Youth Organics has been off to a great start! The gardens look beautiful. The kale and cabbage are getting very big. Our garlic is beautiful. Last week, we planted watermelon, cucumbers, and hot peppers. The beans are coming up nicely. The mustard greens, arugula, spinach, mizuna greens and some lettuces are ready for picking. The peas are flowering and should be ready for the 2nd week of pickup. Sadly, our Spring Crew ends next week. We have had a great crew this spring, with 9 youth in total. They all worked very hard to build raised beds, which mostly involved bringing compost up the hill in wheelbarrows, and they made sure that everything was planted well and tended to. If you would like to meet all the youth who helped grow your food all are invited to attend the Community Dinner on Wednesday June 11th at the Harriet Tubman Free School- 59 Elizabeth St. Dinner begins at 6. The menu includes: turkey, collards, potatoes and cabbage, lasagna, a big garden salad and raspberry lemonade. The event is free.

Another important way to get involved with us this year is to help us out in the gardens. We need help tending our gardens between the Spring and Summer Crews: June 16th-July3rd. We won't have consistent youth during these three critical weeks of growing so we need extra hands to care for the garden. Work will consist of harvesting, weeding, watering, making beds and planting in the 3rd Ave People's Harvest Garden and the Selkirk Garden. All those who help out can take some fresh garden produce home in exchange for your hard work. All ages welcome. There will be both light and hard work to do.

Meet up at 5pm at the 3rd Ave Garden the following days. We will either work there or drive to Selkirk. Please let us know if you are coming on the Selkirk days so that we can leave on time. Work sessions will last about 2 hours each, but of course you can stay for as short or long as you want. Contact # is 518-463-2222. This will forward to our cells, so please use this number to get in touch with us.

Monday June 16th (3rd Ave)

Saturday June 21st-(Selkirk) some time in the afternoon. Call to confirm.

Monday June 23rd (meet up to go to Selkirk)

Thursday June 26th(3rd Ave)

Monday June 30th (Selkirk)

Thursday July 3rd (3rd Ave)

The 3rd Ave People's Harvest Garden is located at 3rd Ave and Hawk Streets, parallel to Morton Ave and adjacent to the Craegton Storey Housing Complex. The garden is a partnership between Youth Organics and Hunger Action Network of NYS, and is supported by Albany United Methodist Society Americorps program and the Albany County Youth Investment Grant.