CounCil on the environment of new York CitY ANNUAL REPORT 2008 New York City Sites Overview BRONX Greenmarkets Youthmarkets Open Space Greening Environmental Education Participating Schools MANHATTAN Office of Recycling Outreach and Education New Farmer Development Training Farm QUEENS BROOKLYN STATEN ISLAND Council on the Environment of New York CIty July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008 Greenmarket • Open Space Greening • Environmental Education • Youthmarkets Office of Recycling Outreach & Education • New Farmer Development Project • Learn It, Grow it, Eat It The Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC) is a privately funded citizens organization in the Office of the Mayor. Formed in 1970, CENYC promotes environmental awareness among New Yorkers and develops solutions to environmental problems. Donations are tax deductible and should be made payable to the Council on the Environment, Inc. Contents 2 Letter from the Chairman 3 Salute to Marian S. Heiskell 4 Greenmarket 6 New Farmer Development Project & Youthmarket 9 2008 Greenmarket Locations 10 Open Space Greening 13 Plant-A-Lot List of Gardens 14 Environmental Education 18 Learn It, Grow It, Eat It 20 Office of Recycling Outreach and Education 24 Council on the Environment, Inc. Finances 24 Contributors, Members and Staff Photos Design Except as noted below, all photos are property CENYC. Julia Reich Design | juliareichdesign.com FRONT COVER top left June Russell BACK COVER top David Hughes P 6 top C W Buecheler* P 7 top left Tamara Dulva* top right June Russell P 11 top right Shelly S* P 12 Lenny Librizzi P 16 Mike Zamm Printed thanks to a generous grant P 17 top Mike Zamm bottom Stig Nygaard* from The Durst Organzation P 20 top Jae Watkins Lower left John Johnson P 21 middle top John Klar Top right Christina Salvi P 22 top left Christina Salvi P 23 Brian Fishler * Provided under Creative Commons license www.creativecommons.org Council on the Environment of New York City | 51 Chambers St, Suite #228, New York, NY 10007 | 212.788.7900 | www.cenyc.org Letter from the Chairman To Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Members, Contributors, Volunteers, Staff and Friends: One of the 2008 buzzwords was “transformative”. For the Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC) the extent to which societal and behavioral changes in our city recognized the objectives of its long-standing programs was remarkable. The transformation is in our direction. Also remarkable was how foresighted our founder and Honorary Chair, Marian S. Heiskell – who in 2008 was living in her 90th year – was in pressing a mayor of 40 years ago to create a “council on the environment” in the office of the Mayor and recognizing that access to healthy, locally grown foods, preservation of open spaces and gardens, and the recycling of wastes were not fads of the moment, but programs which our broader society had to embrace as it evolved to adapt to the recognition that a sustainable earth required such things and more. Marian also recognized that, to have an environmentally informed populace, environmental education must start with children, and teaching the young continues to be central to CENYC’s mission. As you will see when you read the rest of this report, CENYC had a great year of progress and accomplishment. I am very grateful to our Executive Director, Marcel Van Ooyen, for his leadership and his relentless drive to enhance CENYC’s programs and position our organization as a significant force in the development and execution of activities that improve the quality of life of New Yorkers and provide a legacy of environmental sensitivity within a dense urban context to those who will come after us. While it is good that you are reading this report, it would be better if you would visit and shop at one of our 46 Greenmarkets, observe the City’s recycling regulations and go beyond them in participating in opportunities we provide for recycling textiles and electronics, and help your neighbors create and maintain community gardens. And, of course, the work of CENYC would not be possible without donations from our many contributors, and we hope you will consider keeping CENYC on your list of nonprofit organizations to whom you open your checkbooks. Thank you all for your support, which has been indispensable in enabling us to achieve the progress we have made in helping our City have a cleaner, healthier and more enjoyable environment. Robert J. Kafin Chairman 2 Salute to Marian S. Heiskell Marian Heiskell and Mayor John Lindsay created CENYC in 1970. Since that time, she has guided and watched over the organization, first as Co Chair with Mayor Lindsay and Mayor Beame, then as Chairman until 1992 when she became Honorary Chair. Her vision in 1970 for a green and sustainable New York City has become reality. Marian’s earliest intention to make citizens part of the solution is one of the reasons for CENYC’s success and longevity. Against a backdrop of financial and environmental malaise at the time, her unflagging optimism that New Yorkers could and would use all their resources to improve and preserve their natural world proved true. Marian’s belief that CENYC could change the urban landscape through innovative solutions led to the organization’s flagship programs. Her generous support and guidance was instrumental in their development. Her name was invoked and permission was given to hold the first Greenmarket farmers market on a lot on 59th Street in Manhattan in 1976. She encouraged and opened a bounty of lovely community gardens all over the city which have given pleasure and a sense of community to countless New Yorkers. She shared ideas and traveled miles as young people organized beach and street cleanups, tree plantings and a host of other environmental improvement projects in schools and neighborhoods. She persuaded the Metropolitan Museum, Kinney Shoes, IBM and other businesses and institutions to engage in waste prevention and recycling with CENYC’s help. Today, she continues to use the full force of her considerable charm, deft persuasion, and passion for the organization she founded to raise awareness and funds, offer advice and support. And so we pay tribute to this remarkable woman who has done so much to benefit so many. Marian S. Heiskell, our true friend and best advocate, she has our deepest gratitude and affection. 3 farming Greenmarket Greenmarket, the country’s largest outdoor farmers market program, ensures that New Yorkers have access to locally grown, foraged, baked and caught produce and products on any given day in every season. This year CENYC operated farmers markets in 46 locations across the five boroughs – with more markets, more shoppers, and more farmers, we are growing every year. Why is Greenmarket so important to New York City and the region? Greenmarket is good for farms: it helps keep regional small family farms in business and preserves farmland. Greenmarket is good for city neighborhoods: it contributes to neighborhood food security, neighborhood economies and community renewal. And, Greenmarket is good for the environment: our farmers are personally invested in the health of regional water and soil; small biodiverse farms help preserve food heritage. Greenmarket is GrowinG We opened a new market in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and as a result of aggressive recruitment efforts, twelve new farmers joined the program this year. Existing markets were strengthened by increasing our at-market programming with Meet Your Farmer series, health & wellness information distribution, community events and activities, increased press coverage and continued growth of our volunteer program. Farmer Profile Morgiewicz Produce Goshen, NY, Orange County since 1936 Farming on the same land as his great-grandfather, Joe Morgiewicz spent his childhood helping care for their 50 acres of onions in the rich ‘black dirt’ of Orange County, some of our country’s best farmland. “I use old- Since managing the farm himself, Joe has diversified his crop plan to include everything from arugula to zucchini, including special requests from customers. fashioned Joe loves meeting people at Greenmarket, and says that many customers have values to become good friends that he looks forward to seeing each week. grow the best 4 Joe Morgiewicz attends Greenmarket’s 57th Street market (Wed & Sat) and Bronx Borough Hall market throughout the growing season. crop I can.” — Joe Morgiewicz Maxwell’s Farm and Conuco Farm Union Square Greenmarket Greenmarket staff attended conferences and trade shows to recruit new producers to the markets. We continue to focus on recruiting meat, poultry, fish, dairy, and wine producers. These products are in great demand and bring a more complete range of product to the markets year-round. ProduCt inteGritY Product integrity is central to Greenmarket’s mission and operations. A comprehensive set of regulations governs what may be sold at market. Ongoing visits to farms and fields as well as inspections ofcider mills, dairy plants and bakeries help ensure product integrity. This year our Farm Inspector earned a certificate from IOIA training for Farm & Livestock Inspections. e d u C at i o n & s C h o o l to u r s The Greenmarket Education Program connects city children with farmers and enables them to experience food as a joyful journey that starts with a seed and ends on their table. Our tours introduce elementary schoolchildren (grades Pre-K-5) to the fresh, locally grown food system at the Union Square Farmers Market, highlight the links between seasonal, unprocessed foods and good health and strong community; and provide hands-on experiences and supplemental materials that build an understanding of how food choices impact their bodies, the environment and their communities. In the past year we enriched our Union Square Market Tours, set in place a new network of partners, launched a school-visit program that brings farmers and Greenmarket staff to NYC classrooms, and developed curricula and materials to enhance the educational experience.