Urban Farmers need Volunteers

I just learned about the Brooklyn Rescue Mission and their Malcolm X Blvd. Community Farmer's Market.


It's part of an effort to increase self-sufficiency and healthy eating to the community. Their a 501c non-profit, looking for either donations or volunteers. I'm thinking of using my excess free time to get down and dirty with them in the garden. What say you?

Here's their mission from their website:

BRM promotes healthy living and neighborhood revitalization for Central Brooklyn residents through, an innovative sustainable food system, with a focus on families and youth.

OUR VISION

BRM envisions urban farming as the starting point for a self-reliance movement, empowering neighborhood residents to take ownership of their own food supply, nutrition and neighborhood revitalization. BRM endeavors to build community pride, provide healthy provisions to its neediest residents, encourage youth entrepreneurship and develop a communal culture towards land use and community health through an innovative sustainable food system.

For more info call (718)363-3085 or check their website:http://brooklynrescuemission.org/farmstand.aspx

Artists, teens beautify for women in Bed-Stuy

This is a great story.


The non profit organization Groundswell created a mural for the Bowery Residents' Committee (BRC)'s women's home on Lexington Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant just a stones throw from Clinton Hill.

The mural wraps the interior of the entire vestibule many of the residents complimented the artists and their work at the dedication ceremony held on Wednesday June 3rd.

Many of the residents of the women's home talked about how much the mural has provided them with a lift and greatly increased their mood from the moment they walk through the doorway.





Organizers from BRC as well as Groundswell said a few words of thanks to the women residents for providing input toward the project which in turn increased the value of and focus of the project.


The artists spoke about their motivations and vision.


Pictured: Mural Artists Alex Pimienta & Crystal Clarity

Most uplifting to me were the teenagers who worked under the guidance of the groundswell artists.

The teens were award certificates in recognition of their service in helping the artists to create and add value to the mural effort. It was also mentioned that they demonstrated their own value to the community and to themselves as well.

After all were heard and souls satisfied it was time to sooth and satisfy the stomach...

...and the barbecue was on and popping.

I love that the grill master had a chef hat

The work is beautiful and lush, illustrated with welcoming symbols of femininity and warm embracing strokes of line and color.

Even from the outside a little of the art shines through.

I've noticed the BRC logo for years but never knew precisely what it was about until this event and the subsequent research I did for this piece. BRC is very impressive considering the decades of constant help they've provided to people in need. Check out their site [BRC]. As someone who's family has experienced life's hardships I got the sense in speaking with the residents at 85 Lexington that they had gone through a lot yet remained determined to live valuable lives. The beautiful mural isn't only a tribute to them it's a reflection. It was clear to me how much BRC has helped them rebuild and prosper.

I've followed Groundswell for a few years as their murals have popped up sometimes withing a few feet of my many residencies. Check their site also [Groundswell] Years ago I actually contributed to a Groundswell mural and even though I had the littlest of contributions to it, every time I see that mural, I feel honored to have helped.

happy friday