- By Sarah Rubenstein-Gillis
- Around Town
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A group of five New Roots Charter School students participated in the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA-NY) Winter Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY last weekend. The students, all members of the New Roots Urban Gardening and Farm to School Clubs (plus a New Roots teacher, staff member and parent chaperone), came together with farmers, gardeners, students, activists, leaders, consumers and others from around the state to network and learn more about organic agriculture, products and services. 
The New Roots Charter School crew at the Northeast Organic Farming Association – NY conference (NOFA-NY) in Saratoga Springs last weekend. Back row (left to right): Staff member Michelle Wright, students Hope Coons, Dylan Hollenbeck, Zoe Fassett-Manuszewski, parent Paul Manuszewski. Front Row (left to right): student Aidan Hodges, teacher Becca Rodomsky-Bish, student Gretchen Spencer.According to the New Roots crew, one of the highlights was a workshop offered by teens from Massachusetts entitled “Urban Aquaponics: Fish and Vegetable Production on an Urban Youth Farm,” as well as the delicious meals, prepared with produce from many organic New York State farms.
The New Roots Farm to School and Urban Gardening Clubs are currently exploring creative ways to establish a downtown school “lab garden” that will help to provide organic produce for the school’s Farms-to-School Healthy Meals program.
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