GYO Projects: March 19th-24th, 2013

This has been a very exciting week for NY2NO! We mainly focused on the planning and execution of our newly created Backyard Farm. On Tuesday, the Backyard Farm Resource Committee met and helped plan out this season's harvest.

Vera, Em, Danielle G, Sana, Pablo, and Greg researching plants that grow well together in the New York spring climate.

On Saturday, some GYO participants attended the 29th Annual Green Thumb GrowTogether Event. We attended workshops on pest management, trellising, permaculture, grant writing, and many other skills necessary to the success of our backyard farm!

 Danielle G. searching through the pile of free seeds for insect repelling flowers.

 Sana, Jenny, Danielle R., and Em showing off their free t-shirts, workshop materials, and sandwiches!

Em and Mila and their water bottle hydroponic systems! 

After the event, a bunch of us headed back to Brooklyn to work on the farm. 

Some of our seeds!  

NY2NOers placing the beds in the ground above the weed-block  

Jenny and Danielle R. posin' with the beds!

Lastly, Danielle R., Danielle G., and Em met with Steve Pampinella today in order to discuss GYO/99Rise's involvement with NY's Fair Elections. There will be a training to learn more on April 27th, 2013 and a direct action shortly after! Check out our blog for more information on NY2NO's current projects and future aspirations!

-Em Hirsch

GYO and our new farm!

Hey y'all, the last time you heard from us we were on our February Brigade in New Orleans. Don't worry though, now that we're back in NYC we're still working. Today was our first Growing Youth Organizers (GYO) meeting since our trip. The purpose of GYO is to create a safe space for us to meet and discuss our goals and projects. Basically, we are bringing back what we learned in New Orleans and applying it to our own community in New York.

Our latest project is our new GYO backyard farm being built at Danielle Gamady's house. This farm is the embodiment of youth empowerment, growth and learning. As we take on the responsibility of running our own small-scale farm, we are learning how to become self-sufficient leaders and creating a productive outlet from everyday distractions.

Thanks to the peeps, Sean and Jesse, at Home Depot for the lumber

starting to build beds for our soon to be growing plants 

gettin' work done with the hammer.

Are you excited? 'Cause Haley is!

We triumph the success of our first few days working on our farm!

Wish us luck!

-Alicia Russo

February Trip 2013- Day 2

February Trip 2013- Day 2

Workin' hard or hardly working? Guess!

Where else are a bunch of New York City teens learning about farming by getting our hands dirty? That's not all we've learnt today- thanks to Turner we can safely say we know about the plethora of injustices and the stagnant local economy pre and post Katrina- and how Our School at Blair Grocery is working for and within it. Excitedly tired- the oxymoron to describe most of us reflecting while showering the dirt off our shoulders ;)

Vasco bonding with ShiShi, our beloved goat.

American Gothic Meets Hercules

 View of Bayou Swamp- Used to be thriving with fish and people

 Classroom in Front of Previously-Cracked Levee

Classroom on the Steps in Front of Bayou Swamp

- Danielle Gamady 

February Trip 2013- Day 1

February Trip 2013- Day 1

Today took a tour and learned about the history of OSBG. We picked clovers filled with nitrogen to spread over dead soil in order to replenish it with nutrients. We also picked blighted citrus leaves! It was a super productive day here at OSBG!

Sam explaining the history of OSBG and NY2NO to the rest of the group.

Fanny and Francesca pick clovers to cover the dry soil!

Armen wheel barreling some branches.

February Trip Workshops

This past week our brigade has worked on multiple workshops to talk about and find solutions to social injustices.

Everyone was asked to write the issues that the Lower Ninth Ward is facing.

 These are the issues that we came up with and lines were drawn to connect them all together.

Sitting at the table discussing the problems as a group!

February Trip 2012- Day 1

February Trip 2012 Day 1 Highlights

 We started our morning with daily chores on the farm!

 Watering bone marrow mix to help the soil!

 Going on a tour of the farm with Jamie!

 Inside the greenhouse looking at sprouts and other vegetables that OSBG sells.

Food Justice Summer 2011

This summer NY2NO has been hosting service learning brigades to New Orleans. Students engage in transformative workshops, participate in farm work, and take part in community building to obtain a critical analysis of the issues that exist in New Orleans, New York, and globally, and effective ways of combating them as youth. Below are some highlights:

Participants take in the Levee Tour as they approach the Levee along the Industrial Canal

A student reflects on the lack of development in the Lower 9th Ward

Our School at Blair Grocery (www.osbgnola.org) staff members Nathanael and Andrew make silk-screened t-shirts with a special logo for the students of their JOB1 summer program and the New York volunteers

The web created after our Food Justice workshop that defines the many issues that growing food can combat

A student selling OSBG produce at the Farmer's Market in St. Bernard's Parish

NY2NO, OSBG and SBU (www.sistasandbrothasunited.org) students cook together to make dinner.