Children of all ages got together at every Grange Co-op location this past Mother's Day for our annual Paint-a-Pot event. There was a lot of fun and creativity as everyone painted terracotta pots for the special mothers and maternal figures in their lives. From simple designs to intricate patterns, each pot became a unique gift straight from the heart. It was a day filled with laughter, paint splatters, and memories to cherish—a true celebration of the strong bonds between families.

Grange Co-op joined over 30 other vendors for the Jackson County Master Gardener’s Spring Fair at the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center, off Hanley Rd. Despite some less than sunny temperatures and cold that give pause to some tomato planting, a steady stream of gardeners browsed local nurseries and craftsmen exhibiting their wares. Volunteers with the Master Gardener program have been bringing the gardening community together for years with this event, with a bounty of plants and goods to peruse, as well as being available for plant advice, identification, and landscape recommendations.

PEO Sisterhood gathered for their 2^nd annual Garden Clinic, joined by chapter and community members, alike. A Grange ‘Expert’ joined other community partners such as Dustin Locks from Smart Pot, and a local landscape designer, who spoke on several gardening topics such as planting for pollinators, shade gardening, and alternatives to traditional plastic and ceramic pottery. One presenter described the time-tested method of using a ‘Thriller, filler, and spiller’ combination when planting your mixed plant containers; attending gardeners then got to put those principals to use planting perennial combinations of starts provided by Grange Co-op.

One small town in California is showing what real community care looks like, as 200 volunteers descended on the Butte County Fairgrounds for their annual Volunteer Day. Schools, churches, and local businesses joined 4-H and FFA clubs, first responders, and other community partners in what has become a Gridley tradition. The project-based beautification of the fairgrounds was a demonstration of efficient organization. For our part, Grange Co-op volunteers from the Yuba City location began to prime and paint the entertainment stage. Other volunteers worked on landscape, power washed sidewalks, and cleaned banners & flags. This small town’s passion for giving back shines as bright as their beautiful fairgrounds!