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|  ECO City Farms February 2016 |
Featured Farmer: Zachari Curtis of Good Sense Farm
Z
achari Curtis, founder of Good Sense Farm, raises mushrooms and honey and is a renaissance person if ever there was one. Besides being a farmer, Zachari is a local food activist, artist and community organizer. Zachari co-founded the Community Farming Alliance: a producers cooperative for farmers, foodies, beekeepers, healers of color seeking to instigate collaboration, incubate and nurture mutual aid between food system workers of color. And if that wasn't enough Zachari also works with Healthy Affordable Food for All, a food justice network in DC, to help food justice advocates and regular people share resources and solve problems creatively for a better food system.
ECO partners with Zach to offer mushrooms to small and larger CSA shares. For now we are just grateful we can partake of all of the mushroom goodness coming out of Zach's operation, which ECO supports by providing space located on the property at its office in Riverdale. There are all types of fungi coming out of a small space: pioppino, shitake, yellow oyster, king trumpet, maitake, and a crazy one called Lion's Mane, which is large with a furry exterior.
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| "We Need To Tell The Whole Story" |
Watch this video to hear Zach speak on how the complex relationships with land are the heritage of black farmers.
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Accepting Applications for Interns & Apprentices
We are now accepting applications for interns and apprentices for the Spring/Summer season! This season runs
March to September, for both the Edmonston Farm and the Bladensburg Farm.
ECO's apprenticeships and internships present an immersive, hands-on opportunity to learn about sustainable urban agriculture by working directly with experienced farm staff. In addition, you make a significant contribution to ECO's programs.
Apprenticeships are for those who've demonstrated a long-term commitment to farming. It is a weekly 16-hour commitment. Apprentices receive a weekly CSA bag, in-kind opportunities for workshops, courses and farm visits, and a weekly travel stipend.
Internships are for those who want to get a feel for urban farming without making a huge commitment. It is a weekly 6-hour commitment. Interns are unpaid, but receive in-kind opportunities for workshops, courses, and farm visits.
Learn more about this opportunity and how to apply on our WEBSITE.
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Community Herbal Wellness Series
The science and art of using plants and foods for building and maintaining good health and for healing reaches back to the very beginning of recorded history. The practice of growing, harvesting, and making of herbal products to achieve wellness connects us to Traditional Chinese, Ayurveda, Native American and Western medicinal practices.
ECO has recently significantly increased the variety and amounts of herbs and spices grown at our farms to better serve the needs and palates of our community.
We invite you to join one of our classes to learn more about the ancient and contemporary art and science of herbalism.
Pre-registration is required. Please contact [email protected] or 443-447-0313 to register or with any questions.
Cost: REDUCED PRICE!
$25 each class, materials fee included. ($60 for the 3 classes series prepaid). Registration is non-refundable but is transferable. Please note: No one will be turned away for lack of funds. We offer a sliding fee scale discount, if needed.
If you register for all three classes, you get $15.00 OFF and
participants will receive a 10% OFF on your next purchase
of Marble Arch Gardens Produce.
Date & Time:
All classes are on a Tuesday from 6:30 pm to 8:00pm
Part 3:
Herbs for the Seasons: Spring and Summer (Tuesday, April 5), Planning your Herb Garden at Home (Tuesday, April 19), Growing, Harvesting & Preserving Herbs for Home Use (Tuesday, May 3).
Visit our
WEBSITE for a full description of each class.
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Free Cooking Classes/Clases de cocina gratuitas!
We will teach you how to prepare nutritious and affordable meals! In these classes you will learn how to:
- Prepare delicious, healthy meals
- Use new foods and cooking techniques
- Make the most of your food resources
- Shop for healthy foods on a tight budget
Location: Town of Colmar Manor Community Center
3701 Lawrence St. Colmar Manor, MD 20722
Dates & Times: English Classes
Fechas y horas: Español
Sign up today! Space is limited!
For more information or to register, Colmar Manor Town Hall at 301-277-4920 or [email protected].
Brought to you by: Port Towns Community Health Partnership, ECO City Farms and the Town of Colmar Manor.
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SEED2FEED Summer Youth Program 2016
Through the hands-on work of growing food, cooking, and food justice outreach, our summer SEED 2 FEED program will grow strong, healthy, and inspired teens who live in Prince George's County. We create a safe space where they can experience leadership development, personal growth, collaboration and job training.
Over the summer, young people will acquire skills and knowledge about a sustainable food system through urban farming, composting, nutrition education, and healthy living. They will help build the youth garden at the Bladensburg Farm, cook (and eat) delicious food, and find their own voices through photography, poetry and art. Through field trips, they will explore food and health in Prince George's County.
Experienced urban farmers, artists, nutritionists and environmentalists will teach the youth about sustainability, local food production, healthy cooking and eating.
OUR 2016 PROGRAM
Tentative Dates: July 5, 2016 - August 12, 2016
This year ECO will be recruiting our youth through the Prince George's County's Youth@Work Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). The application for SYEP opens on Monday, February 22, 2016. The application remains open for approximately 30 days, and closes on Friday, March 25, 2016. All county residents ages 15-19 are welcome to apply. Those under the age of 18 must obtain a work permit. Learn more about the
County's SYEP and the
Job Readiness Program.
If you are interested in applying for SEED2FEED, please contact Kayla ( [email protected]). We will help you apply to the County's SYEP. Once you've applied with the SYEP, you must contact Kayla to inform us that you are a potential participant.
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Aida's Update on Capstone Project
(January 2015 - January 2016)
Aida Namukasa is the Associate Farmer at ECO City Farms at Bladensburg and a Community Nutrition Educator. Since joining ECO, she has taking many of our urban farming and nutrition education offerings.
She was part of the first cohort of the Neighborhood Soil Rebuilders Master and Advanced Composters Program, offered in partnership with the Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR) and ECO City Farms. All trainees were required to develop a "capstone" project, a project that advances community composting in local neighborhoods.
Learn about Aida's project, challenges and accomplishments in our Bladensburg community on our recent
Blog Post.
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Other Events
MOFFA Winter Meeting 2016
Date:
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Time:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location:
Maryland Dept. of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD
Cost:
Only $5 for members and $20 for non-members
Description:
Information for farmers and gardeners in search of new ideas, techniques, & inspiration, as well as networking opportunities for consumers and distributors looking for good sources of local, organic food.
Presentations, Panels and Workshops.
Join farmers, consumers, advocates, and National Organic Program members to:
* Bring home information you can really use
* Add your voice to discussions about nutrition and agriculture, climate change, soil and sustainable organic farming and gardening.
* Network with some of the pioneers of the organic food movement
* Find a local CSA
Homegrown 'Eat Local' Potluck Lunch
* One of the highlights of the meeting
* Bring a dish to share at the best local lunch around!
Seed Swap ~ Auction ~ Display Tables
Date:
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Time:
9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Location:
Wilson High School 3950 Chesapeake St NW Washington, DC 20016
Cost:
Attendance is free! A donation of $10 is suggested
Description:
Rooting DC is a FREE, all-day gardening forum that aims to provide education about urban food production and consumption, to cultivate health and preserve the environment. The program includes dozens of interactive workshops, cooking and food preservation demonstrations, and panel discussions focusing on youth gardening, nutrition, sustainable growing techniques, and healthy food access. The event also hosts 60+ green businesses and nonprofit from throughout the region at an information fair.
Make sure to attend our staff's sessions and stop by our info table!
- Fred will be doing one of the the 7x7 sessions, "Beats & Beets: The Relationship between Music & Farming".
- Christian will be co-teaching the "Seed Starting Basics" workshop with Natalie Carver of Love & Carrots.
- Christian & Benny will be on the "What's Wrong with my Compost... and How to Fix It!" panel.
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Volunteer Days Return in March
Regular volunteer days will pick back up again in March. ECO City Farms serves the community and without the incredible help of volunteers like you, we could not exist.
Volunteer days are Saturdays from 9am to 12pm
. 1st and 3rd at the Edmonston Farm and 2nd and 4th at the Bladensburg Farm.
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Riverdale Park Farmers Market
Thursdays 3-7pm
ECO has a regular farm stand at the year-round
Riverdale Park Farmers Market
. The market has moved indoors for the season.
Enjoy the live music and conversation. Come visit our stand and chat with farmer Emily about what's in season and share your yummy recipes with Amanda.
The Riverdale Park Farmers Market is
located in the MARC train station parking lot (4650 Queensbury Road Riverdale Park, MD 20737).
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