ReNU Niagara

Wal-Mart Grant to Fund ReNU Niagara's Gardening Workshops

ReNU Niagara, Niagara University's community outreach program, has received a $1,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation through the company's Military Road store. The grant money will be used to support a series of six gardening workshops that will be offered through ReNU Niagara's Fresh Food for the Falls Environmental Sustainability Project.

"The ‘Fresh Food for the Falls: Green Gardening Workshop Series' will offer sessions focused on teaching gardening tips and techniques to grow healthy, organic produce in an environmentally sustainable way," said Lacey Severson of ReNU Niagara. "All ages and levels of experience are encouraged to attend, whether you are just beginning a garden, interested in ‘greening' your current gardening methods, or want to learn how to lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle."

Following is a complete schedule of upcoming workshops made possible through the Wal-Mart Foundation grant: Feb. 6, noon to 2 p.m., Organic Gardening 101 Feb. 20, noon to 2 p.m., Vermicomposting/Composting March 6, 10 a.m. to noon, Your Food is Fertilizer: Worm Composting (youth focus) March 20, 10 a.m. to noon, Recycling the Rain: Water Conservation (youth focus) April 10, noon to 2 p.m., Rain Barrel Uses and Benefits April 24, noon to 2 p.m., Rain Gardens

The February and April workshops will be held in the Niagara Falls Housing Authority Doris W. Jones Family Resource Building, 3001 9th St. The youth series in March will be held in the Henry J. Kalfas Magnet Elementary School, 1800 Beech Ave., Niagara Falls. Complementary gifts and light refreshments will be available for individual participants.

"MLK Service Day: Paint the Rain" event - January 18th, 2010

"MLK Service Day: Paint the Rain" was a one day service project presented by ReNU Niagara and Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a rain barrel art community service project promoting water conservation and volunteerism. The event took place on January 18th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Niagara in Niagara Falls, NY.

Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper gave a short presentation on rain barrels as well as the importance of water conservation and reducing pollution of local waterways. Following the presentation, a rain barrel art project was completed by painting environmental-themed images on rain barrels that will be placed at Niagara Falls community garden sites.

ReNU Niagara Garners New Name, Location, and Gardening Plans

ReNU Niagara, Niagara University's Community Outreach Center, formerly known as ReNU Niagara COPC, has changed its name and location in Niagara Falls. The new ReNU office is located at the Center for Joy at HANCI at 1117 Michigan Avenue, just a few blocks from its former residence on Main Street.

Following the success of a community garden ReNU constructed at the Niagara Falls Boys and Girls Club with the help of The Niagara Falls Housing Services, Inc. in the summer of 2008, The Highland Community Vegetable Garden was built this past June in the Highland neighborhood of Niagara Falls at the Henry J. Kalfas Magnet Elementary School. The Highland garden was a success with volunteers of all ages helping with routine upkeep from watering, weeding to composting and selling the harvested produce. On September 22nd, ReNU along with The Highland Community Revitalization Committee, Inc. and the Kalfas Elementary School hosted a dedication and recognition ceremony at the school as a thank you to all the volunteers and organizations that gave of their time and materials to the garden project. In attendance, along with volunteers and residents from the Highland community were Niagara University President, Reverend Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., City Administrator, Donna Owens, and Niagara Falls City School District Superintendant, Cynthia Bianco.