Founding New Roots Alums Help Grow TC3's New Farm to Bistro Program

I was invited to attend TC3’s press conference for their new Farm to Bistro project by President Carl Haynes during a chance conversation about this exciting new program  – how could I say no?  It was freezing in the expansive space that will house the Coltivare culinary center and restaurant, but I was shivering from excitement, not the cold! 

The Farm to Bistro program will give students hands-on experience in every aspect of the food production system, as the college will operate its own working organic farm to supply fresh fruits and vegetables to Coltivare, the college’s planned culinary center in downtown Ithaca.  If you’d like to know more, here’s the link:

https://www.tc3.edu/catalog/ap_farm_to_bistro.asp

TC3’s Farm to Bistro program is exactly, perfectly the right college program for students whose passions are ignited by our Farm to School culinary and agriculture program at New Roots.  And in fact, it appears that several New Roots alums will be among the program’s founders!

Here’s a link to the article in the Ithaca Journal, which quotes TC3 student Jane Whiting at length:

http://www.ithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201402121624/NEWS01/302120068

  

Jane is a New Roots founder, Class of 2013.  Accepted to Cornell University’s ILR School, Jane has chosen Farm to Bistro as her path.  I’m not at all surprised – Jane is a visionary, entrepreneurial thinker who cares passionately about sustainability and justice and is ready roll up her sleeves to make good things happen.  This program is a perfect opportunity for an ambitious student like Jane -- and I’m sure the relationship will be mutually beneficial.

TC3’s new farm manager Todd McLane has a long history with New Roots, too.  Todd designed the very first Farm to School excursions for New Roots students as Farm Manager for West Haven Farm, as well as professional development for our staff.  It really takes me down memory lane to look at these phones of our faculty touring the farm with Todd in the summer of 2009!  Todd is the perfect combination of farmer and educator.  In my pre-New Roots days I spent many a Saturday morning helping Todd at the West Haven Farm stand at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market.  He’s a great guy and the perfect choice for this program in so many ways, in my humble estimation.  

Jane’s not the only New Roots graduate to be lured away from other colleges by this initiative:  my son, Aidan Hodges Class of 2013, is choosing to pursue a career in organic farming rather than attend SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

I am so excited that Aidan has an opportunity to pursue his passion for organic agriculture right here at home, where his good work will contribute to the quality of life of his family, friends, and neighbors.  Here are two photos of Aidan at the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York’s conference last month, one with veteran New York State farmer Elizabeth Henderson who has lead the fight for justice for farmworkers (and farmers!) and another with keynote speaker Dr. Gary Nabhan after a workshop on how organic farmers are getting ahead of the curve on climate change.   I’m one proud mamma J   This innovative new program will provide invaluable educational opportunities for the area’s youth who, like Jane and Aidan, aspire to support the development of a thriving regional food system, a rapidly-growing sector of our economy. 

TC3 President Carl Haynes’s vision and leadership is such an abiding source of inspiration for me.  Did you know that President Haynes is a founding faculty member at TC3, joining the staff in 1969 just a year after it opened?  After so many years of committed service to the college and community, President Haynes remains full of enthusiasm and energy for the good work of making our region’s community college a catalyst for projects that support our region’s youth, our economy, our quality of life – our community.  That shared vision is at the heart of all that we do at New Roots, too.  I am grateful for the many ways that President Carl Haynes continues to blaze trails, creating opportunities like this one for our youth to become the innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders that will create a more sustainable and just life for all in our region.  Thank you, President Haynes!