The Alchemical Nursery - Community farming downstate

I've been pretty busy during the last month and now have the opportunity to share some info about what I've been up to, so check it out. A few weeks ago I visited the Hudson Valley and was able to get a glimpse of some awesome urban farming and community gardening efforts. Seeing these in action inspired me to think of the possibilities for what we could be doing in Syracuse and elsewhere. First is Ashe Urban Farm in Newburgh, NY, then Gardens for Nutrition in New Paltz.

Ashe Urban Farm is Orange County's only youth run urban farm. The group that tends the farm was formed through an afterschool program at Newburgh Free Academy. I was inspired to see the youth initiative and the way that they are intentionally seeing their efforts as more than just gardening: they're trying to change the way their community relates to food by bringing the farm back to the city. They've got a great variety of vegetables, including beans, squash, beets, radishes, and much more, grown right in the city of Newburgh. Check out the images:

Ashe Urban Farm tends their space in the larger "People's Garden of Newburgh."

Weeding bright and early on a Sunday morning. Second from the left is my good friend Kim, ESF alumn and one of the program's facilitators.

This is why growing food is so awesome. I'm pretty sure this was his first day weeding ever.

A broader view of the rest of some more of the community gardens.

"Garden's for Nutrition" in New Paltz inspired me for its sheer size. Granted, New Paltz is a pretty small town, so they have a lot of space to work with very close to the center of town. Check it out: