It may be May, but it sure feels like July in NYC. The spring season (as it tends to feel from year to year) went from brisk winds and cool temperatures to hot and muggy in a matter of days. Up on the farm, though, students from all across NYC are getting a better perspective to the changing course of the season as City Growers kicks-off another season. Flowers are blooming, mint is overtaking the learning bed and the first of the strawberries are beginning to take shape!
Spring Programs
Our first school groups of the season were welcomed up to the Brooklyn Grange in mid-April, and our spring interns got to experience the magic of teaching and learning together with their first classes up on the roof. Scholars of all ages have been busy holding worms, planting seeds in the learning bed, observing the chickens and exploring the inner workings of a bee hive.
Bee-hind the veil
In a classic 360, our educators became the students when Courtney, CG’s Director of Education, installed our new honey bee colonies at both farms – her first time hiving! We are looking forward to getting to know these sweet California bees this season. Courtney is also participating in the Brooklyn Grange’s beekeeping class this year and sharing what she learns with our staff. You can follow along too via the hashtag #beehindtheveil
B.E.E.S. After School
Having spent the winter growing mushrooms and exploring food justice in the classroom, the middle schoolers returned to the farm in the Brooklyn Navy Yard to begin prepping for the spring. They got to work digging walkways and adding soil and compost to the beds they will be tending to this spring.
Urban Roots Youth Leaders
We’d like to introduce our newest farm fledglings, the Urban Roots Youth Leaders! These high schoolers will be spending the spring at the farm in Long Island City diving into all sorts of exploratory learning from plant science to food systems. We can’t wait to fill you in on some of the projects they’ll be working on.
Making Connections
We’re thrilled that there are organizations out there who are as down with worms and compost as much as we are. City Growers is honored to be added as a nonprofit partner to the network of forward thinking companies that make up 1% for the Planet. This fall we’ll also be taking the farm into the classroom. Thanks to a grant from the Captain Planet Foundation, we will be installing, maintaining and harvesting from Windowfarms with our after school program in Brooklyn this coming school year. We’re looking forward to another exciting season up on the farm – and to keeping you up to date with what’s happening up on the farm!
