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
Working on our plan for attacking the weeds.
Here we are weeding and working in Ashe Urban Farm.
Gilbert working on the walk way
Weeding the herbsChante weeding the herbs
Working on our plan for attacking the weeds.
Monday, June 7, 2010
In the future the Urban Farmers League will be driving biodisel trucks that grow food
In La Vada Garden you will find recycled objects with plants in them.
In La Vada Garden you will find recycled objects with plants in them.
A GIFT !!!
Liana Hoodes from the National Organic Coalition is going over a companion planting chart. She also gave us a wonderful book, Rodale's All New Encyclopedia's of Organic Gardening: The indispensable Resource for every gardener, as well the copies of the NOFA of New York: 2010 Organic Food Guide:the NYS Organic Source.Press Conference June 5 ,2010
Press Speech
We’ve asked several people outside of the city of Newburgh what they think of Newburgh and we keep hearing a reoccurring theme. Crime, drugs, gangs, violence some people we asked even joked about hiding their valuables before entering the city. Yet, what we didn’t hear was how Newburgh has a rich culture, history, diversity. Part of the reason for this is because of objective views falsifying the true beauty of this city.
How come we don’t get to read about the positive activities and the great organizations helping the community day after day? We hear about youth killing youth but what about the youth who are helping youth every day? We read about raids and gang intervention but what about jobs and gang prevention? What about the youth who volunteer their time everyday to better this community?
You see for too long Newburgh has been put into a box categorizing it as one of the worst cities to live in and in that process the youth have been outcaste and stereotyped. Because of this we’ve been omitted from the decision making process. Yet, according to statistics from 2000, as youth we hold 33% of the population. We are the vibrant seeds that help this city grow. We are the change that we’ve been waiting for here in this city.
As young leaders here in the community we refuse to stand aside and watch as our peers become a statistic for some sociology class. We will no longer be shunned and disregarded by outside sources when it comes to information on what’s really happening. We realize that we too are stake holders, holding equal weight at the table.
With that said we the Urban Farmers League are a youth led organization designed to combat environmental injustice, 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 a high quality of life, mitigate environmental degradation and provide a space for organic food to flourish.
With the help of the community, partners, sponsors and donors listed in your press packets we plan to make La Vida Garden a beacon of light here in the center of the city. The title has words in English and Spanish to better represent the population here in the city. La Vida which means the life in Spanish, represents the good life that youth should have here in the city of Newburgh. By putting La Vida and Garden together we are showing the unity of cultures and ethnicities here on our site and in our garden.
La Vida Garden being only one of hopefully many gardens to come is going to be an agricultural resource for the people in the community, especially low income families in the surrounding area. We’ve voted as a board and have decided to grow Peppers, Tomatoes, Peaches, Herbs and Kale to name a few. We plan on having educational workshops, activities for youth and community events.
Our vision is that La Vida Garden will serve as model for future gardens we’d like to start throughout the community, each garden having its own theme. The theme for La Vida Garden will be shown through our cultural events. Other gardens we plan might be specifically for corn and showing movies.
Although we realize that we are taking on an ambitious project; we are ready for it and excited about it. We plan to show everyone at our opening that we can make a difference; we can make a positive change. We say to all the youth in the community, if not now then when? If not us, then who?
Thank You for coming!
Sincerely,
The Urban Farmers League
Everyone practicing what needs to be said at the press conference
Getting ready...Ashe!!!!!!!!!
Presenting our information to the press and our supporters
Thank you Vanissa W. Chan for the fantastic photos.
We’ve asked several people outside of the city of Newburgh what they think of Newburgh and we keep hearing a reoccurring theme. Crime, drugs, gangs, violence some people we asked even joked about hiding their valuables before entering the city. Yet, what we didn’t hear was how Newburgh has a rich culture, history, diversity. Part of the reason for this is because of objective views falsifying the true beauty of this city.
How come we don’t get to read about the positive activities and the great organizations helping the community day after day? We hear about youth killing youth but what about the youth who are helping youth every day? We read about raids and gang intervention but what about jobs and gang prevention? What about the youth who volunteer their time everyday to better this community?
You see for too long Newburgh has been put into a box categorizing it as one of the worst cities to live in and in that process the youth have been outcaste and stereotyped. Because of this we’ve been omitted from the decision making process. Yet, according to statistics from 2000, as youth we hold 33% of the population. We are the vibrant seeds that help this city grow. We are the change that we’ve been waiting for here in this city.
As young leaders here in the community we refuse to stand aside and watch as our peers become a statistic for some sociology class. We will no longer be shunned and disregarded by outside sources when it comes to information on what’s really happening. We realize that we too are stake holders, holding equal weight at the table.
With that said we the Urban Farmers League are a youth led organization designed to combat environmental injustice, 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 a high quality of life, mitigate environmental degradation and provide a space for organic food to flourish.
With the help of the community, partners, sponsors and donors listed in your press packets we plan to make La Vida Garden a beacon of light here in the center of the city. The title has words in English and Spanish to better represent the population here in the city. La Vida which means the life in Spanish, represents the good life that youth should have here in the city of Newburgh. By putting La Vida and Garden together we are showing the unity of cultures and ethnicities here on our site and in our garden.
La Vida Garden being only one of hopefully many gardens to come is going to be an agricultural resource for the people in the community, especially low income families in the surrounding area. We’ve voted as a board and have decided to grow Peppers, Tomatoes, Peaches, Herbs and Kale to name a few. We plan on having educational workshops, activities for youth and community events.
Our vision is that La Vida Garden will serve as model for future gardens we’d like to start throughout the community, each garden having its own theme. The theme for La Vida Garden will be shown through our cultural events. Other gardens we plan might be specifically for corn and showing movies.
Although we realize that we are taking on an ambitious project; we are ready for it and excited about it. We plan to show everyone at our opening that we can make a difference; we can make a positive change. We say to all the youth in the community, if not now then when? If not us, then who?
Thank You for coming!
Sincerely,
The Urban Farmers League
Everyone practicing what needs to be said at the press conference
Getting ready...Ashe!!!!!!!!!
Presenting our information to the press and our supporters
Urban Farmers League taking a photo Jim Delaune of Orange Coutny Land Trust.
Thank you Vanissa W. Chan for the fantastic photos.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Hip Hop Season
The Urban Farmers enjoyed some amazing Hip Hop performances, DJ's, and Break Dancers. They also made a Graffiti mural with Trust Your Struggle collective.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Our mural
Trust your struggle(trustyourhustle.blogspot.com) and the Urban Farmers League work togather to create a mural to be hung in La Vida Garden on First and Chambers Streets.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
In the mid hudson times
Monday
May 17, 2010
Newburgh to launch Urban Farmers League
NEWBURGH – Youth in the City of Newburgh will launch an Urban Farmers League in June. The group will be dedicated to farming and education for the city’s young people.
The city has granted permission to the new organization to use a vacant lot at 59 Chambers Street. The League will use the lot as a pilot project dubbed La Vida Garden, with an eye toward expanding and creating gardens in other vacant lots in the city.
The group plans on growing organic fruits and vegetables as well as conduct workshops and events in La Vida Garden.
May 17, 2010
Newburgh to launch Urban Farmers League
NEWBURGH – Youth in the City of Newburgh will launch an Urban Farmers League in June. The group will be dedicated to farming and education for the city’s young people.
The city has granted permission to the new organization to use a vacant lot at 59 Chambers Street. The League will use the lot as a pilot project dubbed La Vida Garden, with an eye toward expanding and creating gardens in other vacant lots in the city.
The group plans on growing organic fruits and vegetables as well as conduct workshops and events in La Vida Garden.
City of Newburgh Youth Launch “Urban Farmers League” to Cultivate the future of Newburgh.
City Grants Group Use of City-Owned Vacant Lot to Start Youth-Run Urban Farm
Newburgh, NY – In the first week of June, youth from the City of Newburgh will announce the creation of the “Urban Farmers League”, a youth-run organization dedicated to farming and education for the City’s young residents.
On April 26th, 2010, the Newburgh City Council voted to grant the “League” the use of a vacant lot located at 59 Chambers St. It will be called La Vida Garden. In partnerships with the Orange County Land Trust, Orange County Department of Health, Pathstone Community Improvement of Newburgh, Greenway, Arts in Orange, and Trust Your Struggle Art Collective. The Urban Farmers League plans to use the lot at 59 Chambers St. as a pilot project, hoping to expand and create gardens in other vacant lots throughout the City.
“As youth in the community, we are tired of the negative stereotypes that are applied to us,” said Jerome Little, Angelica and Victoria Scialpi, all 17 year old City of Newburgh residents and some of the youth board members. “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.”
To start, over the next few months, not only will the “League” be growing organic fruits and vegetables, but it will also conduct workshops and events in La Vida Garden. Throughout the summer there are plans which include, movie nights and open mic nights for other youth and community members to come and express themselves. We are cultivating the future of Newburgh because WE ARE THE FUTURE.
Please join us for a press conference Saturday June 5, 2010 at 10am. It will be held at 59 Chambers Street. For more information please feel free to contact Kim
Newburgh, NY – In the first week of June, youth from the City of Newburgh will announce the creation of the “Urban Farmers League”, a youth-run organization dedicated to farming and education for the City’s young residents.
On April 26th, 2010, the Newburgh City Council voted to grant the “League” the use of a vacant lot located at 59 Chambers St. It will be called La Vida Garden. In partnerships with the Orange County Land Trust, Orange County Department of Health, Pathstone Community Improvement of Newburgh, Greenway, Arts in Orange, and Trust Your Struggle Art Collective. The Urban Farmers League plans to use the lot at 59 Chambers St. as a pilot project, hoping to expand and create gardens in other vacant lots throughout the City.
“As youth in the community, we are tired of the negative stereotypes that are applied to us,” said Jerome Little, Angelica and Victoria Scialpi, all 17 year old City of Newburgh residents and some of the youth board members. “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.”
To start, over the next few months, not only will the “League” be growing organic fruits and vegetables, but it will also conduct workshops and events in La Vida Garden. Throughout the summer there are plans which include, movie nights and open mic nights for other youth and community members to come and express themselves. We are cultivating the future of Newburgh because WE ARE THE FUTURE.
Please join us for a press conference Saturday June 5, 2010 at 10am. It will be held at 59 Chambers Street. For more information please feel free to contact Kim
Monday, May 3, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Resolution PASSED :-)
A resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a license agreement with Pathstone Community Improvement of Newburgh, INC. in coordination with the Urban Farmers League, a community group to allow the use of city owned at 59 Chambers Street to provide an urban farm for City of Newburgh youth passed !!!!!!!!!!!!
Introduction to Gardening
Friday, April 23, 2010
City Council Work Session
What an amazing journey. Yesterday we presented to the city council to demand of use the abandon plot on the corner of Chambers and 1ST. When I say we, I mean we…… There must have been about 6 or 7 youth at the table giving their demands. The youth stood strong and spoke to the council about the neighborhood and how gardening in the neighborhood could help bring the people together. Young Cameron who isn’t even 12 years old told the council that he sees a bright future in the location and that maybe the council members could one day come and get their hands dirty in the soil. Emmanuel, Gilbert, Steven, Jerome and Christina all spoke asking that 59 Chambers become a garden for the youth. The council applauded and so did the audience when we were done, hopefully those same hands will be pulling weeds alongside the young urban farmers this Summer!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Today we attended the organizational meeting for Urban Bounty- the farm is going to be at Downing Park. There are alot of people involved with this:Downing Park, YMCA, Boy Scouts,Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Garderners, Urban Farmers and some others. The group is waiting for families to particpate. There is going to be a orientation May 8,2010 and the building of the garden is going to be May 22,2010. Another great project for the City of Newburgh.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Yesterday we attended the"Vacant and Abandoned Properties: Effective public policy" . We came up some great ideas for the future of Urban Farmers League and the City of Newburgh.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Beacon Sloop #1
Friday night members of the Urban Farmers League attended the Beacon Sloop Club potluck. We networked and built future partnerships for the Urban Farmers League.
Middletown Farm
At David Moore Heights the coordinator is Jamie….. He is on the board of the gardens of nutrition in New Paltz. April 1, 2010 was the first meeting for the farm at David Moore Heights. About 6 people showed up…one adult and five kids. On the way out Jamie recruited another gentleman to be apart of the garden. We work with those who signed up to get more of their neighbors to garden.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Today we bumped into the city manager and told him about our plans. We also informed him that according to the master plan it is a goal of the city government to produce food 10% of consumed in the city by 2015- this is a fact the city manager was unaware of.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
We are getting ready for an informational session in Middletown. Jamie will be heading the operation at David Moore Heights.
Still no word from the hospital. Looking for land to purchase in the City of Newburgh. We are currently looking at foreclosures and vacant land, but working with the City has been a little difficult.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
How are we going to deal with contamination?
In order to be able to grow food with out worry of contiamation we are creating raised beds with physical barriers from the urban rubble.
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