Amber, Fritz, Jyna, Brielle, Denise and I took a trip to Freedom Farm from Friday to Saturday.  This was the second time I’ve visited this farm. Fritz introduced us to a year and a half ago, as he knows Ann and Edgar through his connections with the Mennonite community in NYC.  Edgar had been working in the South Bronx with youth from Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, when he and Ann decided to move upstate to Otisville / Middletown, NY, and start Freedom Farm. They wanted to provide ...

Continue reading ...

I’ve come across a good number of provocative ideas in the past couple weeks that I would like to start digesting here.  Last Sunday, Pastor Guy Wasko at Trinity Grace Church – East Village gave good meaning to the church’s motto, “Joining God in the Renewal of all Things.”  During his sermon, he spoke about how the full Christian story explains fully the Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration.  This allows for a holistic and encompassing  Christian worldview.  Unfortunately, m...

Continue reading ...

4/14/12
Leave It Better had been teaching youth about environmental stewardship and growing food in PS 306 / MS 331 in the Bronx when one of the teachers suggested they do something with the vacant lot across the street.  Dominique and Graham decided to transform the lot into an official NYC Department of Parks & Recreation GreenThumb garden. It's incredible to see the work they've done to build community and involve residents - especially youth - in growing food and transforming the formerly ...
Continue reading ...

4/21/12

I first heard about the New Settlement Apartments – Bronx Helpers Cooking Garden Club through Alyssa Ruiz, who is always raving about the group and how they did such a good job with their Adopt a Bodega project.  This is the group that created the Bodega Down Bronx video a couple of years ago.  I was so glad to have the opportunity to hear them present at the GreenThumb Grow Together conference this year and was so inspired by the youths’ motivation to work towards food justice. ...

Continue reading ...

I returned from a much-needed vacation today with my family, celebrating my brother's college graduation in California. And several hours later (on a Sunday, may I add) found myself going to my office to gather some materials needed for an Adopt a Bodega workshop at a school tomorrow morning. On the train ride back I opened up a book I've picked up on and off over the past several months - Meditations with Teresa of Avila.  The chapter I was up to is called "Care of the Body" and discusses ho...
Continue reading ...