Greening In The City

One of the community events, related to food supplies, held by URI.

The Bronx is one of the boroughs that is part of NYC. It has some of the highest rates of hunger, unemployment, obesity, failing schools, and incarceration in the entire US.

Into what appears to be a hopeless setting comes one man, Harry Beresford McNeary III. But where others have seen a litany of hopelessness, Harry decided to tackle the problems and create hope through activism. As he stated, "I want to - and have committed - my life to creating a program that will help solve these problems. I do not believe the solution is simply to go to college and move to the suburbs. I believe the problem is to make my home safer, healthier, and happier."



Harry started with community gardens and urban farms, which would create a natural way for the community to have contact with nature and learn how to create their own gardens. The gardens are where organic farming methods are practiced and taught, allowing participants to learn skills, and reap the products of their group effort in the form of healthy natural food products. Pride in community, pride in self are also some of the unseen products of this effort.

Still known as THE URBAN COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECT, the program is now part of the URBAN REBUILDING INITIATIVE. The program focuses on those who have been affected by incarceration - family members, at-risk youth, homeless individuals, anyone disenfranchised, by creating employment opportunities. There are programs to teach aquaponics; nutrition; first aid; physical fitness; solar energy, including all aspects of making and utilizing solar panels; green technology; civic and societal responsibilities. The list of skills could go on. The programs are practical, giving job skills and helping participants to function in the community.

As suits Mr. McNeary's passionate activism, these gardening/farming programs empower the community to become more self-reliant, no longer dependent on factory farms/corporations. It helps to write a ticket for the community to become more outspoken without worrying about offending heads of corporations. They are on the move, they are outspoken. They prove everyday that pride in self and community matters.

A group gathered at one of the community gardens.

Thanks to this article from Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/harry-beresford-mcneary-iii-hoe-avenue-community-farm/; and the above links.

Click here to visit SixSistersStuff.

Click here: LUNG CANCER SURGERY SURVIVORS