 Mission, Vision, Values
Downtown Greens began when Laura Shepherd planted a garden on the unused land behind her home at 206 Charles Street (now Downtown Greens offices), inspiring the curiosity of neighborhood children. With the help of Lisa Biever, Eric Olsen and Mark Jacobson, Laura established Downtown Greens as a nonprofit organization in 1995. Its nonprofit status helped Downtown Greens purchase the land behind 206 Charles Street, which became known as the Lower Garden. Four years later, an additional parcel of land across the street at Princess Anne and Dixon Streets was purchased creating what is now referred to as the Upper Garden. Thus a little baby garden began to grow up. Flash forward to 2013. Sarah Perry, dancer, clown, volunteer, and all ‘round swell person, took over the Executive Director position. She continued to run the organization and gardens with the help of staff, volunteers, and community members. The entire 2.8 acres was placed under conservation easement in 2015 to conserve it in perpetuity. The young garden was gaining strength, reach, and knowledge. We were hitting our teen years! Now, 10 years later, we have a larger staff and a LOT more land. The addition of the new 56 acres has made us look around and realize how far this little organization has come! With all the changes and growth happening, Sarah and our amazing Board Members knew it was time to take a moment to look at where we’ve been, where we are, and where we are headed. With that in mind, they have created our newly updated mission statement that really hones in on what Downtown Greens is all about. They have also created a vision statement and defined our values. What does this mean? A Mission Statement is important as it accurately defines our organization's guiding principles. Our Vision Statement is a description of the desired future state of, not only the organization, but also the community and, dare we say, the world. Our Values represent our core beliefs that inspire and guide our choices in the way we operate and interact with our community. We look forward to bringing this organization to the next level and spreading the good word for many years to come. Please allow us to share with you our updated Mission, Vision, and Values… Mission statement: To enhance the well-being of our community, by connecting people with nature through education and the preservation of greenspaces. Vision statement: One day, we will live in a world where the community feels a deep connection with each other,nature, and the food they eat. Values: ● Sustainability- We are intentional in the use of all resources and mindful of how our actions impact the community and the world. ● Inclusion - We honor diversity by respecting the innate worth of all persons, cultures, and abilities. We are stronger because of the varied contributions of all. ● Stewardship – We accept responsibility to care for the land and to educate and encourage the community to become active contributors to a healthy environment. ● Optimism – We believe in our community, and the ability to bring change for the better through our actions, words, and intentions. ● Service – We dedicate ourselves to creating opportunities for the advancement of the community. Janet Douberly is proud to be on the team at Downtown Greens. This article was originally published in the July 2023 edition of Front Porch Magazine. Read the full publication by using the link below.
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 The Worst Berry
Berry Bugs. In the UK they are referred to as Harvest Mites. Here in the states we call the Chiggers. No matter what you call them, we can all agree they are terrible. It’s that time of year again. Time when these horrible little beasts wait patiently for some unsuspecting person or animal to walk by their perch so that they may reach out and ruin someone’s day… and week. From the family trombiculidae, they live in forests and grasslands and most places there is vegetation. They are most numerous in early summer when grass, weeds, and other vegetation are heaviest. In their larval stage, they crawl onto their hosts and inject digestive enzymes into the skin that break down skin cells. They do not actually "bite", but instead form a hole in the skin, called a stylostome, and chew up tiny parts of the inner skin. This causes severe irritation and itching. These relatives of ticks are nearly microscopic, measuring 1/60 of an inch, and have a red to orange color. If they weren’t so horrific they would be pretty. Alas, by the time most humans start to itch, the larvae have already gotten what they needed and have fallen onto the ground to continue their life cycle. Alas, no need to cover yourself in fingernail polish! A hot shower and topical medicines help with the itching and the skin should heal itself within a week or two! Janet Douberly has not encountered any chiggers at Downtown Greens. This article was originally published in the July 2023 edition of Front Porch Magazine. Read the full publication by using the link below. |
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February 2024
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