schools. We will be working with the youth at the Flint Public Elementary Schools to grow vegetables to help get the lead out they bodies.
Here is the go fund me link: http://www.feedflint.org (and you can also put https://www.gofundme.com/feedflint)
And here is a cool picture to put on your facebook:
Our goal is $109,901 which is how many people the big house holds so if everyone gave a dollar we can get these gardens growing.
Come out and help too, Ill be there all spring and summer. Plus at our garden behind Durrant-Tuuri-Mott Elementary. Also if you come some of my friends that play will be there too, like a NFL player who name rhyme with Romas Talls.
February 4th, 2016 at 2:50 PM ^
You're the man.
February 4th, 2016 at 4:15 PM ^
Thank you we all gotta do our part. I am blessed to have this opportunity
February 4th, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^
Exciting! Is the garden behind Durrant-Tuuri-Mott Elementary the "Flint Justice Garden"?
February 4th, 2016 at 4:16 PM ^
Yes and we will plant as many as we can. Florida is H.O.P.E. And Flint is Justice
February 4th, 2016 at 2:55 PM ^
Finally. A thread worth viewing. No more "here is my eating lemons" please.
February 4th, 2016 at 3:13 PM ^
You know you'd watch a vidoe of Vincent Smith #eating lemons.
February 4th, 2016 at 3:19 PM ^
Of course.
February 4th, 2016 at 5:32 PM ^
$5k by Sunday I will get that lemon video up.
February 4th, 2016 at 2:56 PM ^
Mable Pines was there at the last Flint Garden lot clean up. Let's see who else can contribute monetarily or physically!
Nice work Vincent! GO BLUE!
Also follow Team Gardens #eating on FB and @teamgardens on the Twitter.
February 4th, 2016 at 3:16 PM ^
I was thinking we should move some rocks into a circle and have a little sandbox for the kids to play in when the parents are picking vegetables. The sand could be used to loosen the soil each year and replaced with clean sand.
Also, I'm concerned about watering the garden with the Flint water? Hopefully it will be cleaned up by then...
.I wonder if the big pile of brush ever got cleaned up?? Anyway, I am looking forward to spring and to really get growing on that garden!
February 4th, 2016 at 3:34 PM ^
Yeah I have not received an answer about the uptake of lead by plants yet. We can just use a rain catch too.
February 4th, 2016 at 4:19 PM ^
The brush never got picked up but its okay because I'm taking farming class at WCC and we can plant squash on brush piles so imma move them to the back. Was out there yesterday the lady next door has been using the wood to do crafts and make signs.
February 4th, 2016 at 2:58 PM ^
You're a wonderful human being.
February 4th, 2016 at 4:20 PM ^
You are too
February 4th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
You do more than many I know, me included.
February 4th, 2016 at 5:34 PM ^
Come out and help or share on facebook
February 6th, 2016 at 1:13 AM ^
Mr Smith, we will meet up soon!
February 4th, 2016 at 3:01 PM ^
but the link simply gives a popup that "Donations are complete." Is it working for anybody else?
February 4th, 2016 at 3:23 PM ^
The second gofundme link worked for me.
February 4th, 2016 at 4:18 PM ^
Always appreciate the work you do Vincent Smith!
February 4th, 2016 at 3:03 PM ^
Very proud to hae you representing Michigan. Its things like this that really make a difference.
Finding people to develop grass-roots change is almost impossible and there you are doing it.
February 4th, 2016 at 4:21 PM ^
I was called. I am a 21 century farmer. Reinvent myself.
February 4th, 2016 at 5:35 PM ^
Thanks and go blue
February 4th, 2016 at 4:22 PM ^
Bang bang
February 4th, 2016 at 3:22 PM ^
Done and done.
The concept of the Eating Gardens is a wonderful one - glad to help out and glad to donate to help out within the state of Michigan in this case as well. Pretty sure there is a large pool of MGoAssistance in the Flint / Tri-Cities (as well as down here closer to Detroit) area too should it be needed in the gardens.
February 4th, 2016 at 5:36 PM ^
Thanks man I know if we all come together we can do great things
February 4th, 2016 at 3:29 PM ^
we should write in to Ellen. she always features efforts like this to bring more attention to worthy causes
February 4th, 2016 at 6:59 PM ^
How do we write to her
February 5th, 2016 at 4:21 PM ^
I imagine she has a website, Facebook, or twitter for such purposes.
Edit: Google to the rescue again.
February 4th, 2016 at 3:35 PM ^
Bravo Mr. Smith. Thanks for posting and for the links to donate. Wish I could physically be there. It would be great to see Romas.
February 4th, 2016 at 6:57 PM ^
Lol thanks I'll Romas know and go blue
February 4th, 2016 at 3:53 PM ^
I just submitted a volunteer interest form on the Team Gardens website. I just moved back to Michigan for an interim period of time (i.e. until I know where my next job is) but would love to help out with #EATING in the meantime (plus it gives me a good excuse to wear my Hope for Pahokee shirt).
February 4th, 2016 at 7:08 PM ^
Thanks I'll email you and its a cool shirt
February 4th, 2016 at 3:56 PM ^
I loved my 5 years there but even back then, Flint was in rough shape. Coming from a small town in Canada it was a real eye opener. The poverty I saw first hand was devestating. It seems even worse now. My heart is heavy for what I see on TV.
You are doing good things and I hope everyone who reads this donates - even just a little. I hope my part helps.
Go Blue.
February 4th, 2016 at 4:39 PM ^
Thanks little jimmy I felt the same way coming from Pahokee seeing the same problems and issues kids are dealing with.its inspiration to create some gardens programs for the kids in flint and giving the kids hope and something for them to be proud of.
February 4th, 2016 at 4:21 PM ^
Keep it up. I love to hear the updates on these!
February 4th, 2016 at 4:43 PM ^
Thanks will do!
February 4th, 2016 at 4:49 PM ^
Keep up the good work, Vince. Love the photoshop of you carrying the broccoli!
February 4th, 2016 at 7:01 PM ^
Gotta eat your greens we don't wear green we eat green
February 4th, 2016 at 4:50 PM ^
You are one hell of a man, Vince. I would love to have you in my classroom sometime. A lot of these kids are in desperate need a role model.
February 4th, 2016 at 7:03 PM ^
I can definitely come talk to your students. Thanks and email me and make it happen
February 4th, 2016 at 5:06 PM ^
Such a great organization for the community. You guys are awesome! I grew up in Flint and went to Soby Elementary School that used to be down the road from Potter Elementary. I will most definitely keep an eye out and get out there to your gardens. Go Blue!
February 4th, 2016 at 7:04 PM ^
Great see you there can't wait to see you in person
February 4th, 2016 at 5:14 PM ^
Fruits and vegetables help diminish the effects of lead exposure in kids, yet it can be incredibly hard for kids in Flint to get them; there's no grocery store inside the city limits. Vincent's project partnered with two great organizations and is helping get a much needed resource in the hands of those who need it most. I can't wait to help him this spring and summer.
February 4th, 2016 at 7:10 PM ^
#truth and looking forward to seeing you out there and getting it hands dirty
February 4th, 2016 at 5:18 PM ^
Great work as always.
Romas Talls cracked me up.
February 4th, 2016 at 7:12 PM ^
Thanks if you can come out and join the team
February 4th, 2016 at 5:25 PM ^
http://verticalharvesthydroponics.com/
We're getting one of these units for our school garden. Fresh vegetables all winter.
February 4th, 2016 at 7:14 PM ^
Thanks I'll look into that. Sounds very especially during the winter time