Groundswell Center is thrilled to continue to partner with our Children’s Future. Groundswell Intern, Maggie McAden, speaks to the Our Children’s Future Advisor, Jamila Walida Simon, about her journey into this work and initiatives supporting the West Village Apartments in Ithaca, NY. Maggie: How did you get connected with the West Village apartment community? Jamila:…

by Gail Patrice Lockert Anthony Agriculture in Africa began about 7000 BC in Central Africa and approximately 5200 BC in the Sahara (the Sahara had a much different biome then). Black and Brown communities have farmed, gardened, and produced their own food for millennia. We understood the land and tools and growing cycles. We understood…

Systemic racism, and specifically anti-Black racism, is institutionalized in every part of society, from education to health care to food systems. Understanding where we are—and how we got here—is an important place to start in the ongoing fight for Black lives.

Connecting children and families to the land is a primary goal of the Learning Farm. Based in Ithaca, the farm focuses on exposure to the outdoors and education about the natural world. It is also a juicery, and the Learning Farm Juicery grew out of a desire to see healthier juices on the market for…

In 2014, Steve Selin and his family achieved their dream of owning their own estate cider orchard. Now, the 5-acre South Hill Cider Orchard boasts 20 varieties of apples and 1,500 trees. Just this fall, South Hill Cider opened a new cider house and tasting room, located next to the orchard, and participated in Finger…

The Green New Deal is increasingly becoming a hot topic in discussions about climate change. Introduced by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Edward J. Markey earlier this year, the Green New Deal is a plan to fight climate change through moving away from fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of the economy,…

At Northstar Farm, food goes straight from the field to people’s plates. The farm grows produce based around Northstar House’s menu. The pub, located in Fall Creek, is supplied with a steady flow of fresh, organic food from the farm. The pub has several co-owners, and Northstar Farm is located on one of the co-owner’s…

This article was authored by Petra Page-Mann, one of the owners of Fruition Seeds. This article and photos are being republished with their permission from their website. Garlic is one of the easiest and most rewarding crops to grow, though it’s not a cakewalk. I’ve grown garlic here in the Finger Lakes for over nearly…

A Big Thank You to All Our Supporters Thank you to everyone who came to the Sunset Soirée last month for a beautiful evening filled with food, drinks, music, a chance auction and — most importantly — incredible company! Groundswell’s 10-year anniversary is an important milestone towards building a sustainable and just food system, and…

Come celebrate Groundswell’s 10th year at our third annual Sunset Soirée! On September 19th, take a tour of the Incubator Farm, meet farmers in our community, indulge in local food and drink, and dance to live music! Be sure to RSVP here. The event will also come with an exciting raffle (aka a chance auction!)…

Posts by Maggie McAden

Interview with ‘Our Children’s Future’ Advisor, Jamila Walida Simon

Agriculture’s Lens for a Changing America

Groundswell’s Racial Justice Reading List

The Learning Farm: Connecting Kids to the Land

South Hill Cider: An A-peel-ing Addition

What does the Green New Deal Mean for Justice & Farming?

Northstar Farm: Starting Out Strong

Fruition Seeds: 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Planting Garlic and Shallots

Thank You for Celebrating Our 10th Year!

Sunset Soirée Chance Auction Teaser

Covid-19 Update