Saturday, September 24, 2011
At a ceremony and celebration tonight, Sarah Kate Buckles, manager of the Old North Grocery Co-op, and Veronica Holden, 13th Street Garden Coordinator, will receive an EarthDance Mission Award. You can join in the celebration and show your support for Old North St. Louis Restoration Group’s comprehensive healthy food access initiatives. The event is scheduled for this evening (Saturday, September 24th), 7 p.m.-11 p.m. at Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room.
Sarah Kate with customers in the Old North Grocery Co-op
Veronica at the North City Farmers Market
The EarthDance Mission Awards, inaugurated in 2008, honor ordinary Saint Louisans who embody the EarthDance mission: to grow and inspire local FARMS—Food, Art, Relationships, and Music, Sustainably! Each year EarthDance recognizes a local farmer, artist, community activist and a musician, each of whom make our region socially dynamic, healthier, and more inspiring, in an eco-conscious manner.
The Mission Awards Ceremony is open to the public, and will feature tributes to each of the award winners, live musical performances from The Lulus of The Folk School of Saint Louis, and The Phat NoiZ Blues Band, and dancing.
The 2011 EarthDance Mission Award winners were selected by a panel of judges consisting of: Kelly Childs of Slow Food STL; Jean Ponzi of The EarthWays Center; Roseann Weiss of RAC; and Lew Prince, founder of Vintage Vinyl Records.
Sarah Kate and Veronica were selected to receive the award in the “Community Activists” category. The announcement from EarthDance explains:
The 2011 EarthDance Mission Award for Community Activism will be shared by Veronica Holden and Sarah Kate Buckles, partners in an effort to increase access to fresh food in Saint Louis’ Old North neighborhood. Buckles is the manager of the Old North Grocery Co-op, and Holden coordinates the adjoining 13th Street Community Garden. The garden’s ultra-local produce is sold affordably at the Grocery Co-op as well as the North City Farmers Market. Most of the grocery’s waste products are recycled into mulch and fertilizer for the garden. Holden and Buckles credit the Old North community for supporting both projects a great deal, and they are pleased that the EarthDance Mission Award will bring attention to the achievements of this north side neighborhood.
Veronica was hired by Old North St. Louis Restoration Group in 2009 with funding support from Missouri Foundation for Health to coordinate the then-newly established 13th Street Community Garden so that fresh, local produce would be available for the North City Farmers’ Market. Sarah Kate was hired by ONSLRG in June of last year to manage the then soon-to-open Old North Grocery Co-op. Sarah Kate’s position is also made possible by a separate grant from Missouri Foundation for Health.
So, if you see Veronica at the market or Sarah Kate at the co-op, be sure to congratulate them for this great honor. Or, you can celebrate with them tonight. Tickets to the EarthDance Mission Awards Ceremony are $15, and may be purchased at the door or in advance at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/189898.
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