This past year, we worked hard to cover the bare minimum of what would be necessary to continue the project, but in the end, we felt that it was not enough, and we were unable to find other volunteers to take on the work that we find critical to the success of the project: communication, community building and education. Through our efforts last year we learned that our desire to create direct relationships between farmers and consumers cannot come to fruition without a strong team of volunteers who have the time to build community amongst the members and constantly educate and update the members about the farmland, the farmers, and the food they receive every week.
Consequently, we are taking a break from managing the Farm Share and planning to spend the next year eating with our neighbors and exploring the new community food projects in our neighborhood. We hope that the energy we used to sustain the Bed-Stuy Farm Share the past eight years can be harnessed to engage with the neighborhood and determine what the future of this project should look like. We invite you to do the same and to keep us informed of your thoughts and desires for the future of this group.
To kickstart the process of communication, we have put together a survey of the past year and would really appreciate your feedback.
Our previous farmer, Hector Tejada, for example, is trying out a new model called a “CSA at the Market” this year, where you can get the cost savings of a CSA with the flexibility and choice of the farmers market. Try this and other community food projects out this year! Check out details below.
In the meantime, here are some other options in the area for fresh, local food:There is always a lot of good stuff going on food-wise in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, and beyond, so keep your radar tuned for new opportunities! And let us know what you find! We sincerely appreciate your participation in the past seasons and welcome your comments and suggestions throughout 2013.
Your neighbors,
Alyssa, Jazmine, Lauren, Marian, and Tracie