12/16/2023
𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗡𝗬𝗖 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀
• 𝘖𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘵
As the year ends, our staff is taking a break. FSNYC staff will be out of the office from December 21st to January 3rd. We wish you all a warm, safe, and happy holiday season filled with rest!
• 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘚𝘕𝘠𝘊 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯!
Have you seen our Fortifying FSNYC Foundations campaign? We asked our community to contribute to this end-of-year campaign, and it isn’t too late! We’ve raised $1,375 of our total goal and need your help to reach the rest. Please consider donating a gift to Farm School NYC today. Donate here!
• 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘴
We’re looking to fund your campaign! Do you have an idea about how NYC can strengthen agriculture through advocacy or legislation? We want to help you create and run a campaign around it! From carbon sequestration to native species preservation, let us know your idea and how we can help you make it happen. We have six spaces open. Each group, organization, or person selected can receive up to $3,600 for their work. Our farmer advocate, Jocelyn Germany, will support the campaigns through 2024. Please e-mail Jocelyn@farmschoolnyc.org to share ideas and ask questions.
𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿
• 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵
The National Young Farmers Coalition is partnering with Chipotle to offer $5,000 grants to 50 young farmers and ranchers to support them in building careers in agriculture.
This year, forty-five awards will go to businesses already in operation and five to farm and ranch operations starting in 2024.
Applications are open until January 15th, at 3pm. Please reach out to em@youngfarmers.org with questions. Apply here!
• 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘕𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘈𝘙𝘌
𝘉𝘐𝘗𝘖𝘊 𝘍𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘚𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴
We’re excited to announce the upcoming Winter Business Skillshares Series. This series aims to share knowledge and skills on crucial aspects of business, catering specifically to Black Farmers. Are you interested in participating in this series as a paid co-facilitator or co-educator? If you have expertise in Co-Ops, Finding Funding, Finances, Marketing, Operations, Human Resources, Land Access, or Food Policy, we want to hear from you!
To share interest, fill out this form.
• 𝘜𝘊𝘖𝘊 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘔𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨
Urban county committee members provide outreach to ensure urban producers understand USDA programs, serve as the voice of other urban producers, and assist in program implementation that supports the needs of the growing urban community. Join the upcoming meeting to learn more!
• 𝘜𝘫𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘢 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘺
The Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance (Ujamaa) is a BIPOC-led collective seeking to increase grower and crop varietal diversity in the United States. In partnership with the University of Vermont, they are conducting a research study to examine how food and agriculture can better enhance access to culturally meaningful seeds and food. This information will support farmers and other participants in the seed value chain to expand regionally adapted, sustainably grown, and less commercially available seed varieties. Completing the survey will take about 20 minutes.
Participating in the survey is voluntary, and responses will be kept confidential. If you do participate, you can opt into a raffle for one of 50 $100 gift certificates.
• 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘐𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘓𝘌𝘚 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣!
Learn about the various plants and herbs that live around us and their potential healing and soothing properties with artist Italy Bianca from the Lower Eastside Girls Club. This workshop will provide a welcoming and supportive space to explore the environmental and personal benefits of plants that grow in New York City. Participants will create herbal tea blends to take home with them and set intentions for the New Year. This program is a collaboration between MoMA and the Lower Eastside Girls Club.
This 75-minute, in-person program is free and takes place in person at MoMA. Join in on Saturday, January 6th, from 2 pm to 3:15 pm at 11 W. 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019
• 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵
The Hattie Carthan Homesteaders Market on Saturday, December 23rd, is a full day of winter solstice celebrations! Suggested donations range from $25- $80 depending on the item or activity, and no one will be turned away due to funds. The event will take place in person at the Hattie Carthan Community Market, the address is 363-365 CLIFTON PLACE between Marcy and Nostrand Avenue.
𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁
The Community Composting budget is a $6 million dollar budget that includes the entire NYC Compost Project. Operations run by these programs include:
• Collections from Food Scrap drop-offs at greenmarkets and community gardens (~155 in total, collecting ~8.3 million lbs annually)
• Master Compost Certificate Course (1,000 annual participants) including 11,000 hrs of annual volunteering to keep neighborhoods litter free & beautify green spaces in NYC
• Food scrap processing/compost production at Earth Matter NY (Governors Island), Big Reuse (Queensbridge, Gowanus Salt Lot, Red Hook Farms), Queens Botanical Garden, and Snug Harbor
• Technical assistance (teaching community members to do their own processing) for community gardens (over 43 that do their own processing)
• Outreach providing community education and volunteer programs around the curbside composting program, rat mitigation, street tree care events, and soil remediation work
• 1,794,695 pounds of compost distributed per year to individuals, non-profits, community gardens and the NYC Parks Department.
These stats are from the Grow NYC Community Composting Cuts Breakdown. The programs will be terminated over the next 2-3 weeks. 115 staff, including 47 union staff, will be laid off by New Year’s Day. Additionally, among the 266 community food scrap drop offs, 198 will cease to receive support and likely close. Act today!
𝗝𝗼𝗯𝘀
RAFI- Grassroots Engagement Lead
Rock Steady Farm- Farm Education Coordinator
Edible Schoolyard- Mobile Garden and Kitchen Teacher
Edible Schoolyard- Temporary Garden and Kitchen Teacher
