Shriners Hospital Farmers' Market

From left to right: Denis Zenchenko, Natanel Velez, Ruby Maddox

     

     Ahhh, it's that time of year again, when we don our bright orange GtC shirts, load the produce trailer, and bike our way across several miles of the rugged streets of Springfield, to sell at the Shriners Hospital Farmers' Market! As always, Shriners Hospital is very generous and supportive of our market, purchasing fresh, organic veggies, providing us with tables, chairs, and other needed accessories, and encouraging us in our difficult yet important mission. Two trips have been made already, four people per trip, and both have been extremely fun. Jacob and I(Denis), attend and will be attending every week, with two other members of the staff or youth. I have pulled the produce trailer both times, there and back, for the first time in my three years of working at Gardening the Community.

Thursday mornings are full of work, as we spend the morning harvesting and preparing for the trip. Harvest includes anything from assorted flowers, red potatoes, waxed beans, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli, to squash, green beans, and fresh herbs. At about 10:30, we saddle up on our bikes and head off to Shriners, arriving at about 11 o'clock. After a few minutes of set-up, nurses, patients, and locals swarm our table during the lunchtime rush. After things settle down, we eat our lunch, provided by the ever hospitable Shriners Hospital. At about 1:30, we pack up our stuff and bike back to the garden, where equipment is put away and people go home. This is the general procedure of our Thursdays at GtC, but, as expected, there is something different, every time we go.

      The first Thursday that we went, we had a decent amount of produce left over. Things were slow and we ended up taking a lot of veggies home for ourselves. But during the second trip, we nearly sold out of everything. Students from Zanetti Montessori School stopped by to learn about a few of our organic veggies and to purchase a healthy snack. Nurses come out and showered us with complements about how beautiful our flowers are and how low our prices are. At about 1:30, we packed our trailer and biked back to the garden. The few veggies that were left over were divided up, and the four of us went home, feeling accomplished and satisfied with our work. Per usual, the earnings from the market were saved and recycled back into the program. Yet another successful market at Shriners Hospital.

Urban Agriculture in Accra, Ghana

As many of you are aware I recently took a trip to Ghana to explore the Urban Agriculture scene in the city of Accra. Accra is the capital of Ghana and many areas are densely populated. Urban Agriculture accounts for more than half of the food produced and consumed in Accra.
My interest in Urban Agriculture had led me to a group known as RUAF. When I found out about the work they were doing in Accra, I signed on with Amizade, a volunteer organization who set me up with a host family and placed me with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. During my stay I accompanied their officers to various urban agriculture sites around the city. I was able to speak with several farmers and volunteer with them.

The goal of my trip was to observe not only urban agriculture but to examine how local governments interacted with urban growers. A few years back GtC struggled to hold on to land being put up for auction by the city of Springfield. So I wanted to learn how local governments could work more effectively with community groups like ours.

But land insecurity is not a new issue for urban growers. As I mentioned in an earlier post, urban land in most areas, is currently not zoned for agricultural purposes. Urban growers either find themselves on the fringes or altogether blocked out. Access to land and land security are important issues in the development of urban agriculture. Increased policy support for urban farms and gardens could lead to increased ecological urban design as cities are designed with zoning for green and "growing" spaces.

Many of the farmers in Accra faced not only land insecurity but issues in accessing safe water for irrigation. With the help of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly-Ministry of Food and Agriculture and many others, these farmers were learning how to organize, advocate, and increase their efforts.
My trip to Ghana allowed me to witness all of these things coming together and experience what it meant to build a movement and create change.

GROWING POWER - Will Allen

Will Allen is one of my all time heroes. To me, he's the Godfather of Urban Agriculture.


Read my Will Allen article for NOFA/Mass

Will Allen and me at the NOFA Conference last year!! (Couldn't help sharing this:)

Meet GtC Jr. Staff: Denis Zenchenko!

How long have you been with GtC?
I have been with GtC for a total of two years, working on my third year this spring and summer. My first year I was a student, and this year and the last I have been working as a Junior Staff.

Why do you keep coming back each year?
I keep coming back to GtC for several reasons. The greatest reason is the amount of knowledge I gain from GtC. I love knowing how to work the soil with my own hands. I love being able to distinguish a weed from a plant and being able to care for the plants; whether diseased or simply in need of some water. There is so much to learn about planting and gardening that even after two years of being part of the program, I still have much to learn. I also enjoy biking to and from work and exercising while I'm at work, doing physical labor.

How has being a part of GtC affected other areas of your life?

GtC has helped me in many areas of my life. I can and do bring mt knowledge of gardening to my mom's home garden, as well as others. I have built relationships with fellow workers and students, expanding my social life as well. I also spend more time outside working and biking, as well as earning a bit of cash, which is necessary these days.

What other activities do you particpate in? I include myself in all sorts of activities, mainly associated to my school, PVCS. This past school year, I played varsity soccer and jv basketball for the school teams. I also sang and still do sing in the school choir for concerts. I have played a lead role in the Christmas Concert, and am currently playing a minor role in the school Spring Play. I also do community service, which is required for school, along with attending church on Sundays and Youth Group on Tuesdays. All of these extra activities are done on top of maintaining first honors at school.

What would you like to do in the future?
I am currently unaware of what I really want to do in the future. I have given thought to going into business or enlisting into the Marine Corp. Those are just some ideas, and honestly, time will tell.

What's fun fact about you that you would like to share?I love life, because I love God. I love to work hard and then sit back and see the fruits of my labor, literally. And I love to love.

Community Volunteer Day at GtC This Saturday!!

Missed Our Last Volunteer Day?!

SATURDAY MAY1st
9:30am-12:30pm
256 Hanock St.

Join us this weekend in honor of Keep Springfield Beautiful!

We'll be digging and planting and getting ready for the season.
Come join us and learn more about how you can be a part of Gardening the Community!!

Urban Agriculture in Accra, Ghana

In June I will be going to Ghana, to explore urban agriculture in the city of Accra. Urban agriculure is a multi-pronged approach to communiy development and food security. While it may not be the complete answer, it is a definite step in the right direction and a entry point in galvanizing community support and empowerment.
This video talks about some of those Urban Agriculture efforts happening in Accra.

New Director for GtC!!

Introducing Ibrahim Ali, Our New Director!!

Ibrahim Ali (M.Ed) is the new Director of the Gardening the Community (GTC) program. Ibrahim's role includes working with the incoming youth for the growing season, establishing community relations with groups and educators to foster community gardening, and utilizing methods to enhance programming in general. He is a recent Masters degree recipient in Education from Lesley University (Cambridge), and has created and organized youth groups throughout New York City, Springfield, MA and Northampton, MA.

Ibrahim is also heavily involved in Hiphop culture, and has lectured (Hampshire, Greenfield Community College) on his 15+ years in this field. Additionally he has created an organization (Western New England Hip Hop) that spans from Burlington, VT to New Haven CT and is currently developing curriculum that will have artists teaching and lecturing in various schools and community groups throughout Western New England area.

1. How does it feel to be the new Director of GtC?
Aside from the fact that I am humbled to part of such an important city organization, I am quite eager to get started and grow some food!

2. What made you decide to join GtC

My interest in working with youth has been a 10+ year odyssey taking me from Brownsville- Brooklyn, NY to Northampton, MA (and stops in between). GtC presented with with an opportunity to work with youth in a different capacity, encourage healthy and sustainable living, and ride a bike again!

3. How do you see community gardens impacting the City of Springfield?

At the first meeting I attended (which was a collection of a handful of community organizations and churches), I was surprised to see the number of groups that were interested or had already started community gardens. Food is not an infinite resource, and the sooner we incorporate this type of independence with our food locally, perhaps we will will make those most vulnerable to poor nutrition or unhealthy food choices more empowered in what they eat. Organic/healthy foods should not be synonymous with only wealthy individuals and families.

4. What do you like to do for fun?

I run various other music related enterprises, but the most fun is when I'm with my sons, family, and friends.

5. What your favorite vegetable?

So many! Broccoli, spinach, green beans, peppers (red, green, orange, green), squash, brussel sprouts, dark leaf lettuce, onions, egg plant, carrots, etc.