bee's Page

It has been an amazing year! Last spring I left my job as Farm and Nutrition Coordinator for Phipps CDC in the Bronx, in order to go back to school. Well, go back to the farm! For 6 months I lived, worked and studied at the Farm at the University of California Santa Cruz. The program, a 6 month apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture, was intense and rewarding. In addition to honing my horticulture skills, I took a step back from my life to really think about what I want to do next.

While in Santa Cruz I started to put together an idea to create a new model of urban farming. I have loved my work over the last 5 years, but have never felt like my work was creating lasting social change, or could be sustainable for me in the long term. Though I see the food movement picking up steam, and urban agriculture and local foods are increasingly creating social buzz, I feel like we are still not getting far enough. I am a dreamer, and optimist, and I really believe we can create sustainable cities and sustainable food systems. In order to do that, we need to increase the amount of food we grow in the city, provide a stronger connection to our food and increase opportunities for people to work in the field. And of course, I want to spend my day to day life doing something I love- growing food and interacting with the people who it will nourish.

All this is to say that I am embarking on a new project! I am working to create a network of urban farmers and farm sites around Brooklyn. My goal is to figure out how to make urban farming a financially and socially sustainable venture, providing healthy food at affordable prices to those who need it most. Working with other amazing farmers, under the banner of BK Farmyards, we are piloting our model this year, working as farmers, educators and consultants. By connecting resources: underutilized land, farmers who need work, consumers who want healthy produce, along with schools, gardens, developers and amazing organizations, we can decrease the cost of starting new farms, and increase our opportunities for work.

Our biggest project this year is to create a new farm at the High
School for Public Service in Crown Heights. The school has over an acre of land, and a student body that is excited to dig in. We will start with transforming 1/4 acre this spring, creating a school garden and a CSA farm, with classroom curriculum and youth programs. The CSA will provide healthy and affordable food to the school community, accepting food stamps and work trades. We're hoping the farm will be financially sustainable in 3 years, but we need capital to get the ball moving, to support a professional staff in planning, implementing programs to create the farm. We have been applying for lots of grants,and are planning some fun fundraisers (I'll keep you posted!).

We have just launched a Kickstarter campaign; please consider donating!. Your financial support will help us to plan educational programs and provide food to low income residents of Crown Heights. If you can't donate any money, please consider helping with one of your talents! (Can you make a movie, plan an event, help with bookkeeping, write, draw, or more?)

I am asking for your support, because I know I can't do this without the community of people I love and depend on.

Here are some ideas of ways you can help:

* Donate money to help start the project
* Donate gardening supplies
* Donate your time
* Help plan a fundraiser
* Volunteer at one of the sites
* Planning & professional services are great!
* Donate money to help start the project
* Tell other people about what I'm doing- can you write about our project on your blog, twitter etc.
* Send your friends an email about BK Farmyards
* Be our friend virtually (facebook)
* Purchase and eat my produce, eggs or honey. Nothing makes me happier!
* Support me when im feeling overwhelmed, with friendship and understanding


Please pass this along, any support small or large helps!
Happy Holidays and Longer Days!

Love,
Elizabeth Ayer


Background of High School for Public Service:
Due to a visionary principal, this school has gone from a 25%
graduation rate to a 98% graduation rate and has received an award the
last 3 years in a row as one of the top 100 high schools in the
nation. The students are required to spend 200 hours volunteering in
their community before graduation, but the average student spends 500
hours! They have spent their time fighting guns and violence in the
neighborhood, and now they are focusing on health and nutrition.
We are honored to be working with them.