Community Update September 2018
|
|
Applications Closing Soon!
|
|
Is the Second Farm Crisis Among Us?
Farmers in rural areas across the country are entering a state of emergency. Dairy & grain producers, new farmers, and farmers of color are being hit the hardest, as reported in a
recent Civil Eats article
by Sienna Chrisman. With the Farm Bill set to expire on September 30, this article is a reminder of how consolidation and the ongoing move away from human-scale farming is entrenched in federal farm policy, and how small-scale farmers are suffering as a result.
SNAP Funding
Earlier this summer, the USDA selected a new SNAP vendor, which has prevented millions of people from using their SNAP benefits at farmer's markets. While Governor Cuomo announced a temporary plan to ensure New Yorkers can access their benefits through February 2019, millions of people around the country are losing access to fresh produce at farmer's markets. Some markets have prepared to use older versions of EBT processing machines, but a longterm solution hasn't been presented by the USDA's new SNAP vendor, and the future is uncertain. Check out the
Farmers Markets Coalition
and
GrowNYC
for a recap and updates about accessing SNAP in NYC.
|
|
With the first chill of colder weather, we're strapping on our boots to get ready for winter.
Over the past few weeks, we've been busy with a screening of
Seeds of Hope
at the
Brooklyn Grange
and a discussion with Ken Greene and Mary Arquette, in addition to preparing for our next round of applications. Meanwhile, students visited our teacher Owen Taylor at his seed farm outside of Philadelphia. Owen is a seed keeper and shares his stories and seeds through
Truelove Seeds
.
|
|
What's Next?
Our last course of this year will be Small Farm Planning & Design before we begin our new cohort in November. We will open individual courses again in Spring 2019!
|
|
Small Farm Planning & Design
This course examines the essential elements of designing small to mid 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 The People's Forum on 37th St in Midtown, 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
|
|
|
"I loved the collaborative building, and the season extension project. I really learned some raised bed/low tunnel skills.
"
-Student, Season Extension
"
I loved the reading materials and people sharing about their assigned insect. I also enjoyed having ample amount of time to observe the garden on the first Saturday."
-Student, Plant Health
|
|
Sunday, September 16, 1-2:30pm
Brooklyn / Sacred Vibes
Tuesday, September 18, 6-8pm
Manhattan / Just Food
Sunday, September 23, 10am-4pm
Bronx / GreenThumb
|
|
Wednesday, September 26, 5:30-7:30pm
Brooklyn / The Youth Farm
Saturday, October 6, 10am
Bronx / NY Mycological Society
October 19 - 21
Durham, NC / Black Farmers & Urban Growers
|
|
Project EATS
Sprout by Design
Woke Foods
Queens County Farm Museum
|
|
Stone Barns Center
The Plant Republic
Edenworks
Certified Naturally Grown
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|