I recently had the opportunity to visit the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance (VCPA) and interview one of their dedicated workers, Christina Taylor. Our conversation provided valuable insights into VCPA’s history, mission, and impactful work in sustainable agriculture and community engagement. Below is the full interview:

Can you tell me about the history and mission of the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance? 

“VCPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to running environmental education, stewardship, and cultural programs here in VCP. We were established in 2019 through the merger of two smaller nonprofits. We are now the public-private partnership for this park.”

How does your organization contribute to sustainable agriculture within the park? 

“Within the park, we do have our educational garden and compost site. Here at the garden, we have about 30 vegetable beds we grow produce in. We use these beds for educational purposes; we work with high school interns and school groups to teach them about sustainable agriculture and to encourage them to start growing their own produce at home.”

How does the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance engage with the local community and encourage their involvement in your initiatives? 

“VCPA works with over 1000 volunteers every year throughout the entire park. At the garden, we have Tune-Up Tuesdays. Every other Tuesday, spring through fall, volunteers can come in and help with the garden beds. We are actually now looking for ‘vital volunteers’ for the garden; these are individuals who want to adopt the garden and help do some maintenance in between our volunteer groups. We also work with high school students. In the spring we work with high school interns twice a week after school. They help get the beds ready for the season and with the initial planting. In the summer and fall, we have our garden to market internship. The interns work both here at the garden and run a youth-run farmstand.”

Have you faced any challenges with the farmstand? 

“Our biggest challenge is weather. We are outside, so we hold it rain or shine. On rainy days we don’t get too many customers so that can be challenging. But, our goal at the end of the day is not to make a lot of money. Our goal is to break even and provide affordable produce for the community. We donate everything that is left over to the Friendly Fridge.”

Interviewing the Christina Taylor was incredibly inspiring. Her dedication to environmental education and community engagement exemplifies the kind of impact that sustainable agriculture initiatives can have. VCPA’s work not only promotes sustainable farming practices but also fosters a strong sense of community involvement and environmental stewardship.

Get Involved: Interested in supporting VCPA? Visit their website to learn more about their programs and volunteer opportunities. Follow them on social media to stay updated on their latest initiatives and events.

By sharing this interview, we hope to highlight the vital role organizations like VCPA play in fostering sustainable agriculture and community engagement. Their efforts are a testament to the power of local action in driving global change.

By Charlotte Henes