open networking meeting

Join us MONDAY, August 9th, from 12:30-2:00 p.m. in the amphitheater of garden at the Union Settlement Association for a meeting on "Community Gardens -- Community Assets."

Community gardens (and their gardeners) provide healthy fresh foods; educate residents of all ages on their environment, local agriculture, and nutrition; strengthen social connections and fill a critical need for open space in the city’s most underserved communities. Did Liz Christy, the mother of the community garden movement, know back in the early 70s when she threw the first seed bomb into a vacant lot and founded Green Guerillas, that her efforts to improve the safety and beauty of neglected neighborhoods, would spawn over 700 gardens, a nearly 40 year-old movement, NYC Parks & Recreation’s GreenThumb program and a NYS Office of Community Gardens?  The story of New York City’s community garden movement has been one of growth, change, hard fought victories and loss.

The hardest won victory was the 2002 agreement between the city and the New York State attorney general’s office that settled a lawsuit in which the attorney general’s office sought to stop the Giuliani administration from selling city-owned gardens to developers.  That agreement is set to expire in September.  NYC Parks & Recreation and Housing Preservation and Development have publicized draft rules to replace the Agreement.  On August 10th there will be a public hearing on these rules.

As part of our continuing effort to educate members on pressing food systems issues and opportunities, we are pleased to highlight community gardens.

Where?: 237 E. 104th St., NY, NY. Walk through the office of the Union Settlement Association and head out the back to the garden, which can be seen from the street.  We will be in the amphitheater in the back, past the playground and garden boxes. 

Open Networking Meeting on Open Accessible Space Information System (OASIS) and Community Mapping Efforts
 
For March, our monthly meeting will include a tour of the important OASIS system of maps by Steven Romalewski, Director, CUNY Mapping Service at CUNY Graduate Center, with a special focus on the recently updated community gardens layer completed by FSNYC's Mara Gittleman, a Compton Fellow working at CENYC. 

On OASIS: "The Open Accessible Space Information System (OASIS) website provides the richest source of community maps for New York City -- free and all in one place. It helps nonprofits, community groups, educators, students, public agencies, and local businesses develop a better understanding of their environment with interactive maps of open spaces, property information, transportation networks, and more."

Additionally, Kimberly Libman, a PhD candidate in Environmental Psychology at CUNY Graduate Center will demonstrate her work – which includes community/youth participation in field work and geocoding.  Her current research "Eating the City" looks at how people perceive, navigate and use urban food environments. She also coordinates a collaboration between CUNY and London Metropolitain University that examines how global cities respond to childhood obesity. She has taught at Hunter College and currently teaches at the New School.
 
DATE: Tuesday, March 9, 2010
TIME: 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Fund for the City of New York, 121 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor.
 

Please join us on Friday, February 12th, for a focus on the community food system  in Bed-Stuy from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm at St. John's Bread and Life, 795 Lexington Ave., Brooklyn.  We will begin with a tour led by Yemi Oyename, Director of Food Services for St. John's, followed at 1pm by a panel discussion on the multiple strategies, organizations, and individuals in Bed-Stuy working on local issues and programs.   The panel will include Yonette Fleming, Vice President of the Hattie Carthan Garden; Rev. Robert Jackson, Co-founder of the Brooklyn Rescue Mission; Melissa Danielle, Core Organizer of the Bed-Stuy Farm Share; and Sabrina Baronberg, Deputy Director of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Where?: St. John's Bread and Life, 795 Lexington Ave., Brooklyn, NY

When?: 12:30-2:00, Friday, February 12th

Directions:

NYC Watershed: Ag Economic Development Update

The NYC Watershed provides a unique opportunity for NYC to demonstrate its interest in its local food system - as the region is also a “foodshed” where the City has for years played a constructive role in supporting sustainable agriculture while protecting the NYC water supply.  While the environmental health risks of drilling for natural gas in the Watershed have been a focus of concern by City officials, the region’s economic and agricultural trends - and Watershed farmers’ challenges in expanding production of healthy, affordable food for City residents – deserve the attention of FSNYC members and sustainable food system advocates.  Please join us for a timely discussion on agriculture in the NYC Watershed and NYC’s current activities in agricultural economic development with FSNYCs Challey Comer, Farm to Market Manager, Watershed Agricultural Council; Larry Beckhardt, Deputy Chief, Long Term Planning, NYC Department of Environmental Protection; and Richard Giles  of  Lucky Dog Farm, Hamden NY, which supplies stores and restaurants in NYC with a diversity of local produce.

Where: The Fund for the City of New York, 121 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor

When: 12:30--2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 12th

Food Systems Network NYC will be holding a panel to celebrate the tomato and explore the tomato blight crisis and the impact on local farming. Farmers who grow tomatoes will talk about their tomato crops or losses due to late blight. A local agriculture expert and others will also contribute their views at this forum, the Network’s first evening program.  It will take place Thursday, September  24, 2009 at the Ethical Culture Society, 53 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, in the Library, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.  There will even be a few local tomatoes to sample, if available.     Suggested donation: $7. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Please let us know you are coming, as seating is limited. 

RSVP: 646-233-3058 or kristin@foodsystemsnyc.org.  

Innovations in Healthy Food Prep -
Nutrition Education, Foodservice, and Teen Catering

Join FSNYC members Tues, August 11th at the offices of the NYC Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene. We'll begin the program with the introduction of new Americorps VISTA member Kristin Pederson, and farewell to member Jane Shuput! Additional announcements include FSNYC's open search for a chairperson, and the implementation phase of our completed Strategic Plan. Come catch up!

Next Cathy Nonas, Director of Physical Activity & Nutrition Programs, NYCDOHMH, will lead the discussion about nutrition education and healthy food preparation with a presentation by Stefania Patinella, Children's Aid Society. Stefania will discuss her experiences building successful and innovative nutrition education, foodservice, and teen catering programs from the ground up. Larger discussion will include best practices and recent changes to the Child & Adult Care Food Program.