Goodness Gracious Grocery—Augusta

You wanna win this hand curated basket from Goodness Gracious Grocery—Augusta?

Stay tuned for updates as we work to get Carla Walker son Justin C. Walker, Athlete to a very prestigious PGA internship.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/dere5d-donate-to-help?qid=a193c015e909e81e0459c5a591d1c267

Hey everyone,

We've been a bit quiet lately, but that doesn't mean we've been slacking off. Opening a commercial big box grocery store is quite the journey—it typically takes five years from planning to the doors opening, and because a co-op requires community agreements and organizing, it can be even longer, on average 7-10 years!

But guess what? It’s worth it and we believe we've figured out how to make it happen just a bit faster.

While the advisory board has been busy laying the groundwork, we're also working to create an efficient and simple digital platform to build community and stay more connected.

While you see us less at public events latey, we are busy building partnerships and gathering insights to make our store the best it can be.

Thanks for your patience and support. We can't wait to share more updates soon.

Hugs,
The Triple G family

Be sure to pick up a variety of our herbs (free) along with a few of Cassandra’s recipe cards on Saturday May 4th.

Soil Festival 2024 — Food Well Alliance Want to experience all Soil Festival has to offer and help behind the scenes to support Atlanta’s premier urban agriculture event? Become a Soil Festival volunteer! In return for your support, you’ll get a free t-shirt and admission to the event to enjoy the festivities either before or after yo...

Hey CSRA friends!

I'm reaching out to ask for your support! The Annual Savannah Riverkeeper fundraising event, Roast on the River, is just around the corner, and we need some awesome volunteers to make it a night to remember!

Join us at SRK's headquarters in Downtown Augusta for a fantastic evening filled with fun activities, mouthwatering food, and great company. From helping with check-in to assisting with games or serving up delicious eats, there's a role for everyone!

Here are the details:
📅 Date: March 23rd
🙌 Low Country Boil Servers, Oyster Area, Grounds Keepers
📍 Location: SRK's headquarters, 328 Riverfront Drive, Augusta, GA 30901

Whether you can spare a couple of hours or the whole evening, your support will truly make a difference. Plus, it's a fantastic opportunity to have a blast while giving back to our community!

If you're able to lend a hand, please sign up here: https://www.savannahriverkeeper.org/volunteer-opportunities.html

Thank you all in advance for your generosity and support! Can't wait to see you there!

Many thanks to Brier Creek Soil and Water Conservation Urban Ag Workshop for an evening of learning and laughs.

If you couldn't make it to the Urban Ag workshop for Georgia District III, fear not! You missed out on a fantastic time filled with food, fun, and friendship, BUT don't worry….

thanks to Studio Farmer, Inc. Dan Scott Taught-Me and Farm Data Dispatch we’ve got you covered.

Check out the link in the comments for video and audio recordings, plus all the handouts you need to catch up! East Boundary is ready for spring 2024 🌱

We made a sweet, sweet gift basket for our friends at Savannah Riverkeeper to raffle off during tonight’s Healthy Augusta Kick-Off.

Come to listen, learn, and participate in making our city a healthy place to live.

See you soon!

Today!

During Black History Month, it's crucial to shine a light on issues affecting Black communities today.

That's why I'm sharing "They’re Trying To Kill Us," a powerful film highlighting racial inequality within the food system.

Produced by Chris Paul and Billie Eilish, this eye-opening documentary explores how systemic injustices contribute to disproportionately higher rates of chronic diseases among people of color.

Let's continue the conversation and work towards a more equitable future for all. "

WHERE TO WATCH | TTTKU Film

I’ve been in the game for 18 years and the most beautiful fruits, vegetables, herbs, and meats I’ve ever welcomed into my holy of holy’s from the place that I call home.

I will be playing with these ingredients tomorrow at rhe Agritour workshop. Many thanks to Ebony Tree Farms and Someday Farm for their generosity and labor.

Coming back here was absolutely not part of my plans but sometimes, like a hunter with a bow and arrow, life pulls you backwards to ordee to propel you forward.

There’s an entire page dedicated to all the things that people think are wrong with my city. They will never experience the beauty aa long aa they continue to sit on the couch and complain.

Eternally grateful for what this city has contributed to my life and career. It has NOT been easy but dammit it’s been worth it.

Join us on February 10th for the 1st Annual Organic Agritour and Conservation Outreach Workshop 2. Experience hands-on conservation practices, explore the transformative apprenticeship program, and savor delicious produce from Ebony Tree Farms prepared by Goodness Gracious Grocery. Meet Frederick and Anna Griffin, the dynamic duo behind Ebony Tree Farms, as they showcase their innovative farming practices alongside Dan Scott and other pioneering farms like Gloria Manor Organics. Engage with experts from the USDA National Resource Conservation Services. Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience!

ICYMI: Today’s session was recorded. I had the chance to share Goodness Gracious Grocery—Augusta education strategy. 🐟 ❤️

Don’t Cage Our Oceans is hosting a series of workshops for Chefs! Link 🔗 in comments!

One of the biggest problems chefs face is how to source sustainable seafood that also ensures consistency and affordability. This webinar will look at the problems and solutions of sustainable seafood sourcing through shared stories, lessons learned, and building relationships. There will also be ample time for questions and discussion.

Speakers include: Colles Stowell, One Fish Foundation; Cassandra Loftlin, co-founder of Goodness Gracious Grocery in Augusta, GA; Dana Honn, chef/owner of Carmo and Café Cour and co-founder of Porgy's Seafood Market in New Orleans, LA; and Colette Nelson, founder of Give A Fish

December 10th: Terra Madre Day!

Today marks , a celebration of local food, culture, and sustainable agriculture. We are inspired by how strives for inclusivity.

We are grateful to Chef Christy - ATL for the incredible opportunity to share our community's journey towards food sovereignty. Her support amplifies our commitment to sustainable and inclusive practices. Together, we celebrate !

Learn more about Culinary Historians of Atlanta, Terra Madre, and the Slow Food moment. Links in comments.

Grateful to Fast Company for featuring Goodness Gracious Grocery! Special thanks to Faye Mack and JQ Co-op Hannah of Food Co-op Initiative unwavering support and programming expertise. Our cooperative is growing, and it's all thanks to the incredible backing from this organization. "

Food Co-op Initiative Starting a food co-op? Start here. We answer questions, spread great ideas, share successes, and bui

Wishing all who celebrate a joyous and bright Hanukkah! May the Festival of Lights bring warmth, happiness, and cherished moments to you and your loved ones.

Happy Hanukkah, ya’ll!

🕎

How do you use venison at home?

In October Goodness Gracious Grocery—Augusta was blessed with a bounty of local ground Venison from area hunters and sausage to share with our neighbors.

Going forward—I’m absolutely thinking this can be incorporated regularly in the bi-weekly food boxes to relieve hunger.

I didn’t grow up eating venison but as
an adult I’ve enjoyed roast, steaks,
spaghetti, and chili. Culturally appropriate food is important to me and with that thought and my own personal experience,
I realize it may be new for some neighbors.

I kept a few pounds to do recipe development—besides the usual replacement for ground beef—how do you enjoy it?

I would appreciate any and all suggestions 😊 ❤️

Tonight!

Expressing heartfelt gratitude to Veterans for their service in both the field and in the FIELDS.

This Veterans Day, our gratitude extends to all Veterans, with a special acknowledgment for our Veteran farmers. In a reflective moment, we combed through our invoices, surveyed our local landscape, and scrolled through our social media pages—revealing a more significant reliance on Veteran producers than we initially realized.

Today, we immersed ourselves in research articles on Veteran Farmers across the US, and the insights we gained from USDA reports have profoundly enriched our appreciation. As these heroes shift gears to civilian life, a considerable number gravitate towards agriculture, further enriching the industry. 17% of all farms, a testament to their commitment.

Here is how Veteran farmers play a pivotal role in enhancing our food security, environmental sustainability, and our community:

Education: Veterans often have higher education and technical training, enriching local agriculture with unique skills from their military background.

Dedication: Farming demands resilience and discipline – qualities our Veteran Farmers embody, enhancing agricultural practices.

Innovation: Leveraging field experience, many Veteran farmers implement efficient and sustainable farming methods, positively impacting overall productivity and environmental sustainability.

Effective Leadership: Their uncanny ability to plan, strategize, and execute, honed in the military, translates into effective farm management, contributing to the resilience and success of local and national food production.

This Veterans Day, Goodness Gracious is dedicating time to learning more about our local Veteran farmers in the CSRA and beyond. If you know of Veteran Farmers, please tag them below. Your input will enable us to express sincere gratitude for their dual commitment.

I had a chance to work with Cameron Day last year to supply dried mushrooms in a fund raiser holiday box for Black farmers.

It was a pleasure revisiting everything I learned to develop this recipe around his products for Urban pro weekly. Go order mushrooms from Some Day Farms and try this deliciousness. You won’t regret it.

PS: if you have a food product and need professional recipe development, in box me!

🌟 Exciting News from Our Recent Conference! 🌟

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of inspiration, connection, and learning as we embarked on an incredible journey at the 10th National Leadership Summit hosted by Vital Village. This conference has rekindled our passion for creating positive change through our food justice work and we were encouraged to write new stories for our communities. We were excited to continue this transformative journey in Boston this fall alongside change-makers from all across the nation who share our dedication to justice, healing, and the joy of children, families, and communities.

🌱 Workshop Highlights: 'Recreating the Food System' 🌱
At the heart of our mission is the drive to address Food Apartheid and distinguish it from Food Insecurity. We're excited to share real-world success stories and provide you with practical tools and resources for sustainable change. From the feedback, folks who participated in our session left with newfound awareness, empowerment, and actionable strategies that can make a real difference.

💡 Highlights from Our Workshop 💡

✨ Meika of Rooted East Knoxville delivered an outstanding explanation of food apartheid, making it relatable to everyone in attendance.
✨ Haille and Cassandra shared captivating video and audio clips from their work, helping us visualize how food systems work in unique communities.
✨ Cassandra presented a comprehensive bibliography of food justice research, case studies, and other invaluable training resources.
✨ Haille defined essential terms and created a framework to hold meaningful conversations within communities.
✨ Sierra led a thought-provoking exercise, creating a community quilt that symbolizes our collective efforts from every corner of the country.
✨ Sierra also created and administered a self-assessment tool, allowing participants to continue this important work in their own communities.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone for their incredible contributions!

We're working together to transform the narrative, unite for justice, and cultivate conditions for healing. Join us on this journey to rewrite the stories of joy and freedom for our communities. Stay tuned for more updates, and let's keep the momentum going!

☕ Coffee's on us! ☕

Join us at the Atlanta Design Festival to chat about the future of food. We'd love to meet anyone passionate about the future of food and share how Goodness Gracious is brewing up freshness, sustainability, and a great time.

Why are we so excited about the Atlanta Design Festival? It's where creative minds unite to showcase innovative ideas, art, and architecture. We're thrilled to be a part of it!

At Goodness Gracious Grocery, we're all about fresh, locally-sourced goodies and supporting our community. Come enjoy a cup of Cantave De Saint Marc single origin Haitian coffee, take home samples from our farming and producer partners, meet our team, and learn how we're working within our communities to make a positive impact.

Join us at the festival, and let's make our community even more vibrant and sustainable together. See you there!

More behind the scene footage from our time at the Resourced Augusta Conference working with a wonderful group of 28 students from Grovetown, Greebrier, Lakeside, and Evans!

📢 Exciting News! 📢

We're proud to announce our participation in the upcoming Resourced Augusta Conference on September 17, 2023, at the picturesque Savannah Rapids Pavilion. 🌟

Join us in this empowering event as we come together with our community to make a difference. Visit Resourced Augusta for updates and details on how you can be a part of this impactful day! 🙌

The Resourced Conference is for the 'Givers' in our community - those providing resources or businesses sowing into them such as non-profits, schools, law enforcement, government officials, etc. It is not open to the general public. If you aren't sure if you fit in that category, just shoot me a msg and we'll figure it out together.

Information on the Resourced Conference:
Our goal is to empower the 'givers' in our community by providing them the opportunity to learn first hand about what resources our community has, enabling them to guide those in need to resources when it's needed and more efficiently. The Resourced Conference is like a live action resource list, enabling attendees to hear from over a hundred local community organizations about the resources they provide. The goal of the conference is to empower the 'givers' in our community by providing them the opportunity to learn first hand about what resources our community has, essentially creating a network of unofficial 'case workers' across Columbia and Richmond Counties.

Registration is required and closes Monday, September 11th at 3:00 PM. Currently there are less than 100 seats remaining.
Conference Registration --> https://forms.gle/hu8gbgsswoybmjNX9

Information on QPR Training:
QPR is a FREE, 90-minute, evidence-based training that teaches how to recognize when someone is struggling with their emotional health, how to respond, and how to connect them with support! This is open to ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY!!! Registration required.
Three sessions available - 715am, 1030am, 130pm
QPR Registration --> https://forms.gle/Y1amfu8LPU5bhUUG6

If you aren't able to access the google forms, please let me know and I can submit your registration for you. We are also looking for sponsors to help us provide both the conference and QPR training to our community helpers at no cost.

If you are interested in learning how to make a vegetable sushi roll join us September 23rd @ 3pm. You will learn the basics of sushi making, including how to prepare the rice, how to select and slice the ingredients, and how to roll the sushi. This class is absolutely free!

Go to freesushiclass.eventbrite.com to register!