I’m wandering amidst a sea of hot peppers – Hungarian wax, serrano, golden cayenne – when Alia Ornstein waves me down from the opposite end of the farm, her tell-tale floppy farmer’s hat distinguishing her from the rest of the … Continue reading
On a searing hot yet beautiful day at the LIC farm last week I had the chance to catch up with Urban Farm Recovery Project facilitator Greg Jones. Settling down in a patch of shade, we discussed volunteering in the … Continue reading
As Program Facilitators of the Urban Farm Recovery Project, Greg and Emilie serve as RIF’s “boots on the ground” each week at the farms. They lead workshops, coordinate potlucks, assist in job-hunting, and provide overall friendship and support to the … Continue reading
This gallery contains 46 photos.
June has been an incredibly productive month here at RIF: weddings, graduations, the start of new jobs and internships — meanwhile the farm is in full bloom, our participants’ English has improved SO much, and overall everyone is having a wonderful … Continue reading
One of the great aspects of RIF’s Urban Farm Recovery Project is that it connects its participants — newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers — not only with each other but with a network of passionate, talented RIF volunteers with … Continue reading
Denise is a refugee and asylum seeker from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a nation crippled by colonialism, ransacked of its resources — first by the Belgians, then by its own inept rulers — and fraught with ongoing conflict. … Continue reading
This gallery contains 25 photos.
After a cold, cold April spent prepping veggie beds and huddling in the greenhouse for warmth, May finally arrived and the rooftop farm started to show signs of green. The RIF participants have all really taken to their new responsibilities … Continue reading
Maria Blacque-Belair, the founder and director of the Refugee and Immigrant Fund, is for many refugees and asylum seekers coming to the U.S. their first friendly face and most dependable helping hand. In a rare quiet moment between her shift … Continue reading
This gallery contains 12 photos.
Spring has arrived and a new season of the Urban Farm Project is underway here at RIF. Here are a few photos taken by past participant Koray Ersin looking back at last year’s season; we wish all the best and … Continue reading
Growing Together 