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Please specify "Farm" in blue box.
Since early September the Youth Farm has
been unable to distribute, sell, or consume the nutritious produce we
grow on our one-acre site. The Department of Education (DOE) decided to
work closely with our team to set soil safety standards for NYC school
farms & gardens. Together with Cornell Extensions, Cornell Soil
Department of Crop & Soil Science, the NY Department of Health, the
Department of Agriculture & Markets, Grow to Learn (Grow NYC &
Green Thumb) and ATC Lab, we have set the standards! Though our soil has
been deemed safe, we continue to eagerly await the finalized standards
to go into effect for us to re-open our farmers market and distribute
our amazing produce to our committed CSA members.
While this is an amazing moment in school garden history as we are piloting standards for all of NYC, we rely on the income from our farmers market to run our educational programs. So, we are asking for your support in this historic moment that will pave the way for all future NYC school farms and gardens. Our Farm Club is currently frustrated that their cooking programs have ended; our Go Green class has not been allowed to taste anything from the farm during the peak season for tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and more; and our community is frustrated when they see so much fresh food going to waste when there is so little fresh, organic, affordable food available in the neighborhood.
While this is an amazing moment in school garden history as we are piloting standards for all of NYC, we rely on the income from our farmers market to run our educational programs. So, we are asking for your support in this historic moment that will pave the way for all future NYC school farms and gardens. Our Farm Club is currently frustrated that their cooking programs have ended; our Go Green class has not been allowed to taste anything from the farm during the peak season for tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and more; and our community is frustrated when they see so much fresh food going to waste when there is so little fresh, organic, affordable food available in the neighborhood.
