QCFM_FY21AnnualReportFinal

Annual Report fy21 | volume xlvi

1 | queens county farm museum

FY21

/ Executive Letter

in july 2020, Queens County Farm Museum began FY21 in the process of reopening to the public after Covid-19 business closures. Our team continued to care for the livestock, growing fields, 47 acres of farm grounds and historic structures uninterrupted, even though the public was not permitted on site. We ended the fiscal year with eleven months of farm visitors and public programs behind us. Our team reimagined our work to connect with and enrich the public. We broke ground on 1.6 acres of recently annexed land that was part of the farm’s original 1697 footprint. With the help of a federal PPP loan (and its subsequent forgiveness) we found our way through the uncertainty emerging a stronger, more robust organization.

By the close of fiscal year 2021, we learned that the farm’s Education Center was fully funded with support from Mayor Bill de Blasio, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, the New York City Council, the Queens Delegation of the New York City Council and Council Members Barry Grodenchik, Robert Holden and Peter Koo. We cultivated hundreds of thousands of new visitors who connected with Queens Farm’s arts, cultural and environmental programming filling a void in New York City. We opened the Con Edison Reading Room to the public with 60 linear feet of books, periodicals, toys and games — connecting visitors to Queens Farm’s mission and expanding the farm’s capacity to serve the public.

Just like the vegetables that we grow, we planted the seeds and now we are harvesting the fruits of our labor. Queens Farm is a vital and rare resource for an ever-changing city and beyond. We will continue our work to serve our community. We hope you join us on this journey.

James A. Trent Board President

Jennifer Walden Weprin Executive Director

queensfarm.org | 2

Our Impact FY21 Attendance Public Events

293,306 General

160,373 Virtual Learning Impressions

561,647 total attendance

98,810

853

lbs. of food donated

Education

9,098

2,251 volunteer hours logged 285

bouquets of flowers

180

farm animals cared for 3 | queens county farm museum

68 % increase in public

food scrap drop-off

QCFM community compost program

41 %

increase in

public programs offered

200+ varieties

of fruits, vegetables & flowers grown

Nutrition Assistance Programs represented of

12 %

farmstand sales

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Year in Review

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l nvi Cu s E & e s ear h t t Y r n A 325 tio and ity a g e C c r n i k u t Edu ult Yor bra c i m e w r l r Ne Fa Ag Ce

New York City Arts & Culture covid reopening Queens Farm reopened to the public on August 2, 2020 for the first time after Covid business interruptions. The landscape was uncertain. County Fairs were canceled, petting zoos were not permitted to operate but, with restrictions, outdoor cultural arts organizations were permitted to open to the public. The farm team got to work rebuilding public programs, reimagining them. The team sought out artists and vendors and offered them the chance to work. The public was hungry for outdoor public programs and enrichment. The list of what was created is impressive. The ability to pivot despite uncertainty and grow, to thrive — those themes are part of the three centuries of history at Queens Farm and are part of the farm team today.

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FY21 Programs & Events I Farm Camp (new) I Grown on LI Farmers Market (new) I Cover Crop: A Public Art Exhibit by Aaron Asis (new) I September Sundays (new) I Blue Ribbon Competition I Floral Escape: Fall, Winter & Spring (new) I Pumpkin Patch I Amazing Maize Maze I Maze by Moonlight I Halloween on the Farm I Autumn Dance Celebration (new) I Holiday Reading: O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi (new) I Wreathmaking (virtual) (new) I 18th Century Cooking: Winter Comfort Foods (virtual) (new) I Barnyard Egg Hunt I Bee A Pollinator Earth Day Service Day I Sheep Shearing Special Admission Day I American Indian Spring Celebration (new) I Apple Blossom Carnival I Volunteer Cultivator Crew I Flower CSA program I CUNY Food Drive I Planning Your Veggie Garden (virtual) (new) I How Does Your Garden Grow?

I Urban Beekeeping I Art on the Farm Series: Pen, Ink & Watercolors I Farmstand I Jamaica Hospital Farmstand I The Con Edison Reading Room (new) I Compost Community Drop-off I Scavenger Hunt (new) I Hayrides I Farm Store

new york forward covid safety plan In order to operate and serve the public, Queens Farm created a New York Forward Covid Safety Plan which followed guidelines and requirements set by New York State. The farm’s workspace, agricultural, retail and programming operations each needed a unique set of protocols. For outdoor public programming, Queens Farm was required to follow a formula allowing 36 square feet per person per activation area. Queens Farm made significant program adjustments to accommodate these social distancing requirements. For example, the Pumpkin Patch which was only open on weekends in the past was now open daily for the entire month of October; a Friday activation date was added to the weekend Amazing Maize Maze schedule; the spirit of the Queens County Fair was captured in September Sundays, three programming days which offered the essence of the Queens County Fair while meeting the State’s requirements and guidelines; and, we added an additional Barnyard Egg Hunt program date to accommodate public demand for the program and maintain social distancing protocols.

Additionally, Autumn Dance Celebration and the American Indian Spring Celebration were created to fill the void left on the farm’s calendar, and in our visitors hearts, when the 42nd Annual Thunderbird American Indian Powwow was canceled in July 2020.

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van gogh’s ‘sunflowers’ exhibited at queens county farm museum In partnership with the Van Gogh Museum in The Netherlands, an amazing engineering feat transformed Van Gogh’s masterpiece ‘Sunflowers’ into Queens Farm’s annual Amazing Maize Maze for the 2020 Fall season. Emilie Gordenker, Director of the Van Gogh Museum gave the following statement for the program press release, “We at the Van Gogh Museum are always delighted to see how Vincent’s art continues to delight and inspire. This new maze is a marvelous and original demonstration of that.”

con edison reading room The Con Edison Reading Room opened on May 27, 2021 to the public. Previously used for tomato storage, the “summer kitchen” — a quaint 12’2” x 16’2” structure — had not been open to the public in recent years. Now guests can cozy up and choose from 60 linear feet of books, magazines and toys. There are hundreds of books on cooking, gardening, the environment, health and wellness, animals, farming, science, fibers, arts and crafts and New York City history — all thematically tied to the mission of Queens Farm. The Con Edison Reading Room offers a restful place even for telecommuters. The Queens Public Library and Penguin Random House Foundation are program supporters. Special thanks to Con Edison whose charitable contributions facilitate meaningful community development. As a site of environmental stewardship, arts & culture and education, Queens Farm and Con Edison have a shared vision of sustainability and vibrancy for New York City. The Con Edison Reading Room expands Queens Farm’s capacity to reach new audiences and engage farm visitors in a new way.

cuny food drive After the harvest season ended, Queens Farm continued its work to feed New Yorkers through its annual food drive to support food insecure CUNY students. Queens Farm encouraged visitors, neighbors and the general public to stop by the Farm Store and drop off packaged, shelfstable, healthy food to support CUNY students and their families. Food insecurity is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as having limited access to adequate food due to a lack of money or other resources. Food donations were as diverse as the borough of Queens. Thanks to the generosity of farm visitors, over 100 bags of groceries were delivered to the Queens College Food Pantry. queensfarm.org | 8

Farm Education farm camp Necessity is the Mother of Invention As we began FY21, Queens Farm partnered with human services organization Commonpoint Queens to provide the first camp connecting the expertise of Commonpoint Queens with Queens Farm’s unique STEM curriculum and bucolic 47-acre urban farm. After months of virtual school and play dates, the children — and families —

in our community needed support. Farm Camp connected campers to nature while integrating the farm’s acclaimed STEM programming, including Design Your Own Farm, Salad Days, Compost Explorers and 18th Century Cooking among other moo-velous activities. Farm Camp consisted of 280 hours of programming over seven weeks.

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Farm Camp Programs 9 | queens county farm museum

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35 Days of Camp Programs provided 2 sessions in July & August serving ages 5–12 in 3 pods

Theme Days: Superhero Day Pirate Day Wild West Day Color Run

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in-person farm education Serving the Public in an Unprecedented Time Due to the pandemic, the majority of youth group visits and schools were not permitted to participate in field trips to Queens Farm. For those who visited, farm educators provided an enriching outdoor experience of experiential learning to students who spent much of spring 2020 isolated at home.

I Seed to Pumpkin I Seasonal Farm Tour I Apple Cider Pressing I History of NYC I Farmyard Adventure

virtual farm education Whether at home or in the classroom, students got a “farmer’s eye view” of the farm’s 47 acres, as educators taught about growing food sustainably, raising livestock, and New York City history. Educators were able to bring students inside the animal paddocks and growing fields.

All virtual programs were synchronous and customized to fit the curricular needs and specific requests from each school. The virtual platform connected the farm to students beyond the New York Metro Area; Queens Farm welcomed Equitas Academy in Los Angeles to its Farm Education Program.

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“Thank you for a super enjoyable virtual field trip to the farm! Mollie was fantastic and my students LOVED it!” – ps 177q discovery day 2021 In partnership with NYCDOE, Queens Farm provided a week of STEM programming free to families during spring break 2021. Parents and children attended together. They received a guided farm tour, learned about sustainable farming and transplanted their choice of peas, nasturtiums, parsley or carrots to take home for their spring gardens or window sills.

“...wanted to extend my gratitude to Leslie for providing such a great tour and sharing her wealth of knowledge of the plants, animals and the farm. She was engaging, patient and professional.” – ps

186

cultural after school adventures

“Thank you for providing some normalcy to this unique school year. The students really enjoyed our field trip and learned a lot.

Hope to visit in person next school year!” – ps 14q

Queens Farm adapted its in-person Future Foodies afterschool program to an all-virtual experience for five partner schools in Queens. Supply kits were prepped and delivered to each school by the farm’s STEM educator team. Each included a healthy snack, craft supplies and materials to make beeswax candles and grow their own herbs. Throughout the 10-week program, educators “brought” the farm to students for virtual afterschool sessions. Students visited the farm’s greenhouses, compost area, interviewed farmers and celebrated the arrival of the farm’s piglets. They planted seeds and observed them grow into dill, parsley, basil and fennel over the course of several weeks. Students learned about local flora, the importance of pollinators, and chatted about their favorite foods. The program culminated with Design Your Own Farm where each student integrated what they learned throughout the program and personalized it.

Special thanks to Council Members Barry S. Grodenchik, Robert Holden and Francisco Moya for their generous support of this program.

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Agriculture and the Environment FY21 was an important year for Queens Farm’s Agricultural work with notable accomplishments.

20,940 lbs. of produce harvested Queens Farm Agricultural Product Sales:

eggs 1,565 wool 75 honey 750 tea 175

dozen

skeins pounds

packages

Crop Plan vegetables Artichoke Arugula (2 types) Bush Bean (3 types) Beets (3 types) Beet Greens

Blackberries Bok Choy Broccoli (5 types) Cabbage Napa Cabbage (2 types) Celery Chard Claytonia

13 | queens county farm museum

Collard Greens Cucamelon Currants Cucumber (3 types) Dandelion Greens Eggplant (2 types) Endive Escarole (2 types)

Fennel (2 types) Garlic (2 types) Ginger Gooseberries Ground Cherry Horseradish Kale (3 types) Lettuce (6 types)

Mâche Melon (3 types) Mesclun mix Okra (2 types) Onions (3 types) Peas (Snap) Peas (Snow) Pepper (hot) (11 types)

Pepper (sweet) (6 types) Potato (3 types) Pumpkin Radicchio Radish Raspberries Rhubarb Spinach

New Crops Added: Adirondack Blue Potatoes

Patty Pan Summer Squash

Artichoke

Persian Basil

Beta Blend Greens

Poblano Pepper

Celery

Red Napa Cabbage (Merlot)

Cherry Bomb Tomatoes

Red Okra (Carmine splendor)

Collard Greens

Strawberry Paw Potatoes

Cucamelons

Strawberry Spinach

Ginger

Sugar Rush Cream Hot Peppers

Dill

Yukon Gold Potatoes

Mardi Gras Blend Bush Beans Mini Watermelon

the annex Queens Farm broke ground on the recently annexed 1.6 acre property that was part of the farm’s original 1697 foot print. Initial crop harvest included 692 pounds of winter squash, pie pumpkins, potatoes and sweet potatoes.

The farm’s Strawberry Patch also produced its first crop this year. 800 square feet of raised beds yielded 272 pounds of strawberries. These crops were available for sale at the farm’s onsite and offsite farmstands. Queens Farm is on track to add five acres into production by 2026.

cold storage expansion With support from the Hyde & Watson Foundation, Queens Farm was able to purchase a new Coolbot Storage Container to properly store the tens of thousands of pounds of food that the farm grows, sells and transports. This new container increased the farm’s food storage capacity by more than three times, from 512 cubic feet to 1,600 cubic feet.

Strawberries Strawberry Spinach Sweet Potato (4 types) Squash (Summer) (4 types) Squash (Winter) (5 types) Tatsoi Tomatillo Tomato (12 types)

Turmeric Turnip Watercress

herbs Anise Hyssop Basil Catnip

Chamomile Cilantro Lemongrass Lemon Balm Lemon Verbena Marjoram Peppermint Oregano

Parsley Sage Savory Shiso Skullcap Spearmint Tarragon Thyme

Tulsi Zaatar

flower highlights Ageratum Calendula Celosia

Cerinthe Cosmos Dahlia Gomphrena Gypsophilia Snapdragons Sunflower Zinnias & more

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apiary Richmond County Savings Foundation and the Clif Bar Family Foundation invested in the expansion and public activation of Queens Farm’s apiary, now the single largest apiary in New York City.

preserving heritage breeds Queens Farm welcomed two Kunekune piglets to the farm this year. This heritage breed, originally from New Zealand and raised by the local Maori tribe, was almost lost 20 years ago. The Kunekune breed has never been crossed with any other breed of pig, or been manipulated by genetic science. Thanks to the diligence of porcine geneticist and dedicated breeders in the U.K. United States and New Zealand over the last two decades, their numbers are plentiful again.

New Zealand is a land of lush pasture so Kunes are grass eaters. Kunes have a short, stubby nose, to mow down grass. Kunes do not “root” or dig up the ground for food. They are the only pig that actually fatten on grass. The Kunekune breed has never been crossed with any other breed of pig, or been manipulated by genetic science. And now, thanks to public support, visitors can see the farm’s newest residents Pumpkin & Spice in the expansive pasture at Queens Farm.

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Celebrating 325 Years Looking ahead to 2022, Queens County Farm Museum will be celebrating its 325th anniversary of continuous farming. While the farm was in production through the centuries, New York City grew around it. Today, New York City is working toward ambitious Zero Waste by 2030 goals. The Covid-19 global pandemic revealed existing gaps in the city’s food system and exacerbated food access, infrastructure and delivery system problems. Urban Agriculture and Urban Ag Workforce Development will be a focus in 2022. Queens Farm is poised to be a leader to support this important work.

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Queens Farm Word on the Street 6sqft abc news american farm bureau news amny broadway world brooklyn eagle country thang daily daily mail diario las americas epoch times eyewitness news the forum the haitian times the island now japan fm long island press morning ag clips the morning bell news 12 news india times new york daily news ny metro parents new york post the new york times ny1 nyc food policy nycgo nyc parks ny city news service nyu local patch politics ny pulsd qns queens chronicle queens courier queens gazette queens scene spectrum news sunnyside post time out new york untapped cities the wall street journal wnyc yahoo! news

NEWS LOGO The Hottest Commodity in Pandemic New York? Fresh Air Earlier this month, the Queens County Farm Museum invited New Yorkers to walk down socially distant, parallel paths that had been mowed through a field of sweet pea, buckwheat and rye in the half-acre installation “Cover Crop,” by the Brooklyn artist Aaron Asis. The plants will be tilled back into the soil to enrich it, and a nearby field is currently being transformed into a three-acre corn maze, which will open on Sept. 13.”

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New Yorkers Take in Big Apple Sights as Tourists “ ...the Queens County Farm Museum, which in August will introduce Bee Cam, a streaming platform of its

Giant pumpkin spice lattes and floral butterflies have taken over this New York City farm

30 honeybee hives, now offers #BarnCam, a program of social media posts that often feature the farm’s sheep, alpacas and goats.”

– The New York Times “The cooking class was just one of the many digital events that Queens Farm has offered since the start of the pandemic.”

– ABC 15 News

At NYC’s Only Corn Maze, Get Lost In Van Gogh’s Sunflowers

Prepare to immerse yourself in a rustic environment— straight from the concrete jungle.”

– TimeOut NY

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Statement of Activities FY21

2021

Without Donor Restrictions

2020

With Donor Restrictions Total

Total

revenue Educational tours and seminars Special events Museum shop and vending machine sales Produce and livestock sales Memberships Investment income Total Revenue

$

34,607 966,216 122,082 406,704 10,670 4,977 1,545,256

$

- - - - - - -

$ 34,607 966,216 122,082 406,704 10,670 4,977 1,545,256

$

914,765 629,358 98,123 326,782 18,446 3,787 1,991,261

34,773 307,312 22,253 818,900 1,183,238 2,728,494

657,894 - - (818,900) (161,006) (161,006)

692,667 307,312 22,253 - 1,022,232 2,567,488

886,898 14,181 901,079 2,892,340

316,475 557,642 550,448

- - -

316,475 557,642 550,448

1,032,119 407,022 645,107

569,408 12,300 2,006,273 722,221

- - - (161,006)

569,408 12,300 2,006,273 561,215

483,049 7,996 2,575,293 317,047

1,772,592

243,968

2,016,560

1,699,513

support Grants Paycheck Protection Program Loan forgiveness Contributions Net assets released from restrictions Total Support Total Revenue and support

expenses Program Services Educational Events Agricultural Supporting Services Management and general Fundraising Total Expenses Changes in Net Assets

net assets Beginning of the Year End of Year

$

2,494,813

$

82,962

$

2,577,775

$

2,016,560

Board of Directors farm support & revenue Government Support & Grants Public Events Produce & Livestock Sales

16% 5% 1% 1% -% -%

Farm Store Education Membership Investment Income Contributions

farm expenses Management & General Public Events Agriculture Education Fundraising

39% 38%

28% 28% 27% 16% 1%

James A. Trent, President John Sandmann, Treasurer Margaret Polino, Secretary Robert J. Bishop, Esq., Vice President Legal Affairs Dr. Marcia Rudy, Vice President Board Development John P. Albert Doris Bodine Thomas J. Diana, P.E. Paul DiBendetto Italo DiModica Nyisha Howell Gerri Jackson-Wyatt Helene Kornstein Stuart M. Nachmias Hersh Parekh Kathleen A. Sciortino Dr. Neal Vichinsky Dev Viswanath Christina M. Wilkinson Melissa Young John Krawchuk*, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation Delegate to the Commissioner Phil Ballman*, Queens Borough President Donovan Richard’s Office *Ex-Officio

Staff Jennifer Walden, Executive Director Ali Abate, Director of Education Doreen Chin, Program Assistant Laila Lamniji, Director of Finance/HR Sarah Meyer, Director of Communications & Sales Tasha Naula, External Affairs Coordinator Anne Mastrogiacomo, Director of Agriculture Melanie Pylarinos, Farm Manager Andrew Cohen, Livestock Coordinator Rhys Bethke, Seasonal Farmer Jeremiah Johnson, Seasonal Farmer Christina Leung, Seasonal Farmer Elise Stumpf, Seasonal Farmer Anna Botwina, Market Coordinator Marcella Cigdem, Market Coordinator Zora Levkovski, Market Coordinator Joyce Paseltiner, Market Coordinator Kristen Myers, Farm Store Team Member Jeval Robinson, Farm Store Team Member Ed Vilar, Director of Operations Juliza Melendez, Operations Team Member Jhon Otero, Operations Team Member Alaina Pribis, Operations Team Member Rebecca Sterinbach, Operations Team Member

queensfarm.org | 20

Thank You

to our growing family for planting the seeds to success...

The Board of Directors

Newton Shows One Point of Light Foundation

Ace Party & Tent Rental

Pete’s Tavern

Bloomberg Philanthropies

Queens Public Library

Clif Bar Family Foundation

Richard & Elizabeth Boggio Foundation

Cohen Children’s Hospital

Richmond County Savings Foundation

Commonpoint Queens

Street Taco Kings Inc.

Con Edison CUNY Cultural Corps

Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio

Dr. Neal Vichinsky

NYC City Council Speaker Corey Johnson

Federal Paycheck Protection Program

NYC Department of Cultural Affairs

Glen Oaks Village Owners, Inc.

Interim Queens Borough President Sharon Lee

Historic House Trust of NYC

NYC City Council Queens Delegation

Hyde & Watson Foundation

NYC Council Member Barry Grodenchick

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

NYC Council Member Robert Holden

Joan N. & Norman Bluestone Foundation

NYC Council Member Peter Koo

Lifeway Foods

NYC Council Member Francisco Moya

Long Island Farm Bureau

NY State Senator John Liu

Minuteman Press of Bellerose

NY Assemblymember David Weprin

New York Community Trust Animal Welfare New York Community Trust Green Covid Relief

21 | queens county farm museum

And all of our indvidual donors, members and volunteers

Queens County Farm Museum is operated by Colonial Farmhouse Restoration Society of Bellerose, Inc.

design: sarah meyer

queens county farm museum 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, New York 11004 queensfarm.org