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La Nueva Siembre

A graduation ceremony celebrates beginner farmers

On May 21, 2022 the Farm Hub hosted the GrowNYC La Nueva Siembre graduation ceremony. La Nueva Siembre, now in its 21st year, is a business planning course for farmers who are native Spanish speakers. The program is held over nine weeks in the spring and covers topics such as access to markets, land and farming, and farmer assistance programs.

This year’s cohort of 15 graduates includes a diversity of ages, experiences, and ethnicities (seven countries are represented). Some come from generations of farmers while others are forging their own path in agriculture. Most are based in the New York metropolitan area. Christian Aponte, who leads the program, says many participants share a passion for being better stewards of the land.

“I call it the ancestral call,” Aponte says.

At the graduation, the fresh graduates were also joined by members of previous cohorts who shared about their journey and offered tips. Since 2020 the Farm Hub has collaborated with GrowNYC and hosted courses at the farm. The Farm Hub’s Language Justice team has offered interpretation and translation services for La Nueva Siembre.

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