Harvesting tomatoes

Our First Open Mic

On Tuesday we had our first open mic night. After the performances we went to National Night Out. Our next open mic is August 17.

Look at Chante free styling.

Bike Newburgh

Hi, folks. I know it’s been a while, so here’s the latest from BikeNewburgh:


What we’ve been doing:

Since May, we’ve held five great repair sessions in front of the church on South Street. We met lots of children, adults and families, some from across the street and some from Cornwall and New Windsor. We repaired a lot of brakes, fixed a lot of tires, and made many new friends. In July, we were invited to host weekly community repair sessions at the Urban Farmers League garden at 59 Chambers Street.

There we found more kids and more bikes than two of us could possibly handle. For all its challenges though, Chambers Street has been blessed – with fathers and uncles who share their love of kids and community and pick up a wrench and help out for hours on end, with moms who come and teach patience, and with children who smile and share and trust.

We’ve made a commitment to continue at 59 Chambers Street through the month of August, and hope to resume our sessions on South Street in the next two weeks.

It has been your gracious generosity and your amazing ability to involve friends and community from a larger area that has made this possible, and we are grateful for all you have done so far. Thank you. Since the very beginning folks have asked us what we need. Now that we’ve been on the street, we can see more clearly what we need.


What we need:


Brakes. The number one safety item is functioning brakes. We’ve had some parts donated, but our best source of brake parts has been recycled from donated bikes. Which means we need…
Space. Your ability to donate bikes has been way beyond our ability to take them in, up until now. We are looking for some secure, ground-level space to store donated bikes. If you have vacant space or know someone who does, please contact me. If that space (or spaces) also leaves room to work, that’s even better. Then we can work with…
Volunteers. Cleaning and repairing donated bikes and harvested parts takes time and patience. It is also a great way to teach and learn the basics of bike maintenance and repair. If you have patience, the ability to teach or the desire to learn, and a little bit of time, we need you. Email to john@bikenewburgh.org or come to our open house.
Helmets. One of our volunteers just donated more than a dozen brand new helmets, in assorted kids’ sizes. It’s tough to get kids to wear them all the time, but it is irresponsible not to try.


How you can help:
Join us for an open house, discussion, story telling and planning meeting from 6:30 to 8:00 Tuesday night, August 10, at Calvary Presbyterian Church, 120 South Street, Newburgh. We’ll be indoors, serving up some Iced Tea and snacks, and maybe patching some inner tubes. If you can’t be there, have questions or comments, or want to help in any way, please email or leave a message at 562-8730. Thanks!

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.

Sunday
July 25, 2010




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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/

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!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

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.

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.

Spreading mulch

Thank you to the Leptondale Nursery for donating a few of tomato plants, eggplants, 2 flats of marigolds, and other flowers.

Middletown project at David Moore Heights

Jenice taking a break from putting down landscape fabric

John and Jerome putting down our landscape fabric

Building our Raised beds

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."

La Vida Garden with its fence before being transformed into an oasis