ECO City Farms ECO City Farms

March 2016

 

ECO CSA Open for the Spring/Summer Season!


 
GET A BAG OF FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE EVERY WEEK!
More info below
In this months newsletter...
ECO Update
ECO Spring/Summer CSA Now Accepting Applications
ECO Spring/Summer Internships & Apprenticeships
SEED2FEED Summer Youth Program 2016- Deadline March 25
Community Herbal Wellness Series
Free Cooking Classes- English & Spanish Sessions
Saturday Volunteer Days 9am-12pm
Farmers Market: Thursdays 3-7pm & New Saturday Market 11am-3pm Starting June 4
ECO Update 

  • Hoophouse #3 at the Edmonston Farm: The hoophouse that was crushed by the weight of "Snowzilla's" force is beyond repair. Because of the collapse, we've lost several bed feet of crops. 
    Thank you to all of those that donated to us in our time of need!
    We were able to raise $1,000 to help us recover from the damage. W e will now be able to remove what remains of the structure and transform the area into a more productive year-round outdoor growing space with low tunnels. 
  • Wormhouse at the Bladensburg Farm: More pavers have been laid in the Bladensburg Farm Wormhouse. Thanks goes out to the Montgomery County Conservation Corps for their service on this project and to Ernest Maier Block Co. for donating the stones. See the transformation of the Bladensburg Farm on our Facebook Photo Album.
  • Bike stop at the Edmonston Farm: With the coming of warmer weather, ECO has been able to make moves on finalizing the bike stop project. The welcome sign, picnic table and bike rack have been installed, ready for visiting bikers this Spring!
  • After school program: Since the Fall of 2015, Viviana Lindo (our Director of Education), has been working with the after school program at the Magic Johnson Empowerment Center in the Autumn Woods Apartments neighboring our Bladensburg Farm. The children have been learning about farming, healthy eating and nutrition. Check out the Facebook Photo Album. 
  • Port Towns Farmers Mercado- New Location: The market is now at a new location with a new name for 2016! We are happy to announce that this year's mercado will be located at 4521 Kenilworth Avenue, Bladensburg for the 2016 season! This is in the busy Three Brothers Plaza shopping center along a busy roadway - and we thank Mario Repole of Three Brothers Italian Restaurant for allowing us to locate there and provide better fresh food access to the residents of the Port Towns and Prince George's County!
    We will open on June 4 and be open 11 - 3 on Saturdays until September 24. Learn how you can support the mercado on our WEBSITE.
Now Accepting Applications for CSA

The spring/summer season runs 22 weeks from April 21 to September 15 2016

ECO City Farms offers weekly farm shares (also called CSAs) of locally grown produce through the farm share program. Members sign up and pay for the entire season ahead of time, then pick up their share of produce each week at designated locations.

Each week is a different mix of produce, depending on what is in season. Taste the difference that freshly picked, chemical free, locally grown produce can make. Support your local urban farm and support your health with an ECO farm share!

LARGE SHARE - ECO Farm Share
6-8 items/ week
Cost: $22/week with purchase of 22 week season = $486
Contains: Produce exclusively from ECO which is Certified Naturally Grown.
Prince George's County residents receive a 10% discount! (cost is $437=$19.88/week)

SMALL SHARE - Eat Local Farm Share
4 items/ week
Cost: $13.50/week with purchase of 22 week season = $297
Contains: Produce from ECO and other area sustainable farmers*.
Prince George's County residents receive a 10% discount! (cost is $267=$12.15/week)

EGG SHARE ADD ON
Supplement your share with a dozen eggs every two weeks. Cost: $55 ($5 week)
Eggs are from a local producer and are pastured.*

*=Not Certified Naturally Grown

Visit our website for the application.
Accepting Applications for Interns & Apprentices
 
Farming Apprenticeships & Internships
We are still 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.

PR/ Communications/ Food-Related Marketing Internship

Duration of Internship 
4 months, with possibility of extension (expected starting date from late April 2016)
Areas 
Communication, E-marketing, Events, and Marketing
Remuneration
 A fresh produce bag (CSA) of ECO veggies every other week.
Examples of activities
  • Assist in planning, developing and implementing communication strategies with the communication team.
  • Propose and Execute Communication strategies to increase awareness of ECO's work (through social media, partnerships...)
  • Research and approach media channels to promote the ECO and its values
  • Write new content for the website and Facebook page highlighting ECO's different projects (new articles, blogs, social media posts, etc.)
Read the full DESCRIPTION for this opportunity. Contact Viviana Lindo, [email protected], to apply.
SEED2FEED Summer Youth Program 2016

ECO is looking for Prince George's County youth who are interested in urban agriculture, sustainability, food justice, environmental issues or just being outdoors to apply to our SEED2FEED Summer Youth Program 2016!

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 healthy meals, and find their own voices through 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. We create a safe space where they can experience leadership development, personal growth, collaboration and job training.


OUR 2016 PROGRAM

Dates: July 5, 2016 - August 12, 2016
Location: ECO City Farms at Bladensburg, 6100 Emerson Street Bladensburg, MD 20710

This year ECO will be recruiting a limited number of youth through the Prince George's County's Youth@Work Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) to enable youth to earn wages while working with ECO this summer. Learn more about the  County's SYEP  and the  Job Readiness Program .

The deadline to apply to the County's program is  Friday, March 25th. All county residents ages 15-19 are welcome to apply. Those under the age of 18 must obtain a work permit.

To Apply: Visit our WEBSITE to learn how to apply.

Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
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 2:  Healthy Flavors and Seasonings (Tuesday, March 22).

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.
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

Monday, March 14th - 7:00 to 8:30pm

Fechas y horas: Español

Wednesday, March 16th - 7:00 to 8:30pm
Wednesday, March 30th - 7:00 to 8:30pm

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.

Visit our Upcoming Events page.
Volunteer Days
Regular volunteer days start this month. 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. 

For more info on what to expect, visit our  Volunteering page . Also, check our  Upcoming Events page  and Facebook Page  for any cancellations or rescheduling.
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).

Port Towns Farmers Mercado- NEW LOCATION!
Saturdays 11-3pm starting June 4th! 
The market is now at a new location with a new name for 2016!

We are happy to announce a new location for the 2016 season of the Port Towns Farmers Mercado!  It will be located at 4521 Kenilworth Avenue in Bladensburg This is in the busy Three Brothers Plaza shopping center along a busy roadway - and we thank Mario Repole of Three Brothers Italian Restaurant for allowing us to locate there and provide better fresh food access to the residents of the Port Towns and Prince George's County!
 
Learn how you can support the mercado on our website and don't forget to like the mercado's Facebook Page!
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ECO City Farms ECO City Farms

www.facebook.com/ECOCityFarms |

www.ecocityfarms.org |[email protected] 

Office: 6010 Taylor Road, Riverdale, Md., 20737

Edmonston Farm: 

4913 Crittenden St., Edmonston, Md. 20781
Bladensburg Farm: 

6100 Emerson St., Bladensburg, Md. 20710