Newburgh Urban Farm and Food

12/23/2024

🌟 Every act of kindness makes a difference! 💖 Join us in creating a wave of change 🌊 by donating to NUFFI today. Your contribution can light up someone’s world and help feed someone in the City of Newburgh🌍✨

https://checkout.square.site/buy/PQE4O6WQUPHAEHHVGVWUCCLL

12/20/2024

Thank you, Newburgh, for an amazing year! 🌱 Together, we’ve grown food and grown change. Let’s keep building a stronger community in the year ahead. To learn more about what we do, visit www.NUFFI.ORG

12/17/2024

Did you know that a significant portion of the food we toss could be given a second life?

Let’s transform our food scraps and reduce waste:

Veggie Broth: Keep a container in the freezer for veggie peels, stems, and bits. Once full, boil them in water for a tasty homemade broth.

Citrus Cleaner: Steep citrus peels in white vinegar for a few weeks. Strain & mix with equal parts water for a natural cleaner.

Regrow Veggies: Green onions, lettuce, and celery bases can sprout new greens. Just place them in water using a jar or container.

Compost It: If you can’t reuse it, compost it! This turns your scraps into rich soil.

Natural Dye: Beet peels, onion skins, and more can be boiled to make natural fabric dyes.

Eggshell Fertilizer: Crushed eggshells can be sprinkled in the garden to add calcium to the soil.

https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep-food-safe/foodkeeper-app

The FoodKeeper helps you understand food and beverages storage. It will help you maximize the freshness and quality of items. By doing so you will be able to keep items fresh longer than if they were not stored properly. It was developed by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, with Cornell University and the Food Marketing Institute.

12/12/2024

Plan on donating to a local food pantry this season?

Here are some tips on making it easier for volunteers and food pantries to help feed our community:

Check Their Needs: Before donating, reach out to the food pantry or visit their website to understand their specific requirements. They often have lists of most-needed items or restrictions on what they can accept.

Donate Non-Perishables: Focus on non-perishable items with a longer shelf life such as canned goods (vegetables, fruits, soups), pasta, rice, beans, peanut butter, and cereal.

Check Expiration Dates: Ensure the items you're donating have not expired and have a reasonable amount of time left before they do.

Bulk Purchases: Buying in bulk and donating larger quantities can be incredibly helpful for food pantries, especially during high-demand periods.

Fresh Produce: Some food pantries accept fresh produce, but it's best to confirm this beforehand. If accepted, donate items in good condition and avoid perishables that may spoil quickly.

Organize a Food Drive: Consider organizing a food drive in your community or workplace to collect donations collectively.

12/11/2024

What is Food Secure or Food Security?

Food security means that everyone has access to enough good quality food to live a healthy life. It's about making sure that people can always get the food they need, that it's safe to eat, and that it matches their dietary needs and personal tastes.

This concept includes a few key points:
Enough Food: There should always be plenty of food available.

Getting to the Food: People should be able to buy or obtain the food easily.

Affording the Food: The food should be affordable so people can buy enough without struggling financially.

Right Kind of Food: The food should be nutritious and suitable for different diets and preferences.

Consistency: This access to food should be stable, not just a one-time thing or occasionally available.

In simple terms, food security is about making sure no one goes hungry and everyone has access to the kind of food that keeps them healthy.

12/10/2024

Finding resources for free food in Newburgh, NY, involves a combination of community engagement, utilizing online platforms, and reaching out to local organizations dedicated to food assistance.

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you in this process:

Local Food Banks and Pantries: Start by finding your local food banks and pantries in Newburgh.

Community Centers and Churches: Many community centers and churches in Newburgh offer food assistance programs. Visiting these centers or their websites can provide information about food distribution events or soup kitchens.

Government Assistance Programs: Check for eligibility in government programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Local government offices or their websites will have information on how to apply.

Social Services Agencies: Contact social service agencies in Newburgh. They can provide information about various food assistance programs and help with the application process if needed.

School Meal Programs: If you have children in school, inquire about free or reduced-price meal programs at their schools.

Community Gardens and Food Co-ops: NUFFI and other community gardens help provide fresh grown produce to food banks and programs

Social Media and Community Forums: Join local social media groups and forums. Residents often share information about food giveaways and community food sharing programs.

Libraries and Bulletin Boards: Public libraries and community bulletin boards often have flyers and information about local food assistance programs.

Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, and there are many people and organizations in Newburgh ready to assist. Don't hesitate to reach out and ask for help if you need it.

12/09/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-DlSk9lNtA

This short video provides an overview of the Newburgh Urban Farm & Food Initiative, Downing Park Urban Farm, and our hopes for the future! If you'd like to l...

12/07/2024

We are thankful for all of our new and returning donors, grantors, and sponsors who made our programming possible this year. Because of you, NUFFI was able to continue its work to build a just and resilient food system that improves the environment and the health of the community in the City of Newburgh. There is so much more we can do with your continued support. This year, we’re offering annual sponsorships and we’ll be unveiling a program where you can make automatic donations to NUFFI on a recurring basis.

12/07/2024

Save the Date for the 2025 Urban Farming Fair in Newburgh!

12/06/2024

How to Become a Community Advocate with Newburgh Human Rights Heroes
Register here: https://newburghlibrary.libcal.com/event/13410483

Celebrate Human Rights Week with a panel discussion on how to be an activist in your community with past Newburgh Human Rights Heroes. Our panelists are: Gabrielle Burton-Hill, Kyle Conway, Shantia Jackson, Virginia Kasinki, and Jennifer Rawlison. Our Panel Moderator will be Liana Rivers.

12/06/2024

Human Rights Day Celebration - Learn more here: [email protected]
https://www.cityofnewburgh-ny.gov/351/Human-Rights-Commission

12/06/2024

Tips on Growing Food Indoors: Indoor planting can be fun, easy, and a great way to have fresh herbs and veggies year-round. Here are some easy ways to get started:
Indoor planting can be fun, easy, and a great way to have fresh herbs and veggies year-round. Here are some easy ways to get started:

Start with Herbs: Plant basil, cilantro, and parsley in small pots by a sunny window. These herbs are easy to care for and perfect for adding fresh flavor to your meals.

Regrow Store-Bought Scallions: Place the root end of scallions (the white part) in a glass of water with the roots submerged. In a few days, you’ll see new green shoots that you can use in soups, rice dishes, or garnish for added flavor.

Lettuce Regrowth: Save the base of your lettuce heads and place it in a shallow dish with water. This method works well for romaine, which is often used in salads, wraps, or as a fresh garnish in many recipes.

Mint for Teas and Garnishes: Mint is a versatile plant used in drinks, tea, and dishes across cultures. Plant it in a pot by a window, and it’ll quickly grow into a refreshing, fragrant addition to your kitchen.

Garlic Greens: Plant a garlic clove in soil with the pointed end facing up. These garlic greens can be chopped and used in place of scallions for a more garlicky flavor in your recipes.

Grow Your Own Ginger: Plant a piece of fresh ginger root with buds facing up, keep it in indirect sunlight, and water lightly for a steady supply of fresh ginger.

12/05/2024

NUFFI T-Shirt for Sale:

Show your support for the Newburgh Urban Farm and Food Initiative (NUFFI) with this stylish and comfortable t-shirt! Made from 100% soft, breathable cotton, this classic-fit tee is perfect for everyday wear while showing your support for building a sustainable and healthy local food system in Newburgh.

https://nuffi.square.site/shop/t-shirts/XQVOI7YOLMEFGWRLIYSOFFGT

Available in Adults & Kids Sizes: Small, Medium, and Large sizes

12/05/2024

Did you see our mums in Newburgh?

We donated our mums to St. George Episcopal Church, Union Presbyterian, and Deacon Jack Seymour’s Food Pantry, and the Land Bank of Greater Newburgh. A big thank you to SUNY Orange for purchasing mums for FoodTech! Thank you to everyone who helped plant, grow, distribute, and bought mums this year!

12/04/2024

We’ve surveyed Newburgh residents, and many of you told us that you’d like to grow your own food but don’t have land on which to do it. About 70% of Newburgh’s residents live in apartments and may not have access to outside areas for outdoor gardening. To overcome this barrier, NUFFI applied for, and we’re happy to announce we received, a grant from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation under the Environmental Justice Community Impact program to introduce container gardening so people can begin growing food indoors. Keep an eye out in 2025 for upcoming workshops and programming both at Downing Park Urban Farm and at locations throughout Newburgh. We’re excited to work with our community members in this new way to bring urban farming and healthy, nutritious food to all!

12/04/2024

Gather & Grow Success: Donors Help Feed Families with Over 600 Pounds of Pork and Fresh Produce!

Thanks to donors who attended our Gather & Grow fundraiser in September, we were able to donate high-quality meat just in time for the holidays to local food pantries and families. We donated over 600 pounds of pork to Rev. Leo’s, Rev. Lewis, Cavalry Presbyterian Church, Union Presbyterian Church Pantries, King of Kings Lutheran Pantry, Loaves and Fishes, AME Zion Church Pantry, Best Temple Pantry, and Deacon Jack Seymour’s Food Pantries, as well as to several families.

Butterhead lettuce donated this week was shared with Deacon Jack and Union Presbyterian Church Pantries, supporting their efforts to provide fresh produce to the community.

12/03/2024

Our Core Youth, staff, friends, supporters, and newcomers who made Open House on the Farm on October 20th possible. As a working farm, we can’t always be open to the public so we love when we can organize a day to have everyone on site to show off the hoop houses, plantings, and progress our farm manager, farm assistant, and volunteers are making every day at the Farm.

It was a great opportunity to get input from visitors on our next big project on the Farm – an environmental education and community center we hope to build once the old garages have been removed.

Thanks especially to Adams Fairacre Farms for the delicious, fresh apple cider and apple cider donuts, Our Core volunteers for the farm demonstrations, Farm Manager Jeffrey for the farm tours, and our volunteers and Board members who staffed the day. Thank you to Soil and Soul for music.

12/03/2024

Thank you to NYS Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson and Speaker of the NYS Assembly Carl Heastie for securing funding for NUFFI to purchase a farm truck. With this new vehicle, we’ll be able to transport food for distribution throughout the community and maintain the Downing Park Urban Farm more efficiently.