Editor’s Note: This series of stories is following Peekskill Regeneration Farm through the growing season. It is funded by a grant from the Dominican Sisters of Hope Ministry Trust Fund.
August, the start of the harvest season, is typically a time of abundance and celebration. This was evidenced earlier this month when scores of people young and old gathered at Peekskill Regeneration Farm for a community dinner and an evening of entertainment.
Community members began arriving early for the event. They brought their own chairs or sat on benches or blankets set out by farm steward Amanda Armenteros and her apprentices. As food tables were set up people mingled or wandered through the garden, often walking away with armfuls of fresh produce that Armenteros helped them harvest.
Chef Diavana Armenteros of Culinary Etiquette used the farm’s bounty to create most of the delicious dishes served at the event. These included everything from tomato and cucumber bruschetta to kale salad to vegetarian lettuce wraps and more. Hungry community members lined up for an hour or more to fill their plates with the chef’s tasty creations.
After dinner the crowd sat back to enjoy Praise in the Garden, an evening of music, dance, song, and spoken word.
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Community members harvest from the garden
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Farm Steward Amanda Armenteros
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Dancers from the Illumination Project
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Dancers from Just the Place Dance Inc.
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Amauta Band accompanied by Baba Kazi
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Baba Kazi Oliver and Nick Jackson playing for the crowd
Peekskill’s own African drummer extraordinaire, Baba Kazi, along with Nick Jackson established an upbeat rhythm for the evening. Their performance was followed by dancers from Antonia Arts, Rhythm of Water Dance Company, Illumination Project, and Just the Place Dance. Amauta Band played traditional Ecuadorian music, Peekskill’s Theo North sang, and both Kaela Miller and Micah Benson gave spoken word performances.
As the sun set on this joyful community gathering, people slowly picked up their chairs and belongings. Some wandered through the garden one last time in search of a fresh memento of the evening. Looking around at the abundance of green growth, there was much to harvest. Looking around at the gathered crowd, it was clear that one of the most precious things Peekskill Regeneration Farm continues to harvest is a spirit of community, and hope.
