Watch them grow! 🌱 In an ongoing collaboration with Chef Yusuf Bin-Rella and Alex Booker, we're installing a brand new collard garden at Olbrich Gardens. Come check out its progress in the Herb Garden (located just to the right of the Great Lawn when looking out from the atrium). 🗓️Meanwhile, SAVE THE DATE for the July 8 Collard Fest at Olbrich (details to emerge soon!). #heirloomcollards #ediblelandscape #foodsovereignty (fb)

Dane County Food Action Plan & @dcfm are excited to collaborate on this month's Whiteboard Short! Last week we asked you about your grocery cart - and I hope there are some fun foods in there, because it’s time to check out! FoodShare, Wisconsin’s version of the federal SNAP program, provides participants with a Quest EBT card that can be used like a debit card for food purchases. You might know that grocery stores have machines capable of processing EBT transactions, but you might not know that many Farmers Markets also have these machines! If your local farmers market accepts Quest cards, you can go to the market’s information booth and withdraw from your FoodShare account. You’ll be given that withdrawn amount in Market Dollars - a currency specific to each farmers market. Market Dollars can be used to buy edible items from vendors including bread, meat, cheese, eggs, fruits and veggies, and even edible plants! Market dollars cannot be used to buy nonfood items (like flowers or wreaths) or hot foods (like those served at food carts). If you haven’t used all of your Market Dollars by the time you leave your farmers market, that’s ok! The currency doesn’t expire, and you can always return unused Market Dollars to get the benefits returned to your Quest card. Farmers who receive Market Dollars in payment keep a hold of them to return to Market Staff, and are reimbursed on a regular basis. But wait - there’s more! In Dane County during June - October you will receive a dollar-for-dollar match on your benefits up to $20 per market day. That means, when you take up to $20 off of your Quest card, the Double Dollars program will match up to $20 for $40 total to spend at the market. While this program is limited to fruits, veggies, and plants that can grow fruits and veggies, it’s a great addition to the FoodShare program during Farmers Market season. Thanks to the Dane County Farmers Market for partnering on this video! If you don’t have FoodShare benefits but think you might qualify, check out the links in their bio for application information. How does it work? – As a customer 1. Check that your farmers’ market can accept EBT transactions. Only farmers’ markets that are authorized have the special machinery to accept Quest cards. 2. Take your Quest card to the Information Booth at your farmers market and ask to do an EBT transaction. The market has an EBT card reader where you will swipe your card and enter your PIN. 3. Decide how much you want to withdraw from your account, and the market staff will give you market dollars in exchange. Market dollars are a currency specific to your farmers market. They don’t expire, and benefits can be returned to your card if you don’t intend on using them. 4. You can buy any edible item at that market with your market dollars! That includes bread, meat cheese, eggs, and of course fruits and vegetables. How does it work? – As a farmer When customer buy food with market dollars, farmers hold onto them until a market staff member collects the market dollars. They count the dollars and write a receipt for the farmer. Then once per month, the market reimburses the farmers for all of the market dollars that have been spent with the, Double Dollars/ Nutrition Incentive: 1. During Double Dollars season (June-October here in Dane County), you will receive a dollar-for-dollar match on your benefits up to $20 per market day. That means, when you take up to $20 off of your Quest card, we will match up to $20 for $40 total to spend at the market 4. Since Double Dollars is a nutrition incentive program, customers are limited to spending them on fruits, vegetables, and plants that can grow fruits and vegetables. How do I get FoodShare Benefits? If you don’t have FoodShare benefits but think you may qualify, you can apply online at https://loom.ly/Uk2UBm4 For FoodShare application assistance, call 877-FOOD-365 (877-366-3635), or visit GetAQuestCard.org. #danecountyfoodactionplan #foodplan @danecountyfoodcollective (fb)