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General News: Teens Find Hope in Planting Seeds
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| John Scialpi, Janora Little, Chandra James, Angelica Scialpi, Jerome Little and Victoria Scialpi plan to transform the lot with the support of Jim Delaune, executive director of the Orange County Land Trust, one of the group's partners (center). Not pictured: Keri Springett. |
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| The Urban Farmers League members plan to transform this lot into La Vida Garden. |
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| John Scialpi describes the mural that will hang along the side of the garden |
June 11, 2010
The corner of Chambers and First Street in the city of Newburgh does not stand out at first glance. “RIP Jimmy” is scrawled across the door of one abandoned building and voices can be heard through the open windows of the Life Restoration Church on this steamy Saturday morning.
Moments later, a group of teenagers assembled at a weed-filled lot, people gathered to listen and the teens told of their plans to grow a garden and begin to transform their city and their lives.
"We are the vibrant seeds that help this city grow."
Chandra spoke first, describing the frustration of hearing about crime, drugs, gangs, violence, kids killing other kids. “How come we don’t get to read about the positive activities and the great organizations helping the community day after day?” The other teens, all students at Newburgh Free Academy, nodded in agreement as Chandra spoke about how they are tired of the negative stereotypes.
Victoria Scialpi, 17, then described how they are part of the Urban Farmers League and aim to combat environmental and social injustice by creating a vegetable garden that will be a space for youth to express themselves while providing healthy food for the community.
La Vida Garden will be built by the students with donated materials and their own sweat equity to fence in the lot donated by the City of Newburgh, then they will create eight raised beds for the vegetables. It is the second garden project undertaken by the Urban Farmers League. Last summer 25 NFA students produced 100 pounds of food in two plots on Gidney Avenue called the People’s Garden.
“We are cultivating the future of Newburgh because WE ARE THE FUTURE!”
John Scialpi, an NFA senior, gave a tour of the lot, gesturing with his hands to show where a stage will be built to hold concerts and where they will hang a mural that the teens are making to capture the creative energy that is going into the garden. Rain barrels will be installed to capture water for the garden and all the produce will be organic, Scialpi said.
It was impossible to escape the enthusiasm of the teens as they described their vision to built and transform the landscape with their own hands. “We say to all the youth in the community, if not now then when? If not us, then who?” Victoria asked.
The Urban Farmers League welcomes partners in the La Vida Garden. They also recognize the partners who are already on board: Orange County Land Trust, Orange County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, Orange County Department of Health, Orange in Arts, Pathstone Community Improvement of Newburgh, Trust Your Struggle Art Collective, Taliaferro Farms, and Greenway Environmental Services.
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