Author Archives: GreenHouse17 Staff

The early morning pitter patter of little feet down the hallways. The sleepy eyes and big yawns in the dining room. The mid-afternoon rush of screaming laughter and excited stories. Yep, school is back in session at shelter!!  

Can we all just take a moment to remember what the first day of school was like (way back when)? The nervousness of not knowing what your teacher is like. The excitement of seeing old friends and making new ones. Opening new packages of crayons, pencils and glue. Putting on school clothes that are somehow not supposed to get dirty! 

More than half of our residents are children. Other than the very little, most of the children leave for school every day. This break in the day gives moms time to work on their journey of healing, make steps toward independence, and just take a breath! 

Many of these families fled to our emergency shelter with not much in tow. Most are working on financial empowerment and job security. The path toward self-sufficiency can be long and hard after living a life of abuse.  

That is why it is as important as ever for our community to continue to wrap its support around our families. We have always been amazed by and forever grateful for the countless ways in which we receive kindness from our community.  

If you have the means, please consider checking out our current wish list of school supplies and needs for our youth. One or two items help. Gift cards help. Anything to help these kiddos feel confident, secure and safe as they start a new school year.   

And thank you to the individuals and groups who have already helped trim this list in half with their donations. The Council for State Governments, United Way Women’s Lace up for Learning, and former employee Loretta Gilmore – we thank you!!  

You and your friends are invited out to the farm for some flower-picking fun!

Saturday, September 28
10 am – 1 pm
4400 Briar Hill Road in Lexington
$15 bucket

No tickets required. Dozens of seasonal flower varieties available. We’ll provide the buckets. Bring your clippers, if you got ‘em. Rain or shine and family-friendly. Happy dogs on leashes welcome.

Every bucket supports nature-based healing and reminds survivors of intimate partner abuse that our community cares about their safety and well-being.

Call 859.519.1922 or send a note with questions.

This position has been filled.

Do you enjoy working in nature?

Maybe you love arranging fresh cut flowers?

Looking for part-time summer work that creates good in our community?

We are hiring for a part-time summer farm assistant. The farm situated on the 40-acre rural property surrounding our emergency shelter offers the opportunity for survivors to heal in the fresh air while growing strong in body and mind. Our farm program is supported by research related to trauma-informed care for women veterans, studies exploring the restorative and healing outcomes of therapeutic gardens, and examinations of “social farming” as a means to promote healing, social inclusion, education, and social services in rural areas.

The Farm Assistant will perform agricultural and related tasks to support nature-based services and sales of value-added products to the community. This is a part-time, first-shift, seasonal position from May – October. The schedule is flexible but requires availability on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Responsibilities will include the following:

• Collaborate with farm staff to engage survivors of intimate partner abuse in nature-based healing experiences and job training.
• Assist with seeding, planting, and harvesting of flowers and vegetables.
• Perform basic maintenance of farm facilities and equipment.
• Participate in planning and implementation of Summer Flower CSA membership project.
• Coordinate weekly Summer Flower CSA pick-up sites and deliveries.
• Assist with floral design.
• Complete and maintain sales and statistical data required for business and service-related reporting.
• Attend internal and external meetings.
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum requirements for the role include agriculture experience and working knowledge of small farm equipment and organic practices.  Understanding of the agency’s mission to end intimate partner abuse preferred. Valid driver’s license required. Supervised by farm co-managers.

This position has been filled.

Have you ever considered the impact of the flowers that you buy?

Cut flower production is a huge global enterprise. Did you know up to 80% of cut flower sales in the United States are imported? When flowers are mass imported, it is difficult to know whether they were produced using practices that are good for the environment and for employees.

Here are five reasons to sign up for our Summer Flower CSA:

1. You get beautiful cut flowers! You can choose to receive your flowers arranged or wrapped in paper. Weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly membership options are available.
2. You support a work stipend program that prioritizes safety and honors the effects of trauma on body, mind, and spirit.
3. You support a farm and nonprofit organization that is committed to the benefits of nature-based healing.
4. You minimize the miles traveled by your cut flowers. Our flowers are local — grown and distributed in Lexington!
5. Your support ecologically sustainable techniques on our farm. It’s good for the environment!

Membership in our Summer Flower CSA ensures that your flowers are locally grown, and our organizations invests the cost of your flowers right back into our programming to support local survivors of intimate partner abuse. Hope blooms!

Follow this link to sign up for our Summer Flower CSA. Early members receive 10% off regular fees through April 1. 

We are gearing up for our 10th Annual Lunafest Lexington on Thursday, May 16 at the Lexington Theater. Lunafest is a traveling short film festival brought to life nationally by LUNA, the makers of the Whole Nutrition Bar for Women. Ten years ago, three local women came together with the goals of organizing this event in Lexington to support survivors of intimate partner abuse.  Since then, the event has raised almost $100,000 to support our services for survivors!

How can you help this year? 

Well of course, I hope you will save the date to attend this year’s event! Tickets will be available in mid-April, and we’ll be sharing the order link on the Lunafest event page. This year’s show includes eight amazing short films from around the world made by, for and about women. Films range from animation to fictional drama and all cover topics relating to motherhood, self-confidence, relationships, cultural diversity, breaking barriers and more! 

Do you feel compelled to do more? 

In recent years, we have developed Giving Circles for the event. A Giving Circle is an opportunity to go a little further with a group of friends, family members, or colleagues to support survivors of intimate partner abuse. Giving Circles receives four tickets with reserved seating at the event and the opportunity to put a name, logo, or message on the big screen before the films begin! 

Geni Osborn, one of the local founders of our Lunafest Lexington, began the event’s Giving Circles to show collective support for survivors in our community.

“We all have groups of friends, acquaintances or family members who share in the concerns for others going through challenging times. A giving circle gives us an opportunity to band together in our voice of support to support those harmed by intimate partner abuse.  It can be a special circle of friends coming together as one, stronger voice in our support of GreenHouse17.” 

Want more information?

Giving Circles are perfect for a group of friends, a book club, social group, or small business. They also offer a meaningful way to honor or remember a loved one, especially moms because the event happens just after Mother’s Day. If you’d like more information about Lunafest Giving Circles, please send me a note using the short form below. I’ll follow up with you really soon.

Our friends at Heart of Kentucky United Way recently honored the Danville Tai Chi Circle with their Volunteer of the Year award.

“One of my favorite sayings is never underestimate the power of a small group of people to change the world,” says Darlene Thomas, our Executive Director. “These words certainly ring true for the Tai Chi Circle. We are blessed to benefit from their strength, grace, and friendship.”

The group of friends has been dedicated to supporting survivors for many years.

Last summer, they hosted an Afternoon with GreenHouse17 on the farm of Chris Kubale. More than 60 people attended to learn more about our mission and services for survivors. Jerry Houck and his team at The Caterer made small bites using fresh produce grown by strong survivors living at our shelter, and Melton’s Great American Deli provided delicious cookies for dessert. Generous event sponsors also stepped in to help, including Campbellsville University, Bluegrass Chiro, Coldwell Banker VIP Realty, and Stith  Funeral Home.

“It was wonderful fun,” says Chris Kubale, a member of the Tai Chi Circle and host of the event. “It was delightful to see all of those wonderful people gathered together, and it is gratifying to see so many people who are interested in paying it forward.”

The practice of Tai Chi encourages balance of strength and grace, and we can’t think of a better way to describe the group’s wonderful members.