Mission Statement

Urban Farmers League is a youth led organization designed to combat environmental and social injustice, by creating a platform for the youth to have equal participation in the future of our community. With the creation of urban farms we not only provide a space for youth to express but we are also able to provide the community with high quality of life, mitigate environmental degradation and provide a space for organic food to flourish.

Goals:

1. Create a community of youth leaders

2. Reduce ,Reuse ,Recycle

3. Beautify our community

4.Provide organically grown nutritious food to low income families and individuals

5. Provide a venue for youth culture to thrive






Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Newburgh urban farm's launch draws big crowd

News

By Michael Randall
Published: 2:00 AM - 07/27/10
City of Newburgh – More than 100 people attended Saturday's opening of La Vida Garden, a youth-run urban farm created on a formerly abandoned lot at 59 Chambers St.
The site has been converted into an organic farm and cultural center by city youth.
It features organically grown tomatoes, eggplant, arugula, basil, mescaline mix, hot and sweet peppers, peaches, cherries, raspberries, grapes, flowers and herbs.
A graffiti mural done by the youth and professional artists who belong to Trust Your Struggle Art Collective decorates the site.
La Vida Garden will host events, including open mic nights on the first and third Tuesday of each month; a movie night every Sunday; and workshops every second and fourth Tuesday at noon.
The garden is a partnership among a dozen government and not-for-profit agencies and local businesses.
For more information, visit their website at www.urbanfarmersleague.blogspot.com.
mrandall@th-record.com

Nora Cronin

Yesterday we talked to Nora Cronin leadership about organic food, and what the attenees can change their neighbrohoods.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Sunday
July 25, 2010




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Weather Forecast







Youth run urban farm opens in Newburgh


Urban farmers take a moment to pose in their new garden
NEWBURGH – It’s called la Vida Garden, a youth run urban farm at 59 Chambers Street in Newburgh.

The once garbage strewn lot has been transformed into an organic farm and cultural center by inner city youth. It now is filled with seven organically grown beds of tomatoes, eggplants, arugula, basil, mescaline mix, hot and sweet peppers, peaches and cherries, raspberries, grapes, flowers and herbs.

La Vida Garden will also serve as a cultural venue with open mic nights and a Sunday movie night as well as workshops.

The garden is a partnership between the Orange County Land Trust, Orange County Health Department, Orange County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, Pathstone Community Improvement of Newburgh, Greenway Environmental Services, the City of Newburgh, Arts in Orange, Trust Your Struggle Art Collective, Knewton Test Prep, Leptondale Nursery, Taliaferro Farms, and Wherehouse Restaurant.





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The Opening was amazing check it out for yourself

http://hudsonvalley.ynn.com/content/top_stories/512101/youth-farms-aim-for-seeds-of-change-in-newburgh/

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Press Release
Youth Run Farm in the City of Newburgh Opens !

For Immediate Release: Contact:
July 22, 2010 Kim Bersin 845.527.7826

Date: Saturday July 24,2010
Where: La Vida Garden (59 Chambers, which is one the corner of First and Chambers Streets). This space is run by the board of the Urban Famers League, which are group of 9 youth from 16-21 years old.
Time: 4-8pm
Activities: DJ, Performances, and food
It is open to everyone

“As youth in the community, we are tired of the negative stereotypes that are applied to us. The perception of a few does not determine the action of the whole. We are creative individuals who intend on using our voices and opinions to educate and better our neighborhoods. Our youth farm will be a venue for community education.” That was our statement a month ago, since then we have built raised beds, laid down landscape fabric, spread four tons of soil and mulch, and planted. We are currently growing organic: tomatoes, egg plants, hot and sweet peppers, grapes, basil, mint, lavender, marigolds, arugula, mescaline mix, peaches, raspberries, and various flowers. Not only are we a space that grows food, we are cultural venue-starting on Sunday 25,2010 we will being a showing films every Sunday around 7pm. Every first and third Tuesday will be open mics 7-9pm. Every second and fourth Tuesday at noon we will have workshops.

This urban community garden is a partnership between the Orange County Land Trust, Orange County Department of Health, Orange County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, Pathstone Community Improvement of Newburgh, Greenway Environmental Services, City of Newburgh Arts in Orange, Trust Your Struggle Art Collective, Knewton Test Prep, Leptondale Nursery, Taliaferro Farms, and Wherehouse Resturant.

If you have any question please feel free to contact Kim 845.527.7826, also please check out our websites urbanfarmersleague.blogspot.com or http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Urban-Farmers-League/290247189855?ref=ts.
We cannot wait to see you there!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Opening is July 24- see you there!!!!!




Honey Locust Farm, which is located just off Route 9W in the town of Newburgh, the farm stand offers fresh vegetables, herbs, cut flowers, live plants and hand-crafted products. Honey Locust Farm House focuses on chef-centered produce, growing hard-to-find greens, herbs, and vegetables for restaurateurs(including Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and the Culinary Institute of America)and creative home kitchen gourmets. Honey Locust Farm House is committed to growing in balance with nature. Only sustainable, organic methods are used to insure the integrity of the earth and the health of its people. We had a tour led by Sarah Elizabeth, an herbalist she showed many plants that are used in medicinal ways . We also helped weeded and tilled 600 sq. feet of soil for future plantings.


John helping out by tilling a future garden


On the tour we encountered chickens.

Location 2 for July 12

Today we weeded Ashe Urban Farm(a plot at the People's Garden), after weeding we planted some hot and sweet peppers.


Kim is helping out the board members by removing the result of weeding and tilling a new spot for the hot peppers.

Right now we are determining where the holes for the new peppers will be.

After watering today

After we watered La Vida we started to talk about the benefits of the plants that we have in the garden. Right now Decora is explaining the medicinal benefits of lavender

Friday, July 9, 2010

Board meeting July 8, 2010

Few!!!!!!!!!! Yesterday was so jam packed with things that we had to plan. We talked about possibly doing some service learning with an art class from Newburgh Performing Arts Academy. Started to plan our opening, which will be Saturday July 24, 2010( keep posted for the press release and the details); and discussed our first movie night which will be Sunday July 25,2010 at 7pm( and will be every Sunday until the end of September). Also we talked about the Open mic night s that will be happening at La Vida Garden every first and third Tuesday from 7pm to 9pm of the month, and the workshops that we will having every second and fourth Tuesday at noon. MORE DETAILS TO COME!!

Newburgh Farms! Meeting 2

On July 7,2010 we meet with representatives from Glynwood, Pathstone, Orange County Land Trust, and Downing Park to discuss how to make more urban farms in the City of Newburgh. We talked about where these farms could be located and possible funding sources. Also what policy framework can we work on to ensure the urban farming area in the City of Newburgh. We think that meeting went well, to create more allies we should have representatives from Habitat for Humanity, and City of Newburgh- to make a plan for creating more farmable space. The City needs to be there because there are policy measures that the council can make to ensure that more agricultural/horticultural space is created, there could be a policy such as 1%for public space to be turned into a farm or garden.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Some Construction in Middletown

On Friday July 2, 2010 we had to some construction work in Middletown. We painted the water tank black to prevent the growth of algae, laid down landscape fabric, did some weeding, and also put soil in beds. By the time we are finished with construction in the Middletown Community Garden there will be 88 raised beds.










Board Announced

On Wednesday June 30, 2010 we did some work in the garden and announced our full time board members. Congratulations to John, Angelica, Victoria, Kerri, Chante and Chandra. Congrats as well to our part-time board members Jerome, Manny, and Gilbert.







Ann Street Market

On Saturday June 26, 2010 we had a table at the Ann Street Market. We sold tomatos, hot peppers, thyme, sweet basil, and tick weed. Thank you for Greenway for donating the plants for us to sell. We had a great day talking to people about La Vida garden.