Community Update February 2017
Course Updates
Food Justice

This past weekend, our Food Justice course, lead by Farmer Yonnette Fleming, came to a close. Farmer Yon lead students through the economic, political, and social disparities present in our food systems over this four week course.  Guest speakers Ray Figueroa of the New York City Community Garden Coalition and Jessica Culley of CATA Farmworkers, shared their experiences in the field with students.  To close,  Farmer Yon lead a powerful discussion, potluck, and fire circle at Magnolia Tree Earth Center and  Hattie Carthan Community Garden  in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

" Thank you Farmer Yon. You opened our hearts, eyes and minds, in the kindest way, and gave us the tools to protect our new state of being-- that's true love."

- Ruby Olisemeka, one of our Certificate Students
Read her full response to the Food Justice course here.


Botany

Our next course, Botany, is lead by Uli Lorimer, an expert in regional native flora. Uli developed the course and has taught it since its inception. In addition to teaching at Farm School, Uli has been a curator of the Native Flora Garden at the  Brooklyn Botanical Garden since 2004 where he works closely with other botanists in the New York region to document and study the biodiversity of our area.

**Please note course registration is full for Botany and Carpentry.
Coming Up: Conferences

Winter is a busy time for growers.  Our Director, Onika, made it to the NOFA-NY Winter Conference, where she presented alongside Lisa Barker of Seed Folk City Farm on Turning Empty Lots into Bases for Food Sovereignty. Currently, we're teaming up with Just Food for a two-day conference coming up in March.  Here are some of the conferences where you can find us this winter:

Saturday, February 11, 9am-3pm

Saturday, March 11, 10am-4pm

Sunday-Monday, March 12-13, 9am-5pm

Saturday, March 25, 9am-4pm
NOFA-NY Organic Action Plan

Join NOFA-NY for a brainstorming session to create a New York Organic Action Plan!

Let’s work for the future we want! We will be holding two gatherings in New York City:

Thursday, March 9 from 7-9:30pm at Park Slope United Methodist Church, on Sixth Avenue at 8th Street, Brooklyn

Friday, March 10 from 6:30-9:30pm at the 6th Street Community Center, 638 East 6th Street, Manhattan

Free of charge! Please choose the meeting that is most convenient! Refreshments will be served.

Tell us what you think is working and what is not working for organic farming and food in NY.  Come with your ideas to help us make a plan that will build on our successes and overcome our obstacles. Share your thoughts on how NOFA-NY can create a food and farming system that is socially just, environmentally resilient, and economically vibrant. Help set NOFA priorities for organic advocacy and policy.

NOFA-NY Policy Consultant, Liana Hoodes, and Board member and farmer, Elizabeth Henderson, will facilitate.

If you love to imagine a more organic future for New York State, please RSVP to Elizabeth Henderson ([email protected]). We welcome your participation in creating the organic action plan for New York. For more information about NOFA-NY, please visit www.nofany.org

Upcoming Events 
Friday, February 3, 10am-1pm
Green Worker Cooperatives, Bronx, NY

Tuesday, February 7, 5:30-7pm
GreenThumb: Brownsville Rec Center

Saturday, February 18, 11am-1pm
New York Botanical Garden
Saturday, February 4, 10am-4pm
Old Stone House, Brooklyn

Thursday, February 9, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Brooklyn Grange, Brooklyn Navy Yard

NOFA-NY Organic Action Plan
Thursday, March 9, 7-9:30pm
Park Slope United Methodist Church
Friday, March 10, 6:30-9:30pm
6th Street Community Center, Manhattan

Job & Opportunities  
Assistant Farmer, Bed Stuy Campaign Against Hunger
Seasonal Educator, Added Value Farms
Seasonal Urban Farmer & Educator , Randall's Island Park Alliance
Children's Garden Spring Instructor,  Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Discovery Garden Coordinator,  Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Full Time Seasonal Farmer,  Active Citizen Projects, Project Eats
Assistant Farm Manager, The Youth Farm Project, Ithaca, NY
New London, CT
Outreach Coordinator, New York Botanical Garden
Aquaponics Apprentice, Oko Farms