NEWSLETTER

Greetings CSA members new & returning! Its so exciting that this week has finally arrived! Weve been working towards this moment when we get to hand over some Farm-fresh bounty since last fall, when we began writing our crop plan for 2013. Beginning January, we stayed cozy planting flower and vegetable seeds every in our beloved hoop house, Harriet. At one point in early May Harriet was filled with over 10,000 baby plants! Though the winter felt stubborn, and spring luxuriously long and cool, we eventually got to dig into the thawed ground: turning in soil-protective cover crops and incorporating compost, and eventually sowing and transplanting a bevy of nutritious crops and beautiful flowers that are now making their way to you! Weve stayed busy teaching a number of wonderful Winterns, who volunteered their time between November and May. We have hosted roughly 10 school classes of all different ages from around the city. Since we last delivered to some of you in 2012, the Farm has undergone some important transitions. We have a new Principal at the High School for Public Service, Sean Rice, who is very supportive of the Farm and has some exciting ideas to help more students at Wingate take advantage of the Farm as an outdoor classroom. After over a year of hard work leading efforts to engage HSPS students on the farm, our Farm-to-School Liaison, Tanzania Roach, has

THE YOUTH FARM at the High School for Public Service

Week of June 17 2013

moved on to new pastures. We are This Weeks Share: Romaine Lettuce thrilled to have a Green Garlic new Summer Collard Greens Youth Program Spring Onions Director, Averill Wickland, and Red Mustard Summer Youth Sorrel Nutrition Thyme Coordinator, Dhira Oregano Rauch. We have four wonderful new Apprentices who are participating in our Urban Farm Training Program. You will come to know these new Youth Farm faces and what brings them to this field through this newsletter. We have tons to look forward to this season: loads of fresh veggies and herbs, exciting new flowers, a new crop of Summer Youth leaders who will help greet you on Wednesdays and work alongside our adult apprentices, and some fun events over the summer to engage our local and citywide community! Thanks again for being a part of the Youth Farm this year. We hope you will visit us even if you do not pick up your share at the Farm. Community Supported Agriculture is, in our view, a simple yet radical act, to help reclaim our control over our personal and community health. By supporting our farm, you also support our educational programming around organic agriculture, food justice, nutrition and more. We look forward to meeting you enjoy your first share!

The Youth Farm is an educational production farm in East Flatbush that offers New Yorkers opportunities to increase their knowledge of the food system and build high level organic growing skills to share with their communities. The Youth Farm grows organic food and flowers on one acre for the community and beyond, and offers advanced farm training and leadership opportunities for youth and adults.

www.HSPSFarm.BlogSpot.com

NEWSLETTER
We have a new, but familiar face on the farm this year

THE YOUTH FARM at the High School for Public Service

Week of June 17 2013

Meet our new Assistant Farm Manager!

Liz Dowd has returned this season, having completed last years Urban Farm Training Program, as our new Assistant Manager. Liz grew-up in Vermont and moved to the city ten years ago to study photography. She struggled to strike a balance living in the city, having been raised in the woods. Farming in Brooklyn proved to be the perfect negotiation of nature and culture. Liz is enjoying teaching new apprentices this season and is looking forward to another amazing season on the Youth Farm. If you see her dragging hoses, say hello!!

Want to help out at the Youth Farm? There are MANY ways to get involved, from attending a volunteer day, becoming an intern for a few hours a week or attending a free seasonal workshop. Volunteer Days,
Saturdays 10 am-3:30 pm Every 1st and 3rd Sat of the month Come on out to the farm and help us grow!

You can come for the whole day or drop in. Please bring lunch, a water bottle and appropriate clothing. Please note no sandals or open toed shoes. Youth under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult. If you would like to come with a group just drop us a line and let us know!

Free Community Workshops,

Saturdays 2-:3:30pm, every 1st Sat of the month

VEGGIE HIGHLIGHT: S O R R E L
Sorrel is not the most common of spring greens to find laying around most kitchens. It can be pretty tart and even acidic, and a lot of folks simply aren't sure what to do with it. The flip-side is that sorrel can be so exquisite when paired well: It has a fresh bite that epitomizes spring, and while it can be too much to eat on its own as a raw salad, there are so many dishes that brighten tremendously with a smattering of this tender green. Most folks use raw sorrel as an accent, but young spring sorrel can be wonderful tossed into salads, making for a nice citrusy bite. This is the kind of green that will refresh you, wake you up, and remind you that it's May. When it's cooked, however, sorrel's tartness wanes, making it a wonderful compliment to chicken or fish and an excellent candidate for homemade sauces.
- www.thekitchn.com/got-sorrel-10-colorful-spring-recipes-170262

Our FREE community workshops cover everything from common garden techniques to healthy cooking to food justice. Every workshop takes place on a volunteer day - come work on the farm in the morning, then stick around for the free workshop! There will be a little bit of time after the workshop as well for one last farm-y project.

On-Farm Yoga! Saturdays

June 15th 2-3pm, August 3rd 3:30-4:30pm, September 7th 3:30-4:30pm

We are partnering with Shamabhala Yoga & Dance Center to offer sliding scale Yoga classes on the farm. The classes will take place overlooking the beautiful organic flowers and vegetables. The classes will be beginner level and will be a great way to finish a volunteer day! You can stay after the volunteer day, or come just for some yoga. Bring a mat if you want (we will mostly be standing) and a water bottle.

www.HSPSFarm.BlogSpot.com