On September 16, students gathered at the Old Acre for the second Friday workday and knead 2 know of the semester. Working together, the participants reaped the summer’s harvest and laid the groundwork for the fall. Attendees used pruners and knives to mow basil to the ground and assembled a leaf-plucking assembly line on the steps of the Lazarus Pavilion. These 30 lbs of basil were then given to Yale Dining for transformation into delicious pesto, pizzas, and pomodoro sauce.
Students continued last week’s project of threading marigold garlands and hung the finished products in the Pavillion. Students also harvested collard greens, kale, lettuce, radishes, and pints of cherry tomatoes, which were brought to the Dwight Community Fridge. Moving their sights toward the later fall, students thoroughly weeded and watered berms, then planted sage, sorrel, and rudbeckia. Participants also cut pears in preparation for cider making.
After all their efforts, the workday crowd was hungry and ready for pizza! Everyone gathered in the Lazarus Pavilion under the marigolds to enjoy delicious pies by the culinary events team and listen to the k2k by Storm Lewis YSE ’23. Lewis, a 2022 Global Food Fellow originally from Brooklyn, NY, presented her summer research on food sovereignty for Black farmers in her hometown. After presenting data on the low rates of Black farmland ownership in the U.S., Storm discussed some of the community-based organizations in Brooklyn that are working in food sovereignty spaces. She explained how instead of pushing a specific definition of this term, she made space for the self-definition of ‘food sovereignty by the study participants. Lewis also presented on the various challenges faced by Black urban farmers and her experience volunteering on several urban farms throughout the summer. Her work highlights some of the incredible efforts already happening on the ground in Brooklyn and will eventually serve as a resource guide for her community. Overall, it was an afternoon of fantastic work and learning. We hope you will join us next week!
To view all the photos from this event, please follow this link.