Fund for An Open Society DBA Planting Seeds of Hope

We are embarking on the next phase of our work – mini-campuses involving quality housing for a range of income levels, community shared spaces, gardens for food access, and commercial enterprise. These mixed used developments will bring together our years of experience in the worlds of housing, food, small business and community organizing. More than ever – in these divided times – we are renewing our focus on the vision of racially and socioeconomically integrated communites as the ‘home base’ for more fairness, opportunity and shared prosperty in our cities. More info to come on specific projects in late 2021.

Planting Seeds of Hope has gone through several phases over the last 10 years. It’s good to remember where you have been as you think about where you are going.

A short timeline of things past and things to come:

Earlier days at SWAG Project

In 2010, PSH partnered with The First Tabernacle, Team Charter and Peshine Avenue School to launch SWAG Project (South Ward Agri-Garden) at 343 Meeker Ave.

In 2012, PSH began offering educational enrichment for Peshine Ave. students.

In 2016, PSH helped launch a novel composting business called P3 Organix, which focused on collecting food waste to turn into healthy soil amendments.

In 2017 Lincoln Park Community Garden found a new home on West Kinney Street.

In 2017-2018 we planned and launched our sister organization the Urban Agriculture Cooperative to specifically focus on Farmer’s Markets and building food access while creating more economic growth for local farmers.

In 2018-2019 we worked on policy advocacy to finally bring community scale composting to neighborhood gardens, coordinating with the NJ DEP on an exemption process that will hopefully be replicated in the coming year at a garden near you!

Soil amending experiment from food waste compost

Looking forward..

In late 2019 Urban Agriculture Cooperative and PSH team were retained by West Side High School to plan, build and launch an ambitious commercial urban farm on their front lawn that could also be used as a lab for food entrepreneurship (coming in 2020).  Check back for updates as the project develops.

In 2020 PSH and its partners are embarking on housing development projects that include natural ecosystem features to manage storm water, increase wildlife habitat, create cleaner air and add beauty and serenity to the lives of residents and local neighbors. The goal is a mixed portfolio of green-oriented and sustainable affordable rental, ownership opportunities, small commercial and community facilities.

Ironbound Orchard, fall 2019

Happy Spring 2016! The season of Being Excellent to Each Other has returned!

If you are in the Newark area and would like to be involved in healthy food, education, community development and entrepreneurship this year, contact Emilio at:

PSHOPE13@gmail.com

These seeds ain’t plantin’ themselves!               Come lend a hand!

A BLESSED HOLIDAY SEASON TO ALL IN OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY

TO ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, GUESTS, SUPPORTERS AND FAMILIES

THANK YOU FOR MAKING 2015 AN AMAZING YEAR

AND FOR PLANTING SEEDS OF HOPE IN OUR HEARTS

(c) Elizabeth Leitzell, 2015