Orchard Park farm feeds thousands a year, now they're raising funds to keep it
In mid-May they gained access to 37 acres of land.
They farm on 15 of those acres right now and have produced more than 55,000 pounds of food in just over four months.
Marketing manager Hamadi Ali says their farms grow food native to their homelands.
IT IS READY TO WELCOME ANDSUPPORT REFUGEES.
SINCE 2008-- ERIE COUNTY HAS WELCOMEDMORE THAN THIRTEEN THOUSANDREFUGEES... FROM FORTYCOUNTRIES.
THE MAJORITY --COMING FROM BURMA, SOMALIA ANDIRAQ.AND NEW TONIGHT -- REPORTERNATALIE FAHMY SHOWS US THEBUFFALO STRONG INITIATIVE...THAT'S CONNECTING THESEREFUGEE AND IMMIGRANTCOMMUNITIES.{TRT: 2:06) (:05) (:52) 16FARMS, 250 FARMERS ANDTHOUSANDS OF HUNGRY MOUTHSBEING FED.
BARIZEIGER//DIRECTOR OFDEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATIONAT PROVIDENCE FARM COLLECTIVE"OUR FARMERS ARE ACTUALLYLIVING IN USDA FOOD DESERTSWITH LIMITED ACCESS TO FRESHAND AFFORDABLE FOOD ANDLIMITED ACCESS TO CULTURALLYRELEVANT FOOD." DIRECTOR OFDEVELOPMENT BARI ZEIGER SAYSTHE PROVIDENCE FARM COLLECTIVEBRINGS TOGETHER IMMIGRANT6FARMS, 250 FARMERS ANDTHOUSANDS OF HUNGRY MOUTHS TOFEED.
BARI ZEIGER//DIRECTOR OFDEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATIONTHE*PROVIDENCE FARMCOLLECTIV* BRINGS TOGETHERIMMIGRANT, REFUGEE ANDUNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TOHELP TEACH AND SUPPORT THEM.BARI ZEIGER "THERE HAS TO BE ACALL TO ACTION TO UPLIFTCOMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHO HAVEINCREDIBLE SKILLS INAGRICULTURE AND ACTUALLYINSURE THEY CAN BE STEWARDS OFLAND, HAVE LAND OWNERSHIP." INMID MAY THEY GAINED ACCESS TO37 ACRES OF LAND.
THEY FARM ON15 OF THOSE ACRES RIGHT NOW,AND HAVE PRODUCED MORE THAN55- THOUSAND POUNDS OF FOOD INJUST OVER FOUR MONTHS.MARKETING MANAGER HAMADI ALISAYS THEIR FARMS GROW FOODNATIVE TO THEIR HOMELANDS.HAMADI ALI//MARKETS MANAGERFOR PFC//FROM SOMALIA "WHEN WEARRIVED IN THIS COUNTY, YOU GOTO THE SUPERMAKERT AND LOOKAROUND AND DON'T FIND WHATYOU'RE LOOKING FOR." THIS FARMIS THE ONLY ONE IN THE STATE,FOR EXAMPLE, THAT GROWS*AFRICAN MAIZE* NOWPROVIDENCE FARM COLLECTIVE ISPARTNERING WITH THE WESTERNNEW YORK LAND CONSERVANCY TOENSURE THE LONGEVITY OF THELAND.
BARI ZEIGER "IT CANNEVER BECOME THAT GAS STATIONOR THAT STRIP MALL AND THAT'SREALLY IMPORTANT IN SUCCESSIONPLANNING FOR THE FUTUREGENERATION OF FARMERS." THEIRGOAL IS TO RAISE TWO POINTTHREE MILLION DOLLARS BYDECEMBER 31, 2022 FOR LANDPURCHASE AND PROPERTYIMPROVEMENTS.
THEY NEED ATLEAST HALF A MILLION DOLLARSJUST TO BUY THE LAND.
BARIZEIGER "IT'S NOT A DROP IN THEOCEAN, IT'S A BIG AMOUNT OFMONEY." BARI ZEIGER "THERE ARETENSIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLDAND HERE IS A PLACE WHERE WECAN COME TOGETHER AND HAVECOMMUNION OVER FOOD ANDFARMING." HAMADI ALI//MARKETSMANAGER FOR PFC//FROM SOMALIA"MY FAVORITE PART IS MEETINGOTHER COMMUNITIES AND HELPINGTHESE COMMUNITIES." THEPROVIDENCE FARM COLLECTIVE HASSEVERAL UPCOMING FUNDRAISERSPLANNED TO HELP THEM REACH ITS2.3 MILLION DOLLAR GOAL.
IFYOU'D LIKE TO HELP YOU CANFINDDETAILS ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGEAND ON THIS STORY ON WKBW.
COMIN ORCHARD PARK, NATALIEFAHMY, 7EWN.THERE ARE SOME NEW THINGS ONTAP.... FOR THE TAP RO