NEWSLETTER

Go Green! What is it?

This years Go Green! class is filled with nearly 30 enthusiastic teens and two new teachers; Tanzania Roach, the Youth Coordinator & School Liaison and Ms. Fidel, an HSPS math teacher. Go Green! is an elective class open to all grade levels. The class teaches the importance of food and nutrition through learning about sustainable farming practices. By working on the farm, we explore growing and producing affordable fresh produce and food for a healthier community. Through practical farm experience and academic workshops, students learn how the decision of what we eat also affects the health and future of our planet (and ourselves). This year, we will delve into such fascinating topics as: Agriculture (Growing and Producing food) Nutrition and Health Local vs. Industrial Food Systems Food and Culture Media Awareness Food Justice Sustainability and Environmental Awareness Cooking and Community Meals And much more! Weve wasted no time exploring the farm! Since the start of the new school year, weve been enjoying the warm weather by going to the farm nearly every day. At this time of year, theres so much to explore as the season begins to change and the growing season winds down. So far, weve learned about the importance of soil health, soil moisture and efficient irrigation techniques. We harvested cherry tomatoes and recorded observations about the differences between tomatoes left on the vine too long and those picked at peak ripeness. While many students wanted to taste our bountiful tomatoes, we discussed that though our soil is safe for growing and eating, the DOE has to give us a contract before our students can enjoy the bounty grown on their farm. While we await the contract from the DOE to continue eating & selling our delicious produce, weve turned lemons into lemonade by incorporating the groundbreaking soil safety standard decision into our Go Green! curriculum. Weve discussed this historic moment in school garden history and what it will mean for the New York City schools (and possibly beyond.) A few of our more spirited, pride-filled students wanted to know whether the new soil-standards law would be named after their school! Fieldtrips, Collaborations & Projects This class consists of many out of class activities and trips. We will visit farms, food production sites, and work with many special guests. Weve already had a great day with corps members from Green City Force. Our students engaged in rousing discussions with young adults whove decided to pursue careers and education in the Green Economy, Social Justice and Environmental Sustainability. For most of our Go Green! students, this was an eye opening experience into the vast world and potential opportunities in Going Green. Many of our students have a deep family history in farming, whether in the United States or in other countries. Because of these traditions and knowledge from families whove either farmed extensively or lived very closely with the land, our curriculum is enriched and our students share their own experiences with farming at home. Theres nothing quite like seeing students make connections between what they already know and what Go Green! offers. As we move into October, we look forward to continuing our exploration into our farm and beyond and invite our community members to contact us about visiting our class or sharing other resources in our community!

THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR PUBLIC SERVICE YOUTH FARM

Farm News and Notes

Community Volunteer Day and Workshop THIS SATURDAY, October 6th! Volunteer Day: 10 am 2 pm. Please bring a healthy lunch, a water bottle, and work clothes. No open toed shoes or sandals. Youth under the age of 13 must be supervised by an adult. Workshop: Preparing Your Garden for Winter 2 pm 3:30 pm. Learn to prepare your beds in the fall using minimal cultivation and compost, and discover how to enrich your soil for the next season with cover crops.

Week 1 June 20, 2012 www.hspsfarm.blogspot.com October 1, 2012 www.hspsfarm.blogspot.com

Get ready for FARMIVAL!

Stay tuned for updates on our fall harvest festival FARMIVAL. If its anything like last year, there will be hay rides, chickens, face painting And lots of other fun activities.

Flower of the week: Ruby Silk

Ruby Silk, also known as Eragrostis Tef, is an annual grass, a species of lovegrass native to the northern Ethiopian Highlands of Northeast Africa. As Ruby Silk drapes over the farm it gives a sense of elegance next to the Celosia and other greens around. This ornamental grass is great for containers or for use as a cut in bouquets. Rich burgundy seed heads drape over compact clumps of upright grass. Ruby Silk is great for your Fall bouquets because of their long bloom time. It is said that if you receive a bouquet of Ruby Silk Lovegrass youd fall in love. The romance is in the gracefully curving lines of this feathery grass, with spray of iridescent burgundy seed heads. If your love life has been a little lacking of late, maybe Ruby Silk is just the charm it needs to be everlasting.

Featured Recipe: Squash Soup

Winter squash is one reason to look forward to cooler weather. Try this creamy soup on a cold day! 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 1 tsp salt, plus more to taste 1 Tbsp ginger, peeled and minced 1 cinnamon stick 3 cloves garlic, peeled 6 sage leaves cup apple cider 3 lbs winter squash, peeled seeded and chopped cup peeled sliced carrots 4 cups water or stock Black pepper to taste In a heavy 3-qt saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and 1 tsp of salt, cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the ginger, cinnamon, garlic and sage and continue cooking for another 5 minutes. Stir in the apple cider and bring to a boil. Add the squash, carrots and water or stock. Bring to a boil then lower the heat, cover and cook for 20 minutes until squash is tender. Remove cinnamon stick, allow to cool, then blend in a blender or food processor until creamy (or use an immersion blender). Add black pepper and additional cider to taste. Serve piping hot.

Week 1 June 20, 2012 www.hspsfarm.blogspot.com

Week 9 August 12, 2012 www.hspsfarm.blogspot.com