City farming

Free seedlings. Gourmet sorbet. Compost. Chickens. The Newburgh Urban Farming Fair had something for everyone. Held on Saturday, April 29 on Grand Street in Newburgh, this annual celebration of the city’s focus on agriculture brought together local farms, community organizations, vendors, donors and the arts to and promote food production and environmental conservation within the City of Newburgh.

The fair was part of Newburgh Last Saturdays, a monthly celebration of the arts, culture, and community in historic downtown Newburgh.

Attendees met chickens and goats, learned from Cornell Master Gardener’s “Ask a Gardener” service, experiment with composting and waste management, and meet gardeners from almost a dozen of Newburgh’s community gardens. Other activities included a bee demonstration as well as seed planting projects with local food educator Hudson Valley Seed and Michaels.

A highlight of the fair was a free performance of “Dirt; The Secret Life of Soil” by Arm-of-the-Sea Puppet and Mask Theater. The Malden-on-Hudson-based performance group combines art, ecology and social action to create works performed at cultural centers, festivals, community venues and schools around the U.S.

Food vendors included local granola, gourmet sorbet, sausage and cheese, and a baked goods. A farmers market offered vegetables, eggs, and info on CSAs.  

The Newburgh Urban Farming Fair’s mission is to “Nourish a healthy Newburgh through access to fresh food and urban gardening education.” The event is a collaboration of community organizations including Downing Park Urban Farm, NHS Center for Hope, and Hudson Valley Seed.

Newburgh Urban Farming Fair:  www.facebook.com/newburghurbanfarmingfair