Community Update August 2018
Zooming Out
Solidarity with National Prison Strike
This month, headlines across the country are highlighting the national prison strike, as imprisoned people are organizing to demand an end to forced labor and improved living conditions.

The United States prison system utilizes cheap labor from imprisoned people to produce goods sold at market value, creating a sizable profit for the prison industry and incentive to control the lives of incarcerated individuals. Within prison labor practices, the HEAL Food Alliance has identified at least 30,000 people that work in agriculture while incarcerated . We support everyone who is organizing to demand an immediate end to exploitative prison labor and greater integrity for the lives of incarcerated people. We strongly encourage everyone to read the HEAL Food Alliance statement of solidarity which includes the complete list of 10 demands from those on strike.

While the current prison system of exploitative labor can be traced back to the legal dissolution of slavery, agricultural labor is often deemed more desirable to other forms of prison labor by incarcerated individuals. We advocate for agricultural programs that prioritize skill-building and preparation for reentry, while calling for an end to exploitative prison labor.
Program Updates
As days begin to shorten easing into late summer, our courses have been moving along. We recently wrapped up our core courses Crop Management, Plant Health, and Season Extension. Our second year Citywide students only have Advanced Enterprise before moving on to their seminar and graduation!

Applications for our Certificate Program will close on September 15! We're holding another Info Session where prospective students can learn more about our programs in person. Info Sessions provide information about both the Citywide and Farm Intensive Certificate programs, and there is ample time to ask questions and converse.

August 29, 6-8pm
Neighborhood Preservation Center
232 East11th Street, NY, NY

What's Next?
Our next round of courses are under way, leading us into the fall:
 Preparing for Winter
Learn about seed saving, garlic planting and varieties, garden clean-up and tool storage, cover-cropping basics (varieties, sowing methods and planting calendar) as well as food preservation techniques to make sure you're all set before cold settles in.

Wednesday will meet in a central indoor location, and Saturdays will be site visits to gardens in the Bronx.

Taught by Ursula Chanse and Kadeesha Williams
Cost: $200

Wednesday, 9/12, 6-9pm
Saturday, 9/15, 10am-4pm
Saturday, 9/22, 10am-4pm
Saturday, 9/29, 10am-4pm
Small Farm Planning & Design
This course examines the essential elements of designing small to mid scale scale growing spaces. Learn practical record keeping for urban farms and gardens, business planning 101, beginner marketing concepts and spatial design. Utilize the theory and practice of asset-based community mapping to turn your dream into a reality.

Wednesdays will meet at a central indoor location, and Saturdays will be site visits to growing spaces around NYC.

Taught by Ben Flanner and Jane Hodge
Cost: $350

Wednesday, 10/3, 6-9pm
Saturday, 10/6, 10am-2pm
Wednesday, 10/10, 6-9pm
Saturday, 10/13, 10am-2pm
Wednesday, 10/17, 6-9pm
Saturday, 10/20, 10am-2pm
Wednesday, 10/24, 6-9pm
Saturday, 10/27, 10am- 2pm
Wednesday, 10/31, 6-9pm
Saturday, 11/3, 10am- 2pm
Student Reflections
" This course definitely showed me how to be more in tune with my environment. It taught me that we humans should not act like we are the center of all things, but a part of the grand scheme of beauty and wonder; therefore, we should treat all living things as part of us, with love and respect, for it has been here before us, and it shall be here when we leave."

-Student, Crop Management
New Partnership

We're excited to announce a new partnership with The People's Forum , a community gathering space for grassroots organizations and marginalized communities working towards collective action. Starting this fall, some of the indoor sessions of our courses will take place at the inviting gathering spaces at The People's Forum. Check out their upcoming events and programming here . We look forward to sharing space and building community together.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, August 29, 5:30-7:30pm
Bronx / La Finca del Sur

Saturday, September 8, 1-4pm
Bronx / New Roots Community Farm

Saturday, September 8, 2-6pm
Brooklyn / Just Food
Saturday, September 15, 12-4pm
Brooklyn / GreenThumb

Saturday, September 22, 9am-10pm
Manhattan / The People's Forum

October 19 - 21
Durham, NC / Black Farmers & Urban Growers
Jobs & Opportunities  
462 Halsey Farm

Woke Foods

Woke Foods

Brooklyn Grange
Snug Harbor Heritage Farm

Gowanus Canal Conservancy

NYC Dept of Sanitation

New York City Community Land Initiative