David Sapphire runs a great program out of the South Bronx called Learn it, Grow it, Eat it. It brings in local teenagers and teaches them about growing their own veggies while also adding the component of bringing it in to a neighborhood who needs the fresh goodies very badly. 5 train and a bus ride later, we grabbed our bags and embarked our on next adventure. It seemed we are around many closed businesses and a lot of apartment buildings, however - in front of us is a pristine, gated garden with a huge bounty. David greeted us and showed us through their setup.
Similar to the East New York Farms, except placed right amongst the buildings. It's amazing they have so much growing with such limited sunlight. The kids started to show around 10a and we headed up to the intersection where they sell their goods. Granted much of it is from farms outside of the city - they help out local farmers by selling it in the Bronx for them - but they also have little baskets of veggies they picked right from their garden as well. At first it was very slow. There was a bus stop right in front of the stand, but people would just come check it out and walk on. Then David brought out the magic - the NYC Council on the Environment supplies $2 vouchers that are handed out to people around the area to bring them over and entice them to get some fresh food.
Many of the kids working the market said they only ate fast food or canned vegetables before this experience. Now they barely eat any of that at all, opting for the locally grown stuff instead. This program has not only put the younger generation in touch with where their food comes from, but once they became aware of what the market had for them, the older folks started heading over too. Pretty soon the market was abuzz and people were coming from all around to see what was being sold. It was inspiring to us to see the younger generation connecting to the earth and to elders as well.
When we wrapped up in the Bronx, we headed down to the Union Square farmer's market and met another David - they abound in this film, I swear! This one, David Graves, travels down from Massachusetts 3 times a week to sell his honey at the local markets. He has created quite a name for himself as he is the one and only "NYC Rooftop Honey" guy. He keeps hives up on hotels, office buildings and brownstones, high above the city streets.
Not many people realize how important bees are to the food system and how they are very much needed to pollinate the cities many community gardens. The particular hive we traveled to was in SoHo 5 stories up on top of a personal residence. So many people think of bees as stinging little guys to be avoided, but I have learned that if you just stay out of their way, they definitely have higher priorities than coming and messing with us - they are on a mission!
David walked us through a beautiful rooftop garden and then we crossed through a door over to the flat, blacktopped part of the roof. A neat little hive sat their buzzing away. As Scott and I suspiciously moved around David as he was working, trying like hell not be stung, we then got so immersed by this awesome set up that we quickly forgot the potential hurt they could cause us. David smoked them out and began removing the pieces of wood that were collecting the honey and wax. Bees will make the honey and then when they have filled up a comb, seal it off with wax to protect it. Bees eat the honey, like we do, for energy. They really only need a small amount so it is very generous of them to share the excess with us.
David stuck his screwdriver into the wax and beautiful amber honey began to flow out. He offered us a taste and I must say, no joke, it was the best I have EVER tasted. He explained it had some Japanese flowering plant undertones and that was why it tasted the way it did. It's amazing to think that honey can have different essences depending on what kind of plant goodies it is bringing back to the hive. We also learned that when you have allergies really badly, by the most local raw honey you can find and eat a tablespoon every day. It has a little bit of all of the plants and flowers that surround you so it helps to build up your immunity to them! I even got to hold a little worker bee who stays inside of the hive always so was never given a stinger for protection! I could just hold him between by two fingers and feel him buzz away - no pain necessary! David closed up the hive and we began the trek downstairs. It gave us a whole new respect for these little guys (girls actually are the ones you see flying around) and we are truly indebted to David for that one of a kind experience!!!
Similar to the East New York Farms, except placed right amongst the buildings. It's amazing they have so much growing with such limited sunlight. The kids started to show around 10a and we headed up to the intersection where they sell their goods. Granted much of it is from farms outside of the city - they help out local farmers by selling it in the Bronx for them - but they also have little baskets of veggies they picked right from their garden as well. At first it was very slow. There was a bus stop right in front of the stand, but people would just come check it out and walk on. Then David brought out the magic - the NYC Council on the Environment supplies $2 vouchers that are handed out to people around the area to bring them over and entice them to get some fresh food.
Many of the kids working the market said they only ate fast food or canned vegetables before this experience. Now they barely eat any of that at all, opting for the locally grown stuff instead. This program has not only put the younger generation in touch with where their food comes from, but once they became aware of what the market had for them, the older folks started heading over too. Pretty soon the market was abuzz and people were coming from all around to see what was being sold. It was inspiring to us to see the younger generation connecting to the earth and to elders as well.
When we wrapped up in the Bronx, we headed down to the Union Square farmer's market and met another David - they abound in this film, I swear! This one, David Graves, travels down from Massachusetts 3 times a week to sell his honey at the local markets. He has created quite a name for himself as he is the one and only "NYC Rooftop Honey" guy. He keeps hives up on hotels, office buildings and brownstones, high above the city streets.
Not many people realize how important bees are to the food system and how they are very much needed to pollinate the cities many community gardens. The particular hive we traveled to was in SoHo 5 stories up on top of a personal residence. So many people think of bees as stinging little guys to be avoided, but I have learned that if you just stay out of their way, they definitely have higher priorities than coming and messing with us - they are on a mission!
David walked us through a beautiful rooftop garden and then we crossed through a door over to the flat, blacktopped part of the roof. A neat little hive sat their buzzing away. As Scott and I suspiciously moved around David as he was working, trying like hell not be stung, we then got so immersed by this awesome set up that we quickly forgot the potential hurt they could cause us. David smoked them out and began removing the pieces of wood that were collecting the honey and wax. Bees will make the honey and then when they have filled up a comb, seal it off with wax to protect it. Bees eat the honey, like we do, for energy. They really only need a small amount so it is very generous of them to share the excess with us.
David stuck his screwdriver into the wax and beautiful amber honey began to flow out. He offered us a taste and I must say, no joke, it was the best I have EVER tasted. He explained it had some Japanese flowering plant undertones and that was why it tasted the way it did. It's amazing to think that honey can have different essences depending on what kind of plant goodies it is bringing back to the hive. We also learned that when you have allergies really badly, by the most local raw honey you can find and eat a tablespoon every day. It has a little bit of all of the plants and flowers that surround you so it helps to build up your immunity to them! I even got to hold a little worker bee who stays inside of the hive always so was never given a stinger for protection! I could just hold him between by two fingers and feel him buzz away - no pain necessary! David closed up the hive and we began the trek downstairs. It gave us a whole new respect for these little guys (girls actually are the ones you see flying around) and we are truly indebted to David for that one of a kind experience!!!
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