Growing Opportunities for Green Jobs Graduates

Program coordinator Lala M leads Green Jobs interns in a weed identification workshop in the PFP farm fields.

Green Jobs for Youth

November is a bittersweet and transitional month for us here at the farm as we say “See you later” to our 2023 Green Jobs for Youth Interns! 

Since 2018, the Green Jobs program has employed City of Poughkeepsie teens and young adults to participate in job training, practical skill building, and positive social-emotional development. Participants prepare to be the farmers and food advocates of tomorrow by engaging with land and food through hands-on projects, and curriculum connected to organic farming, healthy eating, social-emotional skill building, and racial equity. 

This year was particularly special… and not just because we had our largest cohort of interns ever!

This year we had 5 graduates return specifically to step up into clearly defined leadership and staff roles as members of the newly established Green Jobs “Root Crew,” or as members of the PFP farm crew. 

What is the Root Crew?

2023 Root Crew members Josh, Keith and Donovan sell PFP-grown seeds at the La Guelaguetza festival.

The Root Crew is a group of youth crew leaders within Green Jobs. They build additional organizational and leadership skills by providing support to their peers, to program coordinators, and by holding a unique set of responsibilities that is aligned with their strengths and interests. 

Josh, our Root Crew member focused on program outreach, joins program coordinator Lala M at the Awesome Poughkeepsie Pitch Contest to win additional funding for Root Crew wages.

For example, our incredible 2023 Root Crew members were Donovan, Josh, and Keith. Donovan stepped up to lead culinary programming, Josh took on a role leading community outreach for the program, and Keith supported the day-to-day operations of the program. 

Laura Montoya, PFP Youth Program Coordinator, said, “All of our interns get to be outside, learn about earth and seeds, and try all of this new food. It totally opens up their mind. We get to help new interns come out of their shell. But, one of the most powerful and important parts of the internship happens for returning interns. Returning interns experience continuity with us. They have a job that they feel comfortable and loved in. We get to offer a safe container for the transition of becoming a young adult.”

Meet Rakim & Silvia!

Rakim wraps up a farm shift at PFP!

In addition to this, our 2023 farm crew also hired, paid and managed Green Jobs graduates Rakim and Silvia, who wanted to continue deepening their skills with specific aspects of farming, like seeding and watering schedules, and produce distribution. (CSA members might recognize Silvia from our CSA distributions!)

Silvia, who is also a very talented artist, washing kale for CSA distribution in amazing skeleton make-up.

Despite being one of our youngest crew members, Rakim has the longest relationship with PFP! He told us, “I first visited the farm at age 14 or 15. Now I’m 22, and being in this farming space has helped me to build a lot of relationships. Even when I’m not working, I love coming here. It’s a place where I feel a lot of peace and happiness.” 

Outside of work, Rakim also grows food in a garden at home for his household, including scallions, spinach, tomatoes and peppers. He shared, “I’m passionate about the fact that healthy food is too expensive at the store. It’s hard to maintain a healthy eating lifestyle because of the cost of stuff. I think it’s important to grow stuff on your own so you can be more self-sufficient and try to help out the community too.” 

One day, PFP will be led by these committed and passionate individuals.

As staff at PFP, witnessing this blossoming affirms that creating a second and even a third chapter in our interns’ relationship with us is just as important as creating the first. Creating even more opportunities like this is essential if PFP is one day going to be led by these same incredible individuals. 

Please help us resource these incredible learning opportunities for young adults!

For #GivingTuesday on November 28, 2023, we are asking for your support funding wages for Root Crew members and new growers for 2024. Gifts can be made by signing up for our Annual Giving Circle and specifying “Youth Workforce Development” before adding to your cart. A gift of $50 funds about 3 hours of paid wages, and a gift of $150 funds a full day of work. 

With so much gratitude to you and yours,

The PFP Team

Pollution Prevention Video Series with Poughkeepsie Youth Leaders

( traducción al español abajo )

Pollution Prevention Video Series with Poughkeepsie Youth Leaders

Over the last 2 years we were honored to have worked with Poughkeepsie youth to develop a series of Videos about pollution prevention. The project started as a response to learning moving online and receiving funding from the Pollution Prevention Institute. We worked on the project over the series of 3 rounds of internships.

As we at Poughkeepsie Farm Project are moving towards including Language Justice ( “language justice is about build- ing and sustaining multilingual spaces in our organizations and social move- ments so that everyone's voice can be heard both as an individual and as part of a diversity of communities and cul- tures." as defined by this this language justice toolkit from nesfp.org As we implement this into all of our spaces we were challenged with also translating and dubbing all the videos to make this important content also available to the spanish speaking community.

This videos came out of Conversations in the fields while working at the farm , Circles geared around our experiences with pollution here in the city of poughkeepsie and research done by the youth team

We are so proud and honored of this work and grateful to all the youth involved, the partnership with Forge Media and our Language justice team for making this happen! We hope you enjoy them and that you are able to learn and MOST IMPORTANT GET INSPIRED TO ACT!!

En Español

"Serie de videos sobre prevención de la contaminación con líderes juveniles de Poughkeepsie"

Durante los últimos 2 años, nos sentimos honrados de haber trabajado con la juventud de Poughkeepsie para desarrollar una serie de videos sobre la prevención de la contaminación. El proyecto comenzó como una respuesta al aprendizaje en línea y la recepción de fondos del instituto de prevención de la contaminación. Trabajamos en el proyecto durante la serie de 3 rondas de aprendizajes.
A medida que en el proyecto agrícola de Poughkeepsie avanzamos hacia la inclusión de la justicia del lenguaje (" la justicia del lenguaje se trata de construir y mantener espacios multilingües en nuestras organizaciones y movimientos sociales para que la voz de todes pueda ser escuchada como individuos y como parte de una diversidad de comunidades y culturas". como se define en https://nesfp.org/sites/default/files/resources/language_justice_toolkit.pdf A medida que implementamos esto en todos nuestros espacios, nos enfrentamos al desafío de traducir y doblar todos los videos para que este importante contenido también esté disponible para la comunidad de habla hispana.

Estos videos surgieron de Conversaciones en los campos mientras trabajabamos en la granja, los círculos giraron en torno a nuestras experiencias con la contaminación aquí en la ciudad de Poughkeepsie y la investigación realizada por el equipo de jóvenes.

¡Estamos muy orgullosos y honrados de este trabajo y agradecidos con todes les jóvenes involucrades, la Asociación con Forge Media y nuestro equipo de justicia lingüística por hacer que esto suceda!

Esperamos que los disfrutes y que puedas aprender y LO MÁS IMPORTANTE ¡INSPÍRATE PARA ACTUAR!

Video Series (español abajo)

Introduction to Pollution Prevention

Join the team of youth interns and the team at Poughkeepsie Farm Project to learn about pollution prevention. This was a year-long journey where starting in winter of 2021 we began learning about pollution prevention and 3 cohorts of youth seeded the idea, developed the script and then filmed it for the community to learn with us. 

 In this introductory video the youth interns walk us through a brief intro to the concept of pollution prevention and share why they believe it's something which we should all be paying attention to. Then learn about the 7 types of pollution. The youth will also share creative ways in which we can each participate in making the local and global community a safer environment for all. 

Relax and get inspired with a conversation about the stories that most touch these youths' lives. Our hope is that we can inspire you to join us in our journey of pollution prevention, not only learning but putting our findings into action. 

The 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse,Recycle

Join the team of youth interns and the team at Poughkeepsie Farm Project to go deeper into pollution prevention. This was a year-long journey where starting in winter of 2021 we began learning about pollution prevention and 3 cohorts of youth seeded the idea, developed the script and then filmed it for the community to learn with us. 

In The 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) video the youth interns focus on sharing about Reducing, Reusing and recycling. They share why they believe it's something which we should all be paying attention to. Then learn specific creative projects we are doing or know about which can inspire all of us to begin to act right at home! 

Then, get handy with us turning a pair of Old Jeans into a tote bag! reducing waste not only of those jeans but preventing the waste from all of the bags we use when we go to the store. 

And close the conversation with us and remember we are part of nature and we can all do a little something to REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE. 

Water Pollution

Join the team of youth interns and the team at Poughkeepsie Farm Project to dive even  deeper into water pollution. This was a year-long journey where starting in winter of 2021 we began learning about pollution prevention and 3 cohorts of youth seeded the idea, developed the script and then filmed it for the community to learn with us. 

In the water pollution video the youth interns decided to focus on water because of the connection they all have with the Hudson River and because they learned and believe that we must clean the bodies of water in order to have a thriving body and planet. Water is a limited resource and it sustains all of our lives. Learn about the different types of water pollution while looking and getting inspired by  the beautiful homenage to water that https://justseeds.org/ collective put together to honor water. 

All of us can act! So enjoy this video, learn with the youth  and enjoy  the graphics done by visionary artist https://alixagarcia.com/about and remember water is life! 

En español

Introducción a la prevención de la contaminación

Únase al equipo de aprendices jóvenes y al equipo de Poughkeepsie Farm Project para aprender sobre la prevención de la contaminación. Este fue un viaje de un año en el que, a partir del invierno de 2021, comenzames a aprender sobre la prevención de la contaminación y 3 cohortes de jóvenes sembraron la idea, desarrollaron el guión y luego lo filmaron para que la comunidad lo aprendiera con nosotres. 

En este video introductorio, les jóvenes aprendices nos guían a través de una breve introducción al concepto de prevención de la contaminación y comparten por qué creen que es algo a lo que todes deberíamos prestar atención. Luego aprende sobre los 7 tipos de contaminación. Les jóvenes también compartirán formas creativas en las que cada uno puede participar para hacer de la comunidad local y global un entorno más seguro para todes. 

Relájate e inspírate con una conversación sobre las historias que más tocan la vida de estos jóvenes. Nuestra esperanza es que podames inspirarlo a unirse a nosotres en nuestro viaje de prevención de la contaminación, no solo aprendiendo sino poniendo en práctica nuestres hallazgos. 

Las 3 R: Reducir, Reutilizar, Reciclar

Únase al equipo de aprendices jóvenes y al equipo del Proyecto agrícola de Poughkeepsie para profundizar en la prevención de la contaminación. Este fue un viaje de un año en el que, a partir del invierno de 2021, comenzamos a aprender sobre la prevención de la contaminación y 3 cohortes de jóvenes sembraron la idea, desarrollaron el guión y luego lo filmaron para que la comunidad lo aprendiera con nosotres. 

En Las 3 R (Reducir, Reutilizar, Reciclar) les jóvenes aprendices se enfocan en compartir sobre Reducir, Reutilizar y reciclar. Comparten por qué creen que es algo a lo que todes deberíamos prestar atención. ¡Luego aprenda proyectos creativos específicos que estamos haciendo o que conozcamos que pueden inspirarnos a todes a comenzar a actuar en casa! 

¡Entonces, sé útil con nosotres para convertir un par de mezclillas viejos en una bolsa de mano! reduciendo el desperdicio no solo de esos mezclillas viejos sino evitando el desperdicio de todas las bolsas que usamos cuando vamos a la tienda. 

Y cierra la conversación con nosotres y recuerda que somes parte de la naturaleza y todes podemos hacer algo para REDUCIR, REUTILIZAR Y RECICLAR. 

Contaminación del agua

únete al equipo de jóvenes aprendices y el equipo de Poughkeepsie Farm Project para profundizar aún más en la contaminación del agua. Este fue un viaje de un año en el que, a partir del invierno de 2021, comenzamos a aprender sobre la prevención de la contaminación y 3 cohortes de jóvenes sembraron la idea, desarrollaron el guión y luego lo filmaron para que la comunidad lo aprendiera con nosotres. 

En el video de la contaminación del agua les jóvenes aprendices decidieron enfocarse en el agua debido a la conexión que todes tienen con el río Hudson y porque aprendieron y creen que debemos limpiar los cuerpos de agua para tener un cuerpo y un planeta prósperos. El agua es un recurso limitado y sostiene todas nuestras vidas. Aprenda sobre los diferentes tipos de contaminación del agua mientras mira e inspírese en el hermoso homenaje al agua que el https://justseeds.org/ armó para honrar el agua. 
¡Todes podemos actuar! Así que disfrute este video, aprenda con les jóvenes y disfrute de los gráficos realizados por el artista visionario https://alixagarcia.com/about y recuerda el agua es vida!

Black History Month Reading List (and more!)

This Black History Month we are launching and sharing several videos our team and community partners have put together as resources to celebrate Black culture, history and inspire everyone to learn more about being anti-racist as we continue on our journey here at PFP to reckon with the past and present challenges at home and beyond towards a more just and equitable food system.

As educators, literature is a huge part of our work and we have been compiling an ever-growing list of books that we use to teach students about not just food and farming, but different cultures, self esteem, and important historical figures and events. In my own experience growing up mostly in New Orleans and Houston in a White family, I did not learn about any of these stories in public school and did not even learn the long, historical influence from Africa and the Caribbean of the Cajun dishes my family grew up eating, or the Zydeco music that I only later learned were rooted in African ancestral knowledge and cultures. This history was ignored or erased instead of being celebrated as something that we now share across our cultures, and that we should be teaching the truth of so that ALL students appreciate the true influences and genius behind these cherished foods and music we love.

I wanted to share a very short version with a few books for all ages pulled from my personal and the PFP collection that both celebrate Black culture and inspiring Black people while tackling these tough, honest conversations about our shared history and challenging us to do better. Read on for a few books to learn about and celebrate Black excellence, Black history and Black culinary contributions all month long, and find links to even more books that focus on everything from self-love to anti-racism education and more below!

Last but not least, don’t stop at books! We all have lots to learn from listening and meeting new people, and uplifting Black voices that are often not given the same representation. As we at PFP work towards our food justice mission and vision, we acknowledge there are many Black farmers and community members who have been doing this work for years without the same resources. I have included a list of some local-ish farms and other organizations with Black leadership that I hope you will take some time to learn about and support whether it is through a donation, or attending a workshop or other event. There are a multitude of resources available whether it is for yourself or the classroom, including a long list of other people not mentioned here including Fannie Lou Hamer, Booker T. Washington and Ira Wallace whose ideas and methods have inspired food justice and sovereignty movements.

Happy Black History Month, and we hope you’ll keep learning with us!

-Kathryn

Children’s Books

Born on the Water (The 1619 Project), by Nikole Hannah- Jones and Renee Watson and illustrated by Nikkolas Smith

This moving book by The 1619 Project, released in 2021, is a testament to the statement “We are our ancestor’s wildest dreams”. In the authors own words, “Born on the Water is to show that Black Americans have their own proud origin, one that did not begin in slavery, in struggle, and in strife, but that bridges the gap between Africa and the United States. We begin this book with the rich cultures of West Africa and then weave the tale of how after the Middle Passage, Black Americans created a new people here on this land.” Visit The 1619 Project website link to find out more about their other book, The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story for teens and adults, and resources like teaching guides for both books.

In the Garden with Dr.Carver by Susan Grigsby

While this is a fictionalized story, it teaches the true history of Dr. George Washington Carver and his inspiring and important contributions to farming and more! It is a lovely book that we have used year after year with elementary and even middle school students to start conversations about what it means to be a scientist and how Black scientists and inventors contributed to the farming methods we use and foods we all love today.

Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito

This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the story of Georgia Gilmore and the Club from Nowhere, a grassroots project to provide food and funds for the Montgomery Bus Boycott. A great starting point for conversations about the civil rights movement and the many lesser known women who were part of the fight for equity.

Hidden Figures (picture book) by Margot Lee Shetterly with Winifred Conkling, illustrated by Laura Freeman

As a scientist and sci-fi lover, I am excited to see this story is being taught to young people who we need to aspire to and see themselves in STEM careers. This biography of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden tells their story of how they overcame racial and gender barriers to succeed at making one of the biggest scientific advancements in history possible. This is of course, the children’s version of the adult best seller the movie was based on - check out all 3 and celebrate Black excellence as a family!

Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Our educators love this inspiring story of Will Allen, a former basketball star, turned farmer, innovator, educator, and community builder. His vision for a huge table to feed others turned an abandoned lot into an urban farm. This book is beautifully illustrated by the brilliant Shabazz Larkin and teaches kids about civic engagement, community cooperation, resilience, and …composting with worms!

Incorporate multicultural literature all year round and find more suggestions on our Multicultural Book List!

Teen, Young Adult and Adult Books and Resources

Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and Me by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds (ages 12 and up) and Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi (Adult reading level)

This book made the NY Times Bestseller list and both are great guides if you are looking to deepen or begin understanding and uprooting racism and inequity both in yourself and in our society. See our Anti-Racist Timeline video to hear what our PFP Youth Leaders learned from the book, view their Anti- Racist timeline of people who fought racism, and find links to book lists for anti-racism education!

Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land by Leah Penniman

This book by Leah Penniman of Soul Fire Farm (Grafton, NY) is much more than a guide to farming; it’s a brilliant compendium of farming knowledge rooted in African wisdom and honoring ancestors that influences their work in sustainable farming and food justice. Learn about topics ranging from finding and preparing land to farm, crop planning, herbal medicine and preservation recipes, land justice and much more.

Cooking with Chef Brandon Walker of Essie’s (video)

Link to video: https://youtu.be/858ldfU-cbI

Chef Brandon Walker is a celebrated local chef who has gained national attention competing on Chopped and has been featured in the book Savor: The Extraordinary Diversity of Black Chefs. He and his wife own and run Essie's in Poughkeepsie's Little Italy, offering elegant, yet casual dining and a menu that incorporates local ingredients and international flavors. Chef Walker talks about the meaning of soul food and shows us how he prepares this Sunday dinner.

Poughkeepsie Farm Project is grateful to Chef Walker, Celebrating the African Experience, and Hudson Valley Farm Hub for the delicious meals we were able to distribute to Poughkeepsie families in conjunction with the release of this video.

Jubilee : Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking by Toni Tipton-Martin

These recipes go beyond soul food - Toni-Tipton Martin is a James Beard award winning chef who compiled these 100+ recipes with a focus on the roots of African American cooking. This book is more than a recipe book- it contains historical accounts of Black cooks that influenced American cuisine over centuries.

You can also watch our Orange-Maple Sweet Potato Salad video based on her recipe in the book - recommended to us by farmer Fredando Jackson from Georgia!

The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South by Michael W. Twitty

Culinary historian Michael Twitty takes a deep dive into the origins of Southern cuisine pulling from historical records and recipes in this fascinating book that explores the idea of healing through embracing the true, albeit uncomfortable history of the Southern U.S. and his journey to understand more about his ancestor’s lives. His truthtelling about James Hemings, the brilliant chef, enslaved by Thomas Jefferson, and responsible for classic “American” dishes like Mac and Cheese, is just one must read story Twitty brings to life.

High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America by Jessica B. Harris

If you heard about the Netflix show “High on the Hog”, hosted by Stephen Satterfield, you’ll be please to know it is based on a book by Jessica Harris that has more of the interesting history of food origins and the many ways African foodways, wisdom and culture influenced America.

If you haven’t watched the show yet, you’ll hear Jessica Harris, Michael Twitty and Toni Tipton Martin talk about their work- it’s well worth binge-ing!

Support and Learn from Black Farmers & Growers

Soul Fire Farm: https://www.soulfirefarm.org/

Rootwork Herbals: https://www.rootworkherbals.com/

Sweet Freedom Farm: https://www.sweetfreedomfarm.org/

Abundance Farms: https://abundance-farms.square.site

Rise and Root Farm: https://www.riseandrootfarm.com

Black Yard Farm Collective: https://www.blackyardfarm.com

True Foods: https://truefoodshv.com

Rocky Acres Community Farm : https://www.facebook.com/rockyacrescommunityfarm/

Farm Fresh Carribean Growers: https://farmfreshcaribbeangrowers.com

Black Farmer Fund: https://www.blackfarmerfund.org

Updates at PFP and Early Bird Registration for the 2022 CSA Season

Dear Poughkeepsie Farm Project Community,

Hello! My name is Emily Eder and I am happy to be joining the team here as the new Farm Director. Since moving to the Hudson Valley over six years ago, I have admired PFP’s work. So many inspiring and powerful people have gathered here over the past 22 years to celebrate the land’s capacity to yield nourishment in the form of food, education, community, and mutual aid. They have shared the strong conviction that, on this stolen land that we have the privilege of stewarding, we must put back in what is taken from the soil. We must work together to grow not just food, but a thriving habitat for all living things. We do this work for and with you, our community.  Thank you for your support. I am both excited and humbled to be joining the team and look forward to getting to work!

Due to the evolving nature of the pandemic and the needs of the land and the people who work it, there will be some changes to our CSA for 2022. Following the strong advice of our farm crew and outgoing Director, we will be reducing production in 2022. Though it is difficult to slow the momentum that has been built here, momentum that has fed as many people as possible and sustained the farm financially, we must honor lessons learned. This will be a great and necessary opportunity to rest and nourish the soil by increasing cover cropping and allowing some of it to fallow for a season. The farm crew here is going through a lot of transitions and we want our new team to have time to build and grow, collaborate with our peers in the education department, and focus on actualizing our vision of a just and sustainable food system. We will still run a rigorous and productive farming schedule, but more of our energy will go into the long term sustainability of the land, the organization, and the mission.  

Additionally, it is with sadness that we must also say goodbye to our Executive Director, Madeline Henriquez, who will unfortunately be leaving the Poughkeepsie Farm Project as of December 3rd, 2021. We are disappointed to lose such a hard-working and visionary leader, but are mobilized to find qualified candidates to fill her large shoes, both in the interim and the long-term. We are proud of the progress we have made with her leadership, and excited to continue that work with new leadership. 

We hope that you will join us during this time of transition and opportunity! Now, the information you’ve all been waiting for. Early Bird sign ups open on December 1st and lasts for two weeks. We are reaching out to you, our previous members, before spreading the information widely, so now is a great time to sign up, give your support to PFP when we need it most and pick up a bonus share in January! Here is the information about available shares and changes to our distribution. 

• Although PFP will not be offering a winter CSA share this season, you can still get PFP produce this winter! We will likely offer a few Winter Boxes on a case by case basis and will spread the word as soon as those dates are on the books. If you want a more consistent share of winter veggies, visit Taliaferrofarmstore.com to learn about their winter CSA, which will include PFP greens from our high tunnels.

• Free Choice, Market Style distribution is back! We are happy to announce that, with Covid cases decreasing, we will be able to offer this popular distribution style. At the request of our partners at Vassar, distribution will continue to be held in the same location as the drive through distribution.

  • Safety is our top priority so we will ask members to wear their masks at distribution no matter your vaccination status. Hand sanitizer and gloves will be available on site. 

• Work Share is Back! We are excited to welcome interested community members back to the farm to assist our crew in exchange for a reduced price share. 

• Sliding Scale Pricing will Remain. It is of the utmost importance that our food is available to all interested community members, regardless of income. We recognize that not all people who need access to reduced pricing are able to take the time to work here. Sliding scale pricing, along with our ongoing food access grant writing and support from community foundations, will keep this important part of our community involved. 

  • With production decreasing and the need for food access increasing, this is an especially important time to pay at the higher end of our pricing spectrum if you can. 

• Price Increase: We will be raising our prices for CSA in 2022 for the first time in three years. This increase in price directly corresponds to rising wages for our crew and the sustainability of the farm’s future. 

• Community Engagement: As part of PFP’s Strategic Plan, we aim to increase access to this special place on earth. We continue to invite our members to participate in Pick-Your Own crops and will be looking for additional opportunities to open the farm up to our CSA community and beyond. Please feel free to reach out if you have ideas about this. 

• All Members will be required to create a Shopify account. This will allow for a much more streamlined system. Click here for a tutorial about navigating the Shopify site and please reach hellocsa@farmproject.org with any questions. 

• Visit our Farm Store to get all of the info about our shares, CSA protocol, volunteer opportunities, etc! 

CSA is a very unique model where the community can come together over a shared love of good food and environmental sustainability, lifting each other up in the process. We can’t express how grateful we are to each of you who decide to take part. 

All About Garlic

By: Danielle - Russell Sage College Dietetic Intern

As we are approaching the end of fall and beginning of winter the growing season for many fruits, vegetables and herbs is coming to an end. However, plants in the allium family such as shallots, onion and garlic thrive during this time and are typically planted in late September and early through mid November. This is a very exciting time for Poughkeepsie Farm Project as garlic will be planted in our on site education gardens on November 3rd during volunteer appreciation day and used for an upcoming wellness event. Scroll to the bottom of this blog to watch videos on how to harvest and cure garlic, and to see handouts and recipes on how to grow and cook different recipes with garlic.

Additionally, I was able to be apart of planting garlic at the Boys and Girls Club community garden on Smith Street on October 19th . While at the Boys and Girls Club SonyaJoy and I dug holes for at least 10 children to put a clove of garlic in. We instructed the children to make sure that the pointy part of the garlic was facing up before planting. Then we lightly covered the holes with hay and told them that the garlic will be ready to harvest and eat next summer. It was a fun and educational experience for all!

Why grow garlic?
Garlic has been used since ancient times to treat digestive and respiratory disorders including intestinal worms, as well as wounds and infections. Today, it is used in a variety of dishes around the world because of its great taste and pungent flavor. In addition to its use in culinary dishes, garlic also has a multitude of health benefits that stem from the organic sulfur compound called allicin found within its cloves.

What are the health benefits of garlic?
For starters, garlic is very nutritious and contains both vitamins and minerals. Minerals found in garlic include iron which helps carry oxygen in the blood and vitamins such as vitamin A which is good for our eyes, vitamin C which helps support our immune system and Vitamin D which helps us grow strong bones. Secondly, garlic has anti-inflammatory properties which are not only important for overall health but heart health as well and can support healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Lastly and most importantly garlic promotes gut health. According to an article written by Annie Hayes this is because “garlic contains inulin and fructooligosaccharides which promote the growth of beneficial bacteria to grow, while at same time preventing disease promoting bacteria from growing due to its antibacterial properties.” 1

What time of year does garlic grow and what can I do with it?
Garlic grows best in loose rich soil that is well drained and located in a raised bed. It tends to like cooler weather hence why it is planted in the fall around late September to mid-November and harvested the following summer in mid-July. 2 However, garlic can also be harvested in the spring before it has fully sprouted. The immature plant looks similar to a leek as there is no visible bulb growth yet. Garlic scapes which are the flowerlike stalk of the plant are visible at this point and are removed to help with bulb growth and development. After removal garlic scapes can be eaten raw or used to add flavor to dishes like stir fry, dips and even hummus. As for the unripened garlic both the white and green parts of the plant can be eaten as a sauteed veggie or added to stock for flavor. 3

Once garlic is planted we have to wait until mid summer to harvest it. When harvesting garlic, you will want to make sure the tops of the bulbs are brown and dry and can easily be broken off from the stem. Allow the bulbs to air dry for 3-4 weeks until the outer skin turns papery, this is also known as curing garlic. The bulbs can then be saved, replanted and used to grow your own garlic at home! 2

To conclude, garlic can be added to a variety of foods such as pizza, pasta sauce, chicken, and meat to enhance flavor. And as we have learned, garlic is packed with so many nutrients that our bodies need and provides us with so many health benefits. With that it can also be used for medicinal purposes and found in fermented products and fire cider to support good gut and immune health. For more recipes, two of which will be featured at our garlic workshop at our SNAP CSA site on Friday November 5th from 1-3pm and handouts with nutritional and planting information click on the links below!

Recipe Links:

Kale Garlic Pesto Recipe

Kale Chips with Parmesan and Garlic

Handout Links:

How to Grow Your Own Garlic

Health Benefits of Garlic Handout

Watch PFP videos to see more:

Garlic Curing at PFP: https://youtu.be/J3zRAtcfLhw

Harvesting Garlic in the PFP Gardens : https://youtu.be/ljxwIiazOkI

Sources:

1. Hayes A. 12 proven health benefits of garlic. Netdoctor. https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-eating/a10882/health-benefits-of-garlic/. Published 2020. Accessed October 27, 2021.

2. Albert S. How to Grow Garlic. Harvest to Table. https://harvesttotable.com/how_to_grow_garlic/. Accessed October 27, 2021.

3. Green Garlic & Garlic Scapes Archives - The Conservation Foundation. The Conservation Foundation. https://www.theconservationfoundation.org/recipe-categories/garlic-gree-scapes/. Accessed November 1, 2021.

Highlighting The Handmade Bowl Artisans from Fall Kill Creative Works

Our 14th Annual Soup-a-Bowl fundraiser was held on October 17th, 2021, and we were so grateful to have a beautiful selection of handmade bowls crafted by talented artisans from Fall Kill Creative Works available for the event! Many event attendees were fortunate to purchase these one of a kind creations, so we want to take this opportunity to highlight some of the extraordinary artists who crafted them.

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Susan Dobler

Susan Dobler, a member of the Poughkeepsie Farm Project, started working with clay again to support the Soup-A-Bowl fundraising event. She is ever so grateful for the friendships along the way and her renewed connection with ceramics. She feels that making bowls for Soup-A-Bowl helps the PFP achieve its goals of educating youth about food matters and ensuring access to good quality healthful foods for all. What a fun event!

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Larissa Alvarado

Larissa Alvarado started working for the Poughkeepsie Farm Project in 2017 after being invited to attend and participate in a program with her niece and nephews at their elementary school.  She thinks there is something special about the organization that connects her love of creation, art, and people with what she learns from PFP about planting, harvesting and watching things grow. This work sustains her and helps her give back to the community. She finds it a pleasure to work with folks who deeply care about and love creativity, art, and community.

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Trish Careaga

Trish Careaga is crazy about making bowls to support the good works of the Poughkeepsie Farm Project. She likes the opportunity to practice her pottery craft, especially when it furthers her passion about food justice. She sees a direct connection between her bowl making and her support of the PFP efforts to eliminate food insecurity in our community.

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Kirsten McDonald

Kirsten McDonald has been a potter for more than 20 years and she has made bowls for every Soup-A-Bowl since the beginning! She loves the community of potters that come together to make the bowls and to support the Poughkeepsie Farm Project. She deeply appreciates the connections among the artists who make the bowls and PFP supporters who take them home to use and enjoy them.

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Karl Kruszynski

Karl Kruszynski learned how to work with clay in order to make bowls for the Poughkeepsie Farm Project’s Soup-A-Bowl. He loves that both ceramic bowls and delicious produce come from the earth. He likes celebrating the Earth by serving food made from PFP produce in bowls made at the Fall Kill Creative Works.

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Lynne James

Lynne James has been a member of the Poughkeepsie Farm Project for almost 2 decades! She appreciates what she has learned about eating locally, eating organically, supporting the local farming community, and the need for everybody to have access to healthy local food. She is interested in supporting the local art community and believes that supporting the arts is a very important part of the health and vitality of the community. For Lynne, having a handmade pottery bowl instead of a machine manufactured bowl enhances and enriches everyday life.

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Carol Conway

Carol Conway is a functional potter residing in the beautiful Hudson Valley. Although she enjoys throwing on the wheel, her real passion is hand building. She is inspired by nature and when possible, she often leaves part of her pieces unglazed so the beauty of the natural clay can be seen and felt. As a member of the Poughkeepsie Farm Project CSA for several years, she is honored to donate her work to the Soup-a-Bowl. What could be better than to share her passion for pottery for such a worthy cause.

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Merle and Dan Pressler

Merle and Dan Pressler might never have found ceramics were it not for the Poughkeepsie Farm Project. Merle was a hardworking farm crew member back in 2014 when she signed up Dan to learn to make bowls for Soup-a Bowl. Dan fell in love with pottery and the two have been collaborating on pieces ever since. This is their 7th Soup-a-Bowl supporting the best CSA in the Hudson Valley!

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Kelli Kavanaugh

Some of the things Kelli Kavanaugh enjoy’s most in life are pottery, gardening, food and people. Creating bowls for the Soup-a-Bowl to raise much needed funding for the CSA is a perfect way for her to support some of the things she loves. It is her hope that this event inspires people to act locally, grow and cook healthy food and maybe even to learn to make their own pottery at Fall Kill Clay Works.

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Thank you to all of the artists and volunteers that created these timeless vessels for us to perpetually enjoy our soup in, or admire on our shelves in tables in awe.

Spotlight on Community Gardeners at the Pershing Avenue Neighborhood Farm

By Tania Hernandez-Martinez and Chris Gavin

As we shift into fall and towards the end of the growing season, Poughkeepsie Farm Project is proud to reflect on our involvement in the first year of the Pershing Avenue Neighborhood Farm. This project is a community-driven urban agricultural initiative that aims to increase food access and food security for City of Poughkeepsie residents. The vision for this site is to be a community-lead food resource and skill-building hub for children and families that lack easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables and are in great need of quality programs for youth outside of school. The initiative is led by Scenic Hudson and has many community-based partners including Poughkeepsie Farm Project. Through our work at this site, PFP educators provide hands-on growing and cooking workshops as well as support for community gardeners new to growing their own food. In our efforts to connect with more stakeholders in the community, we have met new people and built stronger relationships with familiar faces. This month, we want to highlight new and returning members of our ever-growing community at the Pershing Avenue community gardens.

Heather Lee-Pitcher is a community member who has been a part of Poughkeepsie Farm Project through our Poughkeepsie Food Power @ Home remote learning initiative, volunteering in the meditation garden, and attending Community Harvest events. Heather was eager to continue practicing what she learned through our programs and is now a gardener at Pershing.

Scott Emslie is a member of the Poughkeepsie community that has recently joined us. When he heard that there would be garden beds available for Poughkeepsie residents to use, he jumped at the idea of having others to bounce ideas off of.

Why did you decide to get involved with the Pershing Avenue Community garden?

• Scott: I read about it and thought, I would like to get out in the community garden and meet some people. And also get some ideas for next season.

• Heather: I think just being able to be with creation and enjoying it in small moments… the need for mindfulness. We are giving back to the community by investing [in this site]... the fact that there have been shootings means there has to be more of an initiative to get people here. I started gardening with PFP’s Food Power @ Home by planting microgreens and wanted to continue growing.
  

What was your relationship with gardening before this; is it something you or your family had been doing for a long time?

• Scott: When I was growing up we had a fair sized garden, grew lots of food, but stopped gardening as the kids grew up. My mom, she came from a long line of farmers. When I heard about this I thought, ok, this is great.

• Heather: My grandfather is originally from the South..turned 100 years old. As a child I would grow with my grandfather and cook fresh food. I remember as a kid he helped me turn my sandbox into a garden. Most times the memories [of gardening] are positive.
  

What’s been the best thing about being involved this growing season? What has been the worst?

• Scott: I think [the best thing] is being involved for this first season, and getting to know the people. The worst is being unsure of the amount of rain.

• Heather: The best thing is being able to do it, just having the opportunity to do something like this. It makes me appreciate the importance of eating the fruit of our labor. The worst thing would be the difficulty in the last months of being able to come because of safety.
  

Do you see yourself making an impact while gardening?

• Scott: I think it does… it gets people more outdoors and teaches people where food comes from… And when you get too much and you got people here you can share [the food] with.

• Heather: I do, definitely. My gardening has encouraged others. Lala Alvarado [PFP educator] encouraged me, and I encouraged others… It's a domino effect. It has encouraged healthy eating in my household, a lot of good cooking can come from the use of fresh herbs.
  

How has your life/community been positively impacted by this project?

• Scott: I think it’s good for the community. I’d forgotten this park was here.. this gives a little bit more sense of community. Hopefully it will start to lessen the violence, you can start getting kids in and teaching them how to grow things.

• Heather: I’m looking forward to it being further impacted…the people are looking forward to using the garden. It starts conversations of “how can I be involved?” It becomes one of those things that you talk about, and everyone likes to eat!
  

Would you encourage others/younger people to start gardens of their own?

• Scott: Oh yeah, definitely. Gardening let’s you know where your food comes from, it gets people together.

• Heather: Absolutely, I think it’s important for everyone. You begin to have a new appreciation for growing. And if you are spending time outside…it’s beneficial for your health. You are taking care of yourself, taking care of your health, and taking care of others, so why not?
  

What are you looking forward to next season?

• Scott: Spreading out my garden, learning from other gardeners and saying, oh why didn’t I think of that?? There are a couple new things that I definitely want to try.

• Heather: I look forward to what’s next, I love to see what’s new!

Pollinators and Pollination

Guest post by Madeleine Freundlich of The Environmental Cooperative

While the honeybee tends to be the poster child for pollination, these European bees stand in the shadow of over 3,600 native bee species that comprise a small portion of all pollinating animals in North America. Pollination is a complex relationship between all types of bees, beetles, moths, and more and most plant life. While we reap the benefits of beautiful blooms and food on the table, our pollinator friends are doing all the work behind the scenes. The ecological service pollinators provide is necessary for the reproduction of over 85% of the world’s flowering plants, including more than two-thirds of the world’s crop species. That means you can thank these creatures for most of your farm share! The United States alone grows more than one hundred crops that either need or benefit from pollinators, and the economic value of these native pollinators is estimated at $3 billion per year. While impressive, such a statistic warrants a little more context. Most native pollinators have only a handful of plant species that they have a symbiotic relationship with: the squash bee forages in the squash blossom, and, in turn, the squash pollen gets carried to another flower and pollination occurs. Since most pollinators only pollinate a handful of plant species, it requires a high amount of both pollinator and plant diversity to maintain an ecosystem.

In many spaces that lack plant diversity, for example developed areas or mega-monoculture farms, pollinator populations are severely disrupted. The iconic monarch butterfly, for example, has experienced declines of approximately 84% in populations across North America. Habitat loss, alteration, and fragmentation, as well as diseases, pesticide use, and climate change are all threats to pollinators and the ecosystems that they support.

Here at The Environmental Cooperative, we recognize this issue and strive to use our resources to create places for all types of native pollinators to thrive. Recently the Town of Poughkeepsie has joined the Pollinator Pathways Initiative. This is a novel program that lays out guidelines and resources for starting native flower gardens so that native pollinators can prosper. These gardens act as an oasis for pollinators that have to travel a long way to find food due to development or the proliferation of non-native species. By encouraging residents, schools, organizations and municipalities to establish pollinator habitats wherever possible, we can achieve a patchwork pathway for native pollinators around the United States.

The Cooperative’s garden of natives in front of our offices includes Black-Eyed Susans, Goldenrod, Milkweed, and many others. These plots function in two ways: to facilitate the feeding and pollination symbiosis between pollinators and plants, and to look beautiful! While our focus is on native life, these plots also serve an aesthetic purpose that can be applied to your backyard or apartment window. We’ve also partnered with the PFP and the Ecological Preserve to create “Founder’s Plots”. These plots are planted with local native wildflowers, propagated from local seeds provided by the “Ecotype Project” through CT NOFA. The Founders Plots will provide a source of seed in coming years to help provide plants for community members that would like to start their own pollinator gardens.

What you can do:

1. Learn about our native plants and animals! Take a look around the PFP or native plant gardens and see if any plants are catching your eye. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center has a wonderful and comprehensive database that can help you find what you’re looking for - as well as give you helpful tips for planting and maintenance. Similarly, Native Beeology is a great resource for learning about native bees! It is also run by Poughkeepsie Local, Tim Stanley, Director at Sharpe Reservation.

2. Landscape for natives. If you have any sort of area that you currently maintain grass on, think about changing it over to a native garden. Trust us, the beauty, wildlife, and minimal maintenance certainly outweighs the merits of a lawn. Check out your local native nursery or find a friend willing to share a plant or two. Native plants are adapted to living in our specific region so they usually require little additional watering or pruning and spread easily.

3. Make a bee a home. Whilst honey bees conjure up large group hives, most native bees are solitary. Creating nooks in your yard, leaving dried grasses over the winter, or putting in some logs as landscaping can give your bees a better chance at putting up permanent residence. Check out this sheet about native bee housing that the Environmental Coop put together for more information and lots of inspiration! Here is an additional blog about the importance of native bees.

The Environmental Cooperative at the Vassar Barns is an outreach and education initiative through Vassar College, located on the Vassar Farm and Ecological Preserve. We work to inspire engagement, support current efforts and develop new opportunities for conservation education, outreach, and research.

Poughkeepsie Farm Project Hosts Pershing Avenue Neighborhood Farm Grand Opening Event

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Poughkeepsie Farm Project (PFP) is hosting Harvest Fest to celebrate the grand opening of Pershing Avenue Neighborhood Farm, a new quarter-acre urban farm taking root in the heart of Poughkeepsie, on Saturday, October 2 from 11am-3pm. Harvest Fest is a culmination of a community-wide partnership with PFP, Ecological Citizens Project (ECP), Nubian Directions, Glynwood Foundation, Poughkeepsie Alliance, Community Changemakers, New City Parks, Scenic Hudson, Pershing Parknership, and the City of Poughkeepsie to create a community-led food resource and skill-building hub for children and families that lack easy access to fresh produce and after-school programming.

Visitors to Harvest Fest can experience a variety of games and activities including crafts, dancing, music, giveaways, stone painting, drawing, blueberry bush planting, free food, garden bed sign-ups, and DIY herbal body care products, all led by PFP, Scenic Hudson, and ECP. Free produce and school supplies will be available for visitors to take home along with PFP’s favorite recipes, tips, and ideas for how to use and store vegetables. Event speakers include Desiree King, from St. Marks AME Zion; Madeline Henriquez, PFP’s Executive Director; Tania Hernandez-Martinez, PFP’s Assistant Garden Educator & Community Garden Steward; Jocelyn Apicello, ECP’s Program Director; Nick Jackson, ECP’s Pershing Urban Farm Regenerator; Dave Llewellyn, Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming Director of Farmer Training; Will Artist, Nubian Directions II Inc. Construction Manager; and more.

Scenic Hudson took the first step in supporting and building healthy lifestyles for city children and families by spearheading the construction of the Pershing Avenue Neighborhood Farm last Fall. This Spring, YouthBuild Americorps Program of Nubian Directions II, Inc., built the farm’s tool shed and garden plots with help from PFP and Scenic Hudson who have also facilitated free cooking workshops and learning opportunities. To date, garden beds have been filled by local residents or community organizations that provide work or services within Poughkeepsie. Scenic Hudson and Glynwood have provided financial support to ensure the success of the Pershing Avenue Neighborhood Farm.

PFP’s Executive Director, Madeline Henriquez, said, “This event manifesting is in line with our mission to cultivate local leadership in sustainable farming, food access, and education, and to foster an inclusive, welcoming community for everyone.”

Scenic Hudson’s River Cities Program Director, Zoraida Lopez Diago, said, “Scenic Hudson is excited to be partnering with Poughkeepsie Farm Project and the other groups involved in the creation of the Pershing Avenue Neighborhood Farm. I also want to thank the City of Poughkeepsie for making this land available. The response of the neighborhood to these positive changes has been so gratifying, and we look forward to deepening this work in the years to come.”

PFP has grown its impact substantially since it began in 1999 with three acres of revived farmland leased from Vassar College and 70 CSA shareholders. Twenty years later, the organization has grown to support 500 CSA shareholders that take home 80% of the 90 tons of certified naturally grown produce harvested each year from PFP’s 15-acre urban farm. The other 20% is distributed through PFP’s Food Share program, which aims to address hunger, increase local food access, and create a healthier community.

The farm is also an educational resource for children, teens, and adults to experience learning through a variety of hands-on activities, such as identifying and harvesting vegetables, cooking with farm-fresh produce, and interacting with the environment on farm tours. Each year, PFP reaches more than 7,000 children and adults through its educational programming.

To learn more about Poughkeepsie Farm Project and the Harvest Fest Event, contact Executive Assistant, Lydia Hatfield at pfpadmin@farmproject.org.