Farm School NYC September Newsletter

09/17/2023

𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗡𝗬𝗖 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀
𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮
Citywide students recently completed Crop Management. They explored the best crops for NYC’s climate, reviewed plant families and their specific needs, and imagined personalized creative crop plans. We share a special thanks to first-time FSNYC facilitators Grace and Ciara from Randall’s Island Park Alliance Urban Farm. Stay tuned for updates next month as students begin preparing for winter!

𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘛𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭 𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘴
Are you interested in high tunnels? Join our 5-WEEK course to explore high tunnels, their versatile uses, values, and styles. Learn all about site selection, construction, and maintenance, tailored to fit growing spaces in NYC. Learn more and register here!

𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘤𝘺
Do you want to understand NYC, state, and federal policies that affect food access and food production in an urban setting? Consider joining our Advocacy Course! In this four session course, participants will examine city, state and federal policy with a focus on Food Justice, the Farm Bill and a variety of other justice issues. Students will develop skills in campaign building, community organizing, and writing to streamline messaging. Learn more and register here!

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿
𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘍𝘦𝘴𝘵
You are invited to this QTBIPOC-intended event where allies are welcome and accessibility is front of mind.

Catalyst has curated artisans and activities that help honor and heal our bodies, nourish and nurture connections, and participate in family fun activities. If you would like to contribute your time, talent, or treasure towards this event, please complete this form.

Join on Saturday, October 7th, from 11am-3pm at WILDSEED Community Farm & Healing Village, 636 Rudd Pond Rd, Millerton, NY 12546
Tickets are sliding scale from $0-$50 but registration is required. RSVP today!

11𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘍𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 & 𝘜𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 (𝘉𝘜𝘎𝘚) 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦
The annual BUGS Conference is full of engaging and participatory workshops, panel discussions, farm tours, and fun social events that will help us take time to honor our past, celebrate our present, and dream up the future of Black Food Sovereignty. The conference will provide hands-on, skill-building workshops on sustainable agriculture education, including soil health, land reclamation, financial literacy, seed saving, and other related topics. Join from Friday-Sunday, October 20th – 22nd, at Temple University. Purchase tickets here!

𝘙𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘯 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘹
Rock Steady Farm will host an Autumn Equinox Festival on Sunday, September 17th, from 11am -3pm, and you are invited to join!
They’ll have a variety of delicious prepared foods by the Watershed Center, workshops including vegetable preservation and fiber arts, local vendors, forage walks, live music, and games for a celebratory day of welcoming Fall.

Tickets are sliding scale from $0-$50. Register and learn more!

𝘙𝘈𝘍𝘐 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘦𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳
This webinar, sponsored by RAFI’s Farmers of Color Network and American Farmland Trust, will explore grants that could be right for you and your farm while sharing tools for successful grant proposal development and writing. Join as they demystify the grant writing process, offer tips and advice for writing farming grants, highlight different types of opportunities, and offer some considerations for farmers thinking about grant funding. Join on Monday, October 2nd at 1:00 pm and read for more information here.

𝘜𝘚𝘋𝘈’𝘴 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 (𝘋𝘍𝘈𝘗)
$2.2 billion is available to be distributed to qualifying farmers and ranchers who experienced discrimination through the USDA’s Farm Loan Programs. The deadline for applications is October 31st. Join one of the weekly virtual assistance meetings to learn more. Program overviews and application help is available in multiple languages to apply.

𝘜𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘦
Serving on an urban county committee is an important opportunity for urban producers to affect USDA priorities and funding. Urban county committee members make decisions impacting local urban growers and share input to improve the accessibility of USDA programs and services for the growers they represent. This year, USDA added 17 pilot cities to launch urban county committees; NYC is one of them. Today, we urge you to vote for the upcoming NYC Urban County Committee (UCOC) elections.

In 2023, the UCOC will only elect representatives for Manhattan and Staten Island. If you farm and/or live in either of those boroughs, please complete the online form. Representatives we elect this year will help shape the UCOC for years to come. Voting will impact the resources you and all urban agriculturists in NYC can access. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to shape our city’s future of urban agriculture. If you have questions about registration, voting, or the UCOC, please email ana.vamil@usda.gov.

𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁
FSNYC Farmer Advocate Jocelyn joined the New York City Community Garden Coalition (NYCCGC) at Elizabeth Street Garden for their first meeting since 2020 where coalition members and leaders discussed the concerns of urban growers in the city. Elizabeth Street Garden is currently at risk of closing, and this clearly outlined the current uphill battle of protecting community gardens from housing development. Read this fact sheet and take action!

𝗝𝗼𝗯𝘀
Black Farmer Fund – Finance Director

New York Botanical Garden – Farm Outreach and Education Coordinator

NYC Parks GreenThumb – Multiple Positions

Grow NYC – Multiple Positions

Green City Force – Green City Force Corps Member

Edible Schoolyard – P.S. 311/P.S. 294 Garden and Kitchen Teacher

Harlem Grown – Vice President of Programs

Native Americans in Philanthropy – Program Manager

Pesticide Action Network – Communications Director

RiseBoro Community Partnership – Community Food Retail Coordinator

Queens Botanical Garden – Multiple Positions

Make the Road – Food Pantry Associate