State Senator Velmanette Montgomery Co-Hosts Brooklyn High School Harvest Day Celebration

by Lynn Fredericks, FamilyCook Productions 

Watching a swarm of inner city teens crunch golden delicious apples like they were candy and crowd in front of trays of quesadillas loaded with Swiss chard and apples was, well – pretty darn amazing! 

This sight was but the culmination of an equally amazing “Harvest Day” at Urban Assembly School of Music & Art (UAMA), part of a larger series of similar harvest celebrations planned jointly by SchoolFood, NY State Dept of Ag & Markets and schools participating in their “Garden to Café” program.

At UAMA where FamilyCook’s Teen Iron Chef is in it’s third year as an in-school-time elective, the students grow greens such as the chard in the quesadiallas, peppers, tomatoes and herbs in an eclectic combinations of raised beds and EarthBoxes across the street at the Bridge Plaza Community Garden. According to Ahmathya Edwards, “the flavors are more robust when you cook with fresh food…everything has more flavor and you really notice it.”  Edwards’ remarks were made as part of the Harvest Day roundtable hosted by their State Senator Velmanette Montgomery as part of her effort to make linkages between state agriculture interests and those of children and family in her district. In addition to seven Teen Iron Chefs and Senator Montgomery, the roundtable included school principal Paul Thompson, SchoolFood chef Jorge Collazo, urban farmers from Brooklyn Rescue Mission and Added Value, and Middletown New York farmer Kevin Smith from the 200 acre Sycamore Farm, among others.

When individuals from such different walks of life convene, trade ideas and really listen to what impacts the next generation, potential for change is established and nurtured. For example, when the FamilyCook culinary and nutrition program came to UAMA in 2007, the principal expressed interest in having his students participate in actually preparing school lunch. After yesterday’s meeting, the necessary parties agreed to meet design just such an opportunity.  Similarly, learning that Teen Iron Chefs were intrigued to grow food on a farm beyond the scale of their small garden, the students learned of the urban farm internship programs available and several were determined to avail themselves of such an opportunity to explore farming further. “I am interested to learn how our agricultural resources in this state, which are substantial, can better impact the needs of our city and especially the young people who need to consider careers as well as have healthful, nurturing food available to eat,” explained Senator Montgomery in her opening remarks.  As part of the Senator’s ‘green jobs’ initiative, the school also hopes to be able to fund Teen Iron Chef internships with community groups, farmers markets, and local schools.

In addition to this rather unique Harvest Day at UAMA hosted by their state senator, the SchoolFood Garden to Café “Harvest Days” planned for 2009 are an eclectic array of experiential opportunities around garden and farm fresh food in elementary, middle and high schools across all five boroughs. At John Bowne High School in Queens, the only NYC high school with an agriculture program, students will harvest, cook and prepare a delicious meal. Additionally, some of their substantial harvest will find its way into the Harvest Day lunch by an adjoining elementary school, PS 219, which also uses the farm for hands-on education about growing what you eat.

At PS 29 there will be a tasting table for all the students to explore farm fresh ingredients and recipes and in their auditorium, farmers will present about life on a farm for the youngsters.  At PS 107 in Park Slope, Harvest day will present an opportunity to eat a delicious meal – outdoors!  Inside will be a food expo, where students can explore farm fresh ingredients and try a variety of fruit and veggies smoothies.

by Lynn Fredericks