Make A Little Birdhouse In Your Soul

by Emily Rippe

The Toledo Farmers' Market is more than just a great place to buy your home-grown produce and hand-made goods. It's a local treasure with a penchant for local businesses and non-profits. Once again, the Toledo Farmers' Market hosts its annual Birdhouses For Schoolhouses Fundraiser to benefit Veggie U.

From now until June 2nd, 50 individuals and businesses will be artistically decorating their wooden birdhouses for sparrows, nuthatches, finches, and bluebirds. Additionally, participants are also able to decorate bat houses.

"This year, we decided to focus on birdhouses for birds that love to eat bugs," said event organizer Gini Behrendt. "Since we did not have a hard freeze last winter, it is expected we will have a lot more bugs this summer. Having a bird or bat house in your yard may help with mosquitoes and other insects."

After receiving the creative treatment, the bird and bat houses will be photographed and placed on the Toledo Farmers' Market's website and Facebook page for public viewing.

Once the birdhouse photos have been posted, anyone may email or call in a silent bid on their favorite birdhouse. The silent auction at the market (where all the bird and bat houses will be on display) runs on June 9th from 9 a.m.-noon. Winners will be notified within 24 hours and will be able to pay for and pick up their birdhouses.

All funds raised will be donated to Veggie U, an organization that gives fourth grade classrooms a chance to learn about the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle, making wise food decisions, and attaining an understanding of sustainable agriculture. This invaluable education is achieved through kits passed out to fourth grade teachers who show interest in the program.

"We've been able to contribute toward placing Veggie Garden Growing Kits into several school in the Toledo area including: Ella P. Stewart Academy, Grove Patterson Elementary, Oakdale Elementary, Wildwood Environment Academy, Old Orchard Elementary, Toledo Christian Schools, Sherman Elementary, Leverette Elementary and Hill View Elementary," Behrendt said. "Part of this year's funds will go toward refilling those kits, and part will go toward expanding into even more schools."

The good news is that not all of the bird and bat houses have been claimed. Anyone interested in decorating one can still contact Gini Behrendt for more info at gini@flyingrhinocoffee.com.

Check out all the decorative birdhouses at the Toledo Farmers' Market, 525 Market Street, on Saturday June 9 from 9 a.m.-noon. For more information, visit http://www.toledofarmersmarket.com/content/14825


Published: 05/15/2012 9:00 am

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