Ashé Urban Farm

Gilbert working on the walkway

2010-06-15T13:22:00.000-04:00

Chante weeding

2010-06-15T13:21:00.000-04:00

Working on a plan to attack the weeds

2010-06-15T13:20:00.002-04:00

Weeding the herbs

2010-06-15T13:20:00.001-04:00

Update

2010-06-09T13:37:00.001-04:00

Although, our work with the 21st Century Community Learning Centers ended a year ago; some of the students who were involved with farm wanted to continue growing flowers in their plot at the People's Garden.

Ashe Urban Farm open June 27,2009

2009-08-21T15:16:00.003-04:00

Ashe Urban Farm goes to Taliaferro Farms

2009-08-19T15:42:00.002-04:00

Rob, Robert, Rebecca, Andrea, Tinsha, and Our protector

Andrea holding freshly cut flower
from Taliaferro Farms

In the News

2009-08-19T14:40:00.001-04:00

Que Pasa: Student-run farm holds grand opening
var isoPubDate = 'July 01, 2009'
July 01, 2009 6:00 AM by Carmen Ramos
NEWBURGH — The anticipated grand opening of Ashe Urban Farm, the only youth-run farm in Orange County, was held Sunday in the People's Garden on Gidney Avenue.
Funded by the 21st Century After School Program, the project began inside the classroom in March and involved students attending Newburgh Free Academy at the time.
The students learned different types of food production and food sources, then voted on what vegetables to plant, and the work began on a 680-square-foot piece of land in the garden.
The task was labor-intensive, as students tilled the soil by hand, sparing the use of machines in the cultivation process, but the planting of vegetables such as squash, onions, tomatoes and a variety of beans has been rewarding.
The group of teens worked two to three days per week, as early or as late as they could in an effort to avoid the warmest weather, said Tinisha Greene, a junior at Newburgh Free Academy. On rainy days, work on the farm halted and the students furthered their research of the crop and the process in the Mount Saint Mary College computer lab.
"I thought it was boring at first," said Robert Colon, who graduated from Newburgh Free Academy this year. "(But) when you do it, it changes your mentality."
In more ways than one.
When 26-year-old Decora Sandiford spearheaded the project, he hoped to open the students' minds to different, healthier and cost-effective ways of making food.
But for Colon and others in the group, the project also meant taking a piece of land in a place considered not so good and reaping all the positive results they could out of it.
"Newburgh's got a bad reputation," said Robert Tompkins, a sophomore at Newburgh Free Academy. "We're trying to show people we can make it a better place."
"Who knows what I'd be doing if I wasn't doing this," said Colon, who grew up hanging out in the street, exposed to crime. "(Instead,) we come out here on hot days and work."
Some of the students had no previous knowledge of farming. Colon's basic gardening skills were limited to caring for his mother's house plants, his gardening supplies limited to Miracle Gro.
The students learned the basics from their mentor, Sandiford, who learned farming in his midteens while living with his grandmother in Caguas, Puerto Rico, for two years.
A recent trip to Taliaferro Farms in New Paltz taught the group an innovative way to deal with weeds while farming and gave them a taste of what to expect from their crop when harvest season arrives.
"They know where it came from. They know who grew it. They get a sense of pride," said Sandiford, who looks forward to holding a harvest festival at the end of the month.

¡Vamos!
Independence Day concert — Railroad on the Green, Railroad Avenue, Warwick, 7:30-10 p.m. July 4, featuring Luisito Rosario and his 12-piece orchestra. Free. Call 987-4207.
14th annual Latin American Festival — Riverfront Park, next to Beacon Metro-North railroad station, Beacon, noon-7 p.m. July 12, featuring cultural food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, activities for children, and performances by Conjunto Imagen, Roby Rivera Orchestra and Sonando. Admission and parking are free, but donations are welcome for the Latino High School Scholarship Program. Bring your beach chairs. Call 206-5197 or visit www.rmpromotions.net.
Seventh annual Kingston Latin Fest — T.R. Gallo Riverfront Park, next to Mariner's Harbor Restaurant, noon-8 p.m. July 19, featuring performances by Charansalsa, Grupo Taineri, and La Excelencia, cultural food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, and activities for children. Free admission and parking. Call 206-5197 or visit www.rmpromotions.net.
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2009-08-18T21:58:00.004-04:00

2009-08-18T21:52:00.000-04:00

2009-08-18T21:48:00.000-04:00

2009-08-18T21:43:00.000-04:00

2009-08-18T21:41:00.000-04:00

Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T17:08:00.009-04:00

R.I.P. Michael Jackson 1958-2009

You've inspired us in many ways with your music and your strength through all the hard times. Your music inspired us in the garden by pushing us to make life out of everything. If we had the chance to meet you we would tell you how inspirational his music was and of course ask how to do the moon walk. We're going to miss you!

2009-06-19T14:01:00.001-04:00

ALERT: DUE TO PENDING WEATHER FORECAST OF RAIN FOR THIS SUNDAY. THE OPENING WILL BE HELD SUNDAY JUNE 28,2009

To the City!

2009-06-18T19:38:00.003-04:00

[Vikki and Aaron goofing off on a hot summer day!]

[Vikki, Ashley, and Jelly glamorously waiting for the train.]

[The beautiful scenery to NYC!]

[Everette's model shot on the train to New York]

[Rob, Steven, and John preparing for the wonderful day ahead!]
[and whos that in the background?!]

[Andrea, Tinisha, and Jalen caught a little off gaurd on the train]

[Decora writing in his poetry book on the ride to NYC]

[Kim keeping a watchful eye.]

[Learning a new lesson from "More Gardens" in the South Bronx]

[Enjoying the Urban Garden in South Bronx]

[South Bronx garden in between highways and on top of the subway]

[Meet another Urban Farmer]

[The movable garden beds in the South Bronx Urban Farm]

[Walking the streets of South Bronx to another Urban Farm]

[Boarding the subway!]

[Wendy and Steven chatting on the subway home.]

[The twins walking to meet the Clear water group]

2009-06-18T19:15:00.004-04:00

[On their way to get tools, they have to stop and pose.]

[The very first day the Ashe Urban Farmers walked to the garden.]

[Jalen and Andrea creating a path way]

[Drea on the swing with everyone laughing at her, nearly hitting the tree-side.]

[Gathering together after a long day]

[In Peekskill at the train station!]

[Another pic of us on our trip to Peekskill]

2009-06-18T18:43:00.006-04:00

What We Grow

Tomatoes

Sugar Baby

Spagetti Squash

Pole Beans

Okra

Kidney Beans

Jalapeno Pepper

Black Beans

2009-06-11T13:26:00.001-04:00

2009-06-09T16:23:00.001-04:00

Our Goals.....

2009-06-09T15:49:00.003-04:00

Think Outside The Box

1- Give the youth a voice

2- Empower the community through organic farming

3- Reduce, Re-use, Recycle

4-Educate our community

5-Provide entertainment to the community

6- Keep the garden self-sustained

7- Peaceful environment

8- Grow 200 pounds of food

9- Beautify our community

10- Have FUN!!!

2009-06-08T17:02:00.003-04:00

2009-06-08T16:56:00.004-04:00

2009-06-08T16:50:00.004-04:00

Open Letter To The Public

2009-06-02T17:28:00.013-04:00

June 2, 2009
To Whom It May Concern:
We are Ashe Urban Farm, the only youth run farm in Orange County, New York. We came together because of an afterschool program at Newburgh Free Academy. We are located in Newburgh, which according to the U.S. Census Bureau, is the 4th poorest city in New York State, but the way we look at it, we are the richest. Fighting against all stereotypes, we are enriching ourselves with knowledge, diverse skills, and striving for success. Through urban farming, we learn how to be responsible and work together to become independent leaders. The City of Newburgh has been facing an over abundance of tragedy. In the short time that we’ve written this letter, we can think of at least of 4 incidents in where our peers have been shot, killed, or have been participated in these acts. Through these unfortunate tragedies, we found a way to make a difference in our community. We have been studying the art of farming and have already learned so much. Not only has farming been able to benefit our local neighborhoods, but also teaches us the importance of responsibility, patience, service to others, and most importantly-teamwork. The median age of our group is 16, most of us went from never having knowledge of what an urban farm is, to running our own. We’ve spent much of our time exploring, learning, and farming different types of fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, squash, beans, peas, chamomile, peppers, pumpkin, and okra. We have six beds of organic food growing, with a stage, seating area for 20 and a peach tree. We plan to grow 200lbs of food for families in the community and the rest of it we’re going to sell and the money we receive will go to making improvements on the farm. Everything we’re doing has been done in a 600sq ft space with 18 afterschool students and a DREAM! In the future our intensions are to feed more families with a larger space of our own but in the meantime we would like to invite you to our Urban Farm Opening on June 21, 2009 on Gidney Ave between Dubois St and N. Miller at 6pm to 8pm. The rain date is Sunday June 28,2009. We would appreciate it if you came to meet us and see what we’ve accomplished.
Sincerely,
Aaron Scott, Andrea Baynes, Angelica, Victoria & John Scialpi, Ryan O’Rourke, Jalen Bartee, Wendy Garcia, Tinisha Green, Yvette Ramirez, Robert Colon, Rob Tompkins, Steven Florie, Andrea Nevling, Ashley Sarvis, Rebecca Sander-Eachus, Everette Byrd, Calea Daniels,

Decora Program Director & Founder of Urban Farmers League
Kim Bersin Program Co-Director
Emmanual Wells On-Line Creative Director
Steven Bellamy On-Line Creative Co-Director

Made possible by Newburgh Rising (City of Newburgh 21st Century After school Programs)

Picture Me Rollin!

2009-06-02T16:18:00.004-04:00

[John planting beans]

[Wendy & Rebecca plotting]

[Spud]

[Victoria]

[Aaron and Everette tilling]

[Aaron "Bam check me out!"]

[Ryan looking all mysterious]

[Her hair blowing in the wing covering Aarons knees]

[A couple of us planting early Sunday morning]

[A reflection of a good cause that will hopefully bring change]

[Robert and John Planting]

[Whos in that tree!?... Oh its Aaron!]

[Tilling, planting, and turning over the soil]

[Showing them how Arugala grows]

[Pay attention everybody!]

[Ashley looking all confused =]

[Wendy looking proud]

[Just a quick lesson]

[Jalen, Andrea, and the funny looking scarecrow that doesn't look scary]

About Ashé Urban Farm

2009-05-29T16:18:00.006-04:00

“ASHE URBAN FARM IS A YOUTH ORGANIZED URBAN FARM, CREATING A PEACEFUL AND SERINE ENVIRONMENT. WE PRODUCE A DIVERSE RANGE OF ORGANIC FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT ARE HEALTHY AND FRESH.WE ARE A SELF SUSTAINED ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES GREAT EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND EACH OTHER.”