This article originally appeared in The Millbrook Independent under the title “Keep on Growin’: Hungry People Fight Back During Great Recession with Help of Public and Private Sector.” It was bylined by our own Mark Reinhardt.
Up the hill from the Poughkeepsie Post Office, on Mansion Street at the Earline Patrice Park, the neighborhood is, for the third year, coming together again. They join at the park center where veterans are honored, flowers are grown, and vegetables are raised “by the people, for the people.” With the help of numerous local organizations (the Exempt Firemen’s Association, Nubian Directions, Twin Brooks Garden Center, McEnroe Organic Farm), the city of Poughkeepsie and Mayor John Tkazyik provide space and support in order that local residents fight the economic downturn by raising vegetables for themselves, offsetting skyrocketing food prices.
Outside the central memorial space for veterans, raised beds were constructed by Chris Boston and the Youth Build team from Nubian Directions. Beautiful topsoil was trucked in, donated by local Millbrook farmer Bob Skidmore. Dara and Kristen from Nubian and Exempt Fireman Mark Reinhardt enlist neighbors’ help to weed, turn over soil, and plant. Hundreds of started tomatoes, peppers, and squash are (and have been) donated by McEnroe Organic Farm of Millerton and Twin Brooks Garden Center of Millbrook. Lorraine and Stephanie from Twin Brooks actually grew more than they needed at their commercial greenhouse with the intent to provide for the garden–a thoughtful and generous effort. Those plants not used directly in the garden are given to the neighborhood for their backyards or decks. There are tomatoes everywhere!
People stop by the garden throughout the growing season, checking on the latest vegetables to be harvested and asking questions about their own backyard gardens. If the weather gets dry, the city of Poughkeepsie steps up and keeps the plants watered. During one extra dry period last summer, the Exempt Firemen graciously came with their fire truck and watered by way of a 50-foot high jet of water showering the garden. The neighborhood kids liked it, too.
At harvest time, the firemen come with their gas grills, Joe Baldwin comes with his culinary students, and local farmers donate their vegetables (Conklin Farm of Pleasant Valley and Sisters Hill Farm of Stanfordville) for the Great Garden Giveaway. Literally tons of food are distributed. People cook, people eat, people talk. Everyone goes home with something-if only a full belly for that day.
The people fight for what they need–opportunity and nourishment–by growing.
The Winter Bounty Project 