First big planting day less than two weeks away! (April 20th) -- sign up!

For those of you itching to get your hands dirty and to work alongside Mr. M and a handful of his hardest-working students -- please realize that our events sign-up / calendar is now up and running! Our first several events are volunteer days to help with mass planting, as we have many things we need to get into the soil. Simply click the link at the top right of the blog, and follow the prompts to let us know on what day(s) you plan to come out!

--> It's important to note that you're not limited to the "time slot" that the calendar shows for you; so, for example, if you sign up for the 11:30-12:00 SLOT, that doesn't mean you can only stay for thirty minutes starting at 11:30. Rather, registration for any 30 minute time slot is a commitment that you will come sometime between 8 AM and noon, and hopefully stay and lend a hand (or two) for at least a couple of hours!!! :)

Also, I wanted to thank last years' shareholders for making such a strong display of loyalty and committment. We had a 100% re-sign-on rate. Hooray!! Related to this, I need to tell you all that we are opening up four shares previously reserved for teachers and four shares previously reserved for garden neighbors to the larger Chicago community. That makes eight newly available shares, if you know of friends or family who are interested to join.

My reasoning for this: The paid student internships are too important to have to cancel due to lack of funding, and it simply doesn't look like we'll have the buy-in form employees at the school that I thought we would. Also, I am confident that we can expand beyond the 24 shares originally planned, if I can get more neighbors to the garden to sign up. We've already raised $250 in donations to help subsidize shares for low-income members!

In any event, this means please let friends and family know about your share, and that they can for a short time sign up for the same DEAL! The first eight forms/checks we have after April 15th will be the first eight we take for these slots.

Looking forward to putting some plants in the ground with many of you, beginning two Saturdays from now!

Mr. M