FARM TRAINING COLLECTIVE NYC INC

Black Farmer Ecosystem:Farm School NYC was deeply committed to continuing an important collaboration in 2024 -- the Black Farmer Ecosystem in New York State -- with organizations such as Black Farmer Fund, Black Farmers United-NYS, Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust, Corbin Hill Food Project and Soul Fire Farm. Each of the partnering organizations provides unique but complementary services including culturally-rich, climate-smart agricultural training; ethical, equitable land access; patient, blended investment capital; and collective, expansive marketing support. The Ecosystem continued collaborating on Building and Strengthening Social and Economic Sustainability Among NY State Black Farmers, a project partially funded by Northeast SARE Research and Education. Farm School NYC also participated in the development and rollout of the inaugural emPower Fund, a redistributive fund created in collaboration with Professor Myles Lennon at Brown University to support activities and projects that strengthen the work of New Yorks emergent Black-led farms, food businesses and food sovereignty efforts and to document lessons learned and best practices that emerge from this effort. In 2024, the Ecosystem redistributed $30,000 to four Black-led farms in New York.For the final year, in 2024, Farm School NYC served as the fiscal sponsor of BlackFarmers United NYS (BFU-NYS), a group of more than 140 Black farmers, educators, and food justice advocates from across the state. BFU-NYS aims to protect the legacy and ensure the future of Black farmers, changing how black communities control access to safe, healthy food and build collective wealth and health in New York State. The fiscal sponsorship ended on December 31, 2024.