October Community Update

This issue...Greenhouse Build - Certificate Program - Fundraisers -Volunteering - Events - Jobs

Community Update October 2016

Featured this Month

Greenhouse Build and Season Extension Workshop at

Rise & Root Farm

On September 25, Farm School NYC helped to organize a greenhouse build led by Simon Ziegler of Sunsprout Farm and the owners of Rise & Root. One of the participants, Bea Mora, reports back on her adventurous day.

If you had told me 5 years ago that in 2016 I would find myself at the top of a ladder bolting a purlin to a bow on a 72’ x 30’ high tunnel on a farm in upstate New York cooperatively run by 4 women, I would have thought...honestly that sounds rad, but you must be thinking of someone else.

Farm School NYC has shown me, maybe more than any other experience in my life, how I can put myself in completely new contexts and feel more connected to myself, others, and a sense of place than ever before. The recent trip to Rise & Root Farm in Chester, NY was no different. What an incredible opportunity to be part of a community-building of a structure for growing food for farmers that have a demonstrated commitment to food justice in New York.

The group that assembled reflected varying degrees of experience with this kind of work, but in true Farm School spirit, we all jumped in, ready to learn and try. We didn’t manage to finish the entire project, which seems to be an ongoing process, but I definitely left with a new appreciation for how much work goes into constructing a high tunnel greenhouse. I couldn’t help but think, while we were sharing local tomatoes and watermelon over lunch at the nearby farm market, The Green Onion, how lucky I was to be able to sit with these women who are living the movement so fully and hear about the unique challenges of moving from city growing to rural farming.

So yeah, I guess I am that person standing on a very tall ladder in the black dirt of Chester, NY, wielding a power drill and talking season extension with the owners of Rise & Root Farm, and it’s exactly where I was always heading.

Certificate Programs Start November 2016

Farm School NYC sends out a big Thank You to the wonderful, passionate, and dedicated applicants to our two Certificate Programs: The Certificate in Urban Agriculture and Accelerated Certificate in Urban Agriculture, in partnership with The Youth Farm.

As November approaches, please take note of these important dates:

November 1, 2016: Notification of Acceptance
November 7, 2016: Confirmation of Acceptance due
November 14, 2016: Tuition Payment and Registration Forms Due
November 17, 2016: New Student Orientation
November 30, 2016: Class Begins!

Program details, requirements, paper application version and tuition costs can be viewed here

Spotlight on Community Partners

Hattie Carthan Fundraiser

Chow down on a hearty 4 course dinner made with food from Hattie Carthan Community Farmers' Market 's at communal dinner fundraisers on November 5th and November 20th! This communal dinner and volunteer appreciation ceremony will be an eventful evening in the outdoors with farmy short screenings, raffles, artisanal local teas, etc.

Buy Tickets

New Roots Community Workday

Volunteer with us as we partner with the International Rescue Committee and get this urban farm ready for the fall and winter!

Friday, October 14 10 AM - 1 PM,
New Roots Community Farm - Corner of East 153rd Street and Grand Concourse

Classes and Workshops

Bronx Green-Up Soil Certificate Program

This three-part workshop will focus on maintaining and building healthy soil, vital to any productive garden, whether you grow vegetables or flowers. Learn what soul is, how to enrich it the organic way, and what concerns exist for urban soils. Parts 1 and 2 will take place at The New York Botanical Garden, and Part 3 will be hands--on at a community garden. Pre-registration is required. Priority will be given to Bronx community gardeners, but others are welcome is space allows. For more information call 718.817.8026 or register here:

Wednesdays,October 12th and 19th 6-8 PM and Saturday, October 15th 10 AM - 1 PM
(at a community garden to be determined) (Saturday)
New York Botanical Garden - Watson Education Building (Wednesday)

Pruning Certificate Series

The Pruning Certificate course has been designed to help you learn to prune properly and improve your community garden. This course is ideal for community gardeners who want to keep their gardens in good shape. The focus of the class will be on pruning small trees and shrubs, with a full class devoted to fruit tree pruning. To receive a pruning certificate, you must attend the four class dates listed above and demonstrate your pruning skills through 8 hours of practice at community garden workdays. Pre-registration is required. Priority will be given to Bronx community gardeners. Click here to register for series or call 718.817.8026 for more information.

Thursdays, October 27, November 3, 10, and 17 • 6–8 p.m.
New York Botanical Garden • Watson Education Building

What's buzzing at The Ashokan Center?

Farming With Beneficial Insects! Hudson Valley Farm Hub and The Xerces Society will be hosting a conservation biological short course on natural pest control through beneficial insects on November 9th in Olivebridge, NY. Engross yourself in knowledge on how to identify beneficial insects, recognize the habitat needs of beneficial insects, or designs for habitat improvement. Hudson Valley Farm Hub will also graciously provide 5 scholarships for this course, so make sure you register and fill out the scholarship application provided by the link below.

Wednesday, November 9th 9:00 am - 4:30 pm ED The Ashokan Center Olivebridge, NY

This workshop will cover:

The importance of beneficial insects - predators and parasitoids that attack insect pests.
Overview of conservation biological control and integrated pest management (IPM).
How to identify beneficial insects and distinguish them from other insects.
How to recognize the habitat needs of beneficial insects and identify habitat deficiencies.
The design and implementation of habitat improvements, including site preparation, insectary strip plantings, hedgerows, beetle banks, and more.
The current best management practices that minimize land-use impacts on beneficial insects and mitigate exposure to insecticides.
How to access USDA conservation programs for financial and technical support.

Participants will receive the Xerces Society's Conservation Biological Control Toolkit which includes habitat installation guidelines and other relevant publications, and the Xerces' book, Farming with Native Beneficial Insects.