PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jesse Miller, Farm Manager at Spring Creek Towers Farm
2:10:07
·
136 sec
Jesse Miller, Farm Manager at Spring Creek Towers Farm in East New York, Brooklyn, testified about the positive impact of their urban farm on the community. He highlighted how the farm addresses food desert issues, provides culturally relevant produce, and offers educational programs for both adults and children.
- The farm cultivates nutrient-dense, culturally relevant vegetables that are eagerly consumed by Starrett City residents.
- They offer an older adults gardening program and community engagement events, which provide health benefits and opportunities to learn about food growing.
- The farm provides garden education to students at PS 346, teaching them about food systems and fostering a love for fresh produce.
Jesse Miller
2:10:07
Okay.
2:10:08
I'll begin.
2:10:09
My name is Jesse Miller.
2:10:10
I'm the farm manager at the Spring Creek Towers Farm, which is a new but quite large urban farm in East New York, Brooklyn.
2:10:18
It's in the Starett City, Affordable Housing Development.
2:10:22
I'm speaking on behalf of the Opportunity Hub, a community development nonprofit serving Starett City Brooklyn.
2:10:28
We provide various social services to our residents, including the Spring Creek Towers Farm.
2:10:34
As the farm manager, I have witnessed the profound positive impact that our urban farm has had on the community.
2:10:41
In East New York, affordable, high quality produce and healthy food are often difficult to find.
2:10:46
Many residents express a desire to cook healthier meals and incorporate more plant based products into their diets.
2:10:52
However, some lack the knowledge and skills to prepare these meals.
2:10:56
Additionally, many students I work with have little experience growing food and are often surprised to learn how vegetables grow and how fresh produce significantly from processed options.
2:11:07
Both children and adults are eager to engage in outdoor and social activities, and they're very supportive of our community farm and others in the neighborhood.
2:11:15
Our urban farm addresses the East New York food desert in several key ways.
2:11:19
First, by cultivating culturally relevant produce, we provide nutrient dense vegetables, that are excitedly consumed by our Staira city residents.
2:11:28
2nd, our older adults gardening program and community engagement events allow residents to participate in the garden, learn how to grow food, and experience the documented health benefits of gardening in a community.
2:11:40
It's truly amazing to see these older adults come into the garden, maybe feeling sick, dealing with physical ailments, dealing with, maybe some feelings, and come out of the garden feeling so much better and enlivened.
2:11:53
Moreover, we offer garden education to students at PS 346, Abe Stark Elementary, teaching them about food systems, fostering a love for fresh produce, and creating a magical outdoor classroom experience.
2:12:05
I've witnessed incredible growth in my students since I began at the farm.
2:12:10
Okay.
2:12:10
I'll just end here.
2:12:12
We support the bill and we would also love to, seek financial support in this bill and from the council, to continue our work in East New York.
2:12:22
So thank you so much.
