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
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Nora Cronin
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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July 25, 2010
Copyright © 2010 Mid-Hudson News Network, a division of Statewide News Network, Inc.
This story may not be reproduced in any form, by any media, without express written consent.
This includes rewriting, broadcasting and/or printing of material from MidHudsonNews.com,
by radio and television stations, newspapers or other media.
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEAR today's news on MidHudsonRadio.com, the Hudson Valley's only Internet radio news report.
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!!!!!!!!!!!!
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
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.
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
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.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Thank you to the Leptondale Nursery for donating a few of tomato plants, eggplants, 2 flats of marigolds, and other flowers.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Cheers (no jeers) | recordonline.com
Cheers (no jeers) | recordonline.com
Published: 2:00 AM - 06/14/10
•To some young people in Newburgh and those who are helping them turn a vacant lot on Chambers Street into what they are calling "La Vida Garden." In addition to learning what it takes to plant, tend and harvest vegetables, they will get the chance to understand something more important. As their adviser put it, growing her own "changed the way I look at food." If this pilot program is successful, it could spread to other neighborhoods with vacant land waiting to be put to productive use.
•To Jared Weiss, the youngest graduate on record at Monticello High School, who is off to college at the age of 14. In addition to excelling in the classroom, Weiss has had a full high school experience through two years of varsity tennis and lots of time playing guitar in a band. He could not have had such balanced success without the wise guidance offered by his parents, Jonathan and Beth Weiss, and the equally wise participation of so many in the school system who recognized his talents and helped him make the most of them.
•To the Port Jervis Middle School, for its recognition as a place that works hard to educate the "whole child." The honor, the Whole Child for the 21st Century Award, came from the New York Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, a professional organization principally made up of superintendents and senior teachers. Instead of teaching to the test, this approach operates under the assumption that a better educated student will do well in life, as well as on tests.
•To three Orange County students going to military service academies through nominations from Rep. John Hall. Katherine Mucke of Fort Montgomery will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Jillian Kelly of Highland Mills will attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., and Katelyn MacDonald of New Hampton will attend the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.
•To the team from Pine Bush whose moon expedition camper took first place in the Nature Trail'R problem at the world championships of the Odyssey of the Mind. On the team were seniors Joe Landolina, Dan Stack, Meghan Walter and Nic Vesely, junior James Orr, and freshmen Dylan DiGasso and Martin Perez. Meghan's mother, Bobbi Walter, was the team coach. More than 800 teams from around the world competed at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich.
•To lawyer Howard Finkelstein who received the lifetime achievement award from the Orange County Bar Association. Finkelstein founded Finkelstein & Partners LLP in Newburgh in 1961. His pro-bono work includes representing several families of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and assisting U.S. veterans.
•To performing arts students from Monticello High School who have spent the spring cleaning up the old 400-seat theater on St. John Street, part of the original Monticello High School. When word of their effort got out to the community, they found others willing to volunteer and help in such tasks as repairing the torn curtains. As one student put it, "Our goal is for the theater to be a part of the community again."
Published: 2:00 AM - 06/14/10
•To some young people in Newburgh and those who are helping them turn a vacant lot on Chambers Street into what they are calling "La Vida Garden." In addition to learning what it takes to plant, tend and harvest vegetables, they will get the chance to understand something more important. As their adviser put it, growing her own "changed the way I look at food." If this pilot program is successful, it could spread to other neighborhoods with vacant land waiting to be put to productive use.
•To Jared Weiss, the youngest graduate on record at Monticello High School, who is off to college at the age of 14. In addition to excelling in the classroom, Weiss has had a full high school experience through two years of varsity tennis and lots of time playing guitar in a band. He could not have had such balanced success without the wise guidance offered by his parents, Jonathan and Beth Weiss, and the equally wise participation of so many in the school system who recognized his talents and helped him make the most of them.
•To the Port Jervis Middle School, for its recognition as a place that works hard to educate the "whole child." The honor, the Whole Child for the 21st Century Award, came from the New York Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, a professional organization principally made up of superintendents and senior teachers. Instead of teaching to the test, this approach operates under the assumption that a better educated student will do well in life, as well as on tests.
•To three Orange County students going to military service academies through nominations from Rep. John Hall. Katherine Mucke of Fort Montgomery will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Jillian Kelly of Highland Mills will attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., and Katelyn MacDonald of New Hampton will attend the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.
•To the team from Pine Bush whose moon expedition camper took first place in the Nature Trail'R problem at the world championships of the Odyssey of the Mind. On the team were seniors Joe Landolina, Dan Stack, Meghan Walter and Nic Vesely, junior James Orr, and freshmen Dylan DiGasso and Martin Perez. Meghan's mother, Bobbi Walter, was the team coach. More than 800 teams from around the world competed at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich.
•To lawyer Howard Finkelstein who received the lifetime achievement award from the Orange County Bar Association. Finkelstein founded Finkelstein & Partners LLP in Newburgh in 1961. His pro-bono work includes representing several families of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and assisting U.S. veterans.
•To performing arts students from Monticello High School who have spent the spring cleaning up the old 400-seat theater on St. John Street, part of the original Monticello High School. When word of their effort got out to the community, they found others willing to volunteer and help in such tasks as repairing the torn curtains. As one student put it, "Our goal is for the theater to be a part of the community again."
Friday, June 11, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Fence
The poles for the fence are up, the rest is coming on Friday. Originally we thought the installation would be complete today but the installer was sick this morning. We are going to move forward today by building our raised beds this afternoon, and move the beautiful yellow rocks to their new positions in La Vida Garden.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Ashe Urban Farm update
Although, our work with the 21st Century Community Learning Centers ended a year ago; some of the students who were involved with farm wanted to continue growing flowers in their plot at the People's Garden.
Here we are weeding and working in Ashe Urban Farm.
Gilbert working on the walk way
Weeding the herbs
Chante weeding the herbs
Here we are weeding and working in Ashe Urban Farm.
Gilbert working on the walk way
Weeding the herbsChante weeding the herbs
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