| The Brook Farm Project's Mission |
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Brook Farm Project's mission is to help foster a sustainable food system by operating a farm that serves as a model of small-scale sustainable agriculture and as a research and educational facility dedicated to the development and teaching of sustainable farming practices.
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How do farming and education fit together?
Brook Farm Project has worked to establish a meaningful and mutually beneficial relationship with SUNY New Paltz to bring classes to the farm. Many students who arrive into the fields have never seen where food comes from and how it is grown. Professors from Art to Math, Educational Foundations to English as a Second Language, and Sciences to Business all find ways to connect the importance of sustainable farming to the material they are teaching.
Many students come away with a new perspective on the politics of food and its direct affect on our history as a nation, as well as the health of the planet and its inhabitants.
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Our Mission Goal
Inspire positive change by raising public awareness of the profound importance of developing a sustainable food system.
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How do we do that?
A group of dedicated volunteers works throughout the year planning and executing local events that educate and bring awareness to the local community about organic and sustainable farming practices, sustainable living practices, and localization of food and business. We bring films, speakers and events to the area, many of which are free to the public. Please check our calendar for upcoming events.
Some of our recent awareness programs include:
Taste of New Paltz - Brook Farm Project had sold farm fresh salads while educating consumers about biodegradable utensils and compostable dining ware.
King Korn - A feature length film shown at the Rosendale Theatre to a sold out crowd.
Two Angry Moms - A feature film about the state of the school lunch programs throughout he U.S.
Dinner host for the New York Sustainable Agriculture Summit.
Educational Lectures
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Does raising awareness really make a difference?
Brook Farm Project is working in conjunction with SUNY New Paltz to bring farm fresh, local foods to campus. Gaining momentum by working closely with Campus Auxiliary Services and a local, approved vendor to the University, organic options are beginning to find their way into the dining halls. The farm project supports the Students for Sustainable Agriculture Club, which has recently expanded their "guerilla garden" on campus right outside the Honors Center.
Brook Farm Mission spearheaded a project to bring a farmer's market to the SUNY New Paltz campus. The outdoor market began as a pilot program in the Spring of 2009 became a regular, weekly event during the fall semester.
Local restaurants are serving local foods and the New Paltz and High Falls health food stores are carrying local produce. You can help to futher support small farms by choosing how you spend your food dollars.
In February 2010, we held a reception for restaurant owners to offer them CSA shares. There seems to be a lot of interest.
So, yes! People are listening and learning!
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Our Mission Values
We at Brook Farm Project work toward a sustainable future and healthy planet by means of community building and awareness education, while inspiring a sense of purpose and connection to the earth and to each other.
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The Mission strives to offer a number of subsidized shares to families in need.
Over the past few years Brook Farm has partnered with Just Food to provide CSA shares to low-income families in Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. The shares were kindly delivered to the city by another local New Paltz farmer. The food was met by a Brooklyn church group who distributed the shares and taught the recipients how to prepare their weekly harvest. For the 2009 season, Brook Farm will focus it's food donations to local programs like Family of New Paltz.
Subsidized shares are also allotted to local families who would like to feed their family high-quality, local, organic produce but may lack the financial resources to do so. Through this program, these members are not only able to serve their families higher quality foods, they become part of a community that nurtures an awareness of health and land stewardship.
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To join the Mission Group, email or call the farm and let us know who you are and what you would like to do.
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