Summer & Fall 2023 Events

Join us in gardens and farms around NYC this year . . .

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See below for events we held in 2023.

THE SOUL OF FOOD Session 1: Seeding a Vibrant Afro–Indigenous Garden 2024
May
18

THE SOUL OF FOOD Session 1: Seeding a Vibrant Afro–Indigenous Garden 2024

Join us in the garden to plant crops of the African diaspora that will be used in some of our culinary workshops this year! We’ll discuss the journeys of Afro-Indigenous plants like greens, peas, and grains, and go through the process of how to transplant and direct sow these plants for successful growth.

This session commences The Soul of Food, a Deep Routes workshop series honoring the foodways that connect plants, peoples, and lands across Afro-Indigenous diasporas.

Illustrations by Lindsey Bailey for Deep Routes (do not use without permission).

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An Manje -Pre-Launch Celebration & Screening
Dec
8

An Manje -Pre-Launch Celebration & Screening

Join us for an evening celebrating the forthcoming An Manje: A Celebration of Haitian Foodways (officially launching in print & digital January 1st 2024) a multimedia anthological curriculum of written and film essays, interviews, artwork, and photography highlighting the country's culinary histories and future visions by Haitian and Haitian-American authors, chefs/cooks, creatives, and more (learn about them here).

Come enjoy food, drinks, and vibes with us as we uplift the brilliance of Haiti, Haitians, and Haitian foodways alongside an exclusive, early screening of a short-mini documentary from the anthology + get to meet the contributors of the anthology!

This in-person event will be held at Mayday Space, Saint Nicholas Avenue, Brooklyn, NY from 6:30-10pm.

We have Special Admission(receive an advanced copy of the book) & General Admission tickets available + Early birds get 33% off when you order before by November 24th 11:59pm EST. Learn more by ordering today. Additionally, we have a limited number of discounted tickets for special groups to make the event more accessible, please see FAQ on Eventbrite for more info.

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Garlic Festival @ Ayni Herb Farm
Nov
4

Garlic Festival @ Ayni Herb Farm

“Save the date for our first ever GARLIC FESTIVAL! In honor of our annual tradition to plant garlic in community while sharing stories about our relationship with this powerful plant kin and setting intentions for the following season, we invite you all to join us for this plus more garlic magic. Participants can select various garlic themed workshops, join us for a communal lunch, performances and help us plant garlic into our fields. More details to come!” - Ayni Herb Farm

Suggested donation: $15

más información e inscripciones en español

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THE SOUL OF FOOD Session 5: For the Love of Grains
Oct
21

THE SOUL OF FOOD Session 5: For the Love of Grains

Join us in the kitchen for a deep dive into Afro-Indigenous grains! Through discussion and preparation of grain-producing plants including rice and corn, we’ll learn how these grains connect and continue to feed Black and Brown diasporas.

This session concludes The Soul of Food, a Deep Routes workshop series honoring the foodways that connect plants, peoples, and lands across Afro-Indigenous diasporas.

Illustrations by Lindsey Bailey for Deep Routes (do not use without permission).

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THE SOUL OF FOOD Session 4: Afro-Indigenous Traditions of Harvesting
Sep
30

THE SOUL OF FOOD Session 4: Afro-Indigenous Traditions of Harvesting

As cooler weather begins to debut, with it comes the warm hues of fruits, roots, and seeds that are ready to be gathered for the fall harvest. In honor of this abundant season, we’ll discuss traditions and technologies of harvesting across African and Indigenous diasporas, process some storage crops (e.g., sorghum and field peas, dependent upon their readiness), and prepare a simple yet satiating dish using some of the featured ingredients together.

This session is a continuation of The Soul of Food, a Deep Routes workshop series honoring the foodways that connect plants, peoples, and lands across Afro-Indigenous diasporas. Facilitated by Maya Marie S. (Deep Routes)

Illustrations by Lindsey Bailey for Deep Routes (do not use without permission).

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River Bites Session 2: The Coastal Stories of Akara
Sep
16

River Bites Session 2: The Coastal Stories of Akara

Come spend your Saturday riverside at Oko Farms with Deep Routes, supported by One Love Community Fridge, as we explore how connections to land and water are deeply intertwined with African diasporic foodways.

We’ll enjoy nourishing meals that highlight both the farm’s seasonal abundance and the evolution of dishes that have crossed oceans, bays, and rivers thanks to generations of stewardship by Black people.

Each workshop will engage participants together through Introductions, Educational Discussion, Culinary Demos, Collective Harvesting, Dish Preparation, & A Shared Community Meal

All workshop participants will receive a bag of produce and mini book with recipes to take with them! Tickets $45

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East New York Farms x Deep Routes: Building Healthy Soils with Cover Crop
Sep
14

East New York Farms x Deep Routes: Building Healthy Soils with Cover Crop

Building and maintaining soil health is an important part of producing healthy plants and giving back to the earth, especially in preparation for winter. One of the many ways you can build soil health is to incorporate cover crops into your growing space. In this hands-on workshop with Farmer Maya, we’ll go over what cover crops are and how to incorporate them.

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River Bites Session 1: Bays & Rivers of the Southern Coast
Aug
26

River Bites Session 1: Bays & Rivers of the Southern Coast

Come spend your Saturday riverside at Oko Farms with Deep Routes as we explore how connections to land and water are deeply intertwined with African diasporic foodways. We’ll enjoy nourishing meals that highlight both the farm’s seasonal abundance and the evolution of dishes that have crossed oceans, bays, and rivers thanks to generations of stewardship by Black people. 

For this first session we’ll be getting into some of the crabbing traditions of the Southeastern Coasts of North America and those brought to North America from West African regions.

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THE SOUL OF FOOD Session 3: For the Love of Greens
Aug
12

THE SOUL OF FOOD Session 3: For the Love of Greens

Whether for daily sustenance, holy days, celebrations, luck, or other rituals, greens of all sorts have been an integral part of the foodways of African and Indigenous diasporas for centuries. Join us to discuss the splendor of greens and their relevance in Afro-Indigenous diasporas, as well as prepare a few dishes that highlight their versatility in the kitchen.

This session is a continuation of The Soul of Food, a Deep Routes workshop series honoring the foodways that connect plants, peoples, and lands across Afro-Indigenous diasporas.

Illustrations by Lindsey Bailey for Deep Routes (do not use without permission).

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East New York Farms x Deep Routes: Summer Tomato Care
Jul
13

East New York Farms x Deep Routes: Summer Tomato Care

Tomatoes can be some of the most satisfying yet challenging plants to steward in the summer, but with a few simple strategies, you can be on your way to establishing a relationship with them that is mutually beneficial. In this hands-on workshop with Farmer Maya, we’ll discuss different tomatoes, approaches to increasing their yields while reducing diseases and pests, and methods of pruning them while getting into some practice to build up your confidence. (RESCHEDULED to July 13th 6-7:30pm)

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THE SOUL OF FOOD Session 2: A Juneteenth Jubilee
Jun
17

THE SOUL OF FOOD Session 2: A Juneteenth Jubilee

Come cook with us in the garden in honor of Juneteenth! During this workshop we’ll get into the legacy of Juneteenth as well as self-liberation efforts throughout the African diaspora and learn about crops that have sustained Black peoples throughout the Southern U.S. and Caribbean. As we prepare and share a meal together, we’ll reflect on the legacies and continued strides Black folks have made through self–determination and preservation of foodways.

This session is a continuation of The Soul of Food, a Deep Routes workshop series honoring the foodways that connect plants, peoples, and lands across Afro–Indigenous diasporas.

Illustrations by Lindsey Bailey for Deep Routes (do not use without permission).

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THE SOUL OF FOOD Session 1: Seeding a Vibrant Afro–Indigenous Garden
Jun
3

THE SOUL OF FOOD Session 1: Seeding a Vibrant Afro–Indigenous Garden

Join us in the garden to plant crops of the African diaspora that will be used in some of our culinary workshops this year! We’ll discuss the journeys of Afro-Indigenous plants like greens, peas, and grains, and go through the process of how to transplant and direct sow these plants for successful growth.

This session commences The Soul of Food, a Deep Routes workshop series honoring the foodways that connect plants, peoples, and lands across Afro-Indigenous diasporas.

This workshop is part of the sixth annual Open Garden NYC, which will take place for two days on Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4, 2023 (rain or shine) at community gardens across the city! For more information and to see all of the Open Garden NYC events, visit our website.

Illustrations by Lindsey Bailey for Deep Routes (do not use without permission).

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East New York Farms x Deep Routes: Seedling Care & Transplanting
May
26

East New York Farms x Deep Routes: Seedling Care & Transplanting

Whether you’ve started your seedlings yourself or sourced them from a nursery or plant shop, caring for them prior to, during, and after the process of getting them transplanted into the ground can be crucial for their successful growth and health. During this workshop with Farmer Maya we’ll go over methods of caring for seedlings at their different life stages, how to identify when they’re ready to go into the ground, what to do as they get established in your growing space, and practice transplanting seedlings into a farm bed.

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Gossy: Threading Through Cotton, Crochet, and Afro-Diaspora Fiber Arts
Apr
15

Gossy: Threading Through Cotton, Crochet, and Afro-Diaspora Fiber Arts

This Spring we’re partnering with the Cultivemos Queer Farmers Cohort for their skill share series to highlight the connection between farming and fiber arts in the African diaspora.

Join us @enyfarms on Saturday April 15th 1-2:30pm to discuss some of the threads that weave cotton together with the fiber art of crochet and practice your hands at some basic crochet techniques to make a simple accessory.

FREE Registration at the link in our bio and materials will be provided thanks to the generous support of @youngfarmers. Space and materials are limited so please only register if you can definitely attend, or let us know if you’re no longer able to attend.

Cultivemos (formerly known as FRSAN-NE, the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Northeast) is a project of the National Young Farmers Coalition @youngfarmers and the Cultivemos Queer Farmers Cohort is a group of queer farmers cultivating network building within the queer farmer community. Additionally through skill shares like these they’re aiming to uplift queer farmer knowledge while fostering connections.

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Bees, Trees, and Beans: Stories of Vanilla’s Ecological Interdependence
Mar
11

Bees, Trees, and Beans: Stories of Vanilla’s Ecological Interdependence

While Vanilla (aka Tlilxochitl in Nahuatl) is sometimes used to indicate something basic or credited to European culture, the full narrative of this plant is far from that. This can be seen both in its journeys through time being stewarded by Indigenous and Afro-Diaspora peoples, as well as the processes that make it possible for us to enjoy it in our favorite sweets.

Join us this Saturday @brooklynbotanic Making Brooklyn Bloom conference to connect and reflect with vanilla (we’ll make some extracts!!) while learning more about its stories throughout time and interdependence with beings across the ecosystem.

TIME SLOTS: 11am-12pm AND 3-4pm

FREE Admission but on-site registration for workshops starts at 10am and typically fill up quickly at this conference, so it’s beneficial to get there on time.

✨We’ll also be tabling at the conference so if you want to learn more about the project, how to get involved, or snatch up some Deep Routes freebies and giveaways, stop by and say “hi” ✨

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Flour Play: A BIPOC Baking Class
Feb
4
to Mar 31

Flour Play: A BIPOC Baking Class

Join Deep Routes in the kitchen at May Day Space for our inaugural Black and Indigenous foodways centered baking course!

This series will be at the 101 level technique-wise (think simple cakes, cookies, and breads), and offer 3 hands-on in-person sessions to practice and apply fundamental baking techniques and concepts in tandem with 4 foundational virtual Zoom sessions + A Closing Celebration Session. This series will hold introductory discussions about the plants, bakers, and farmers of African, Asian, and Indigenous diasporas that make modern baking possible. This course will center-BIPOC (Black and Indigenous people of color) participants, and white participants are welcome to join if they’re able to pay at a higher rate.

This 8 week Course will support you in:

  • Developing a foundational understanding of working with flours, fats, sugars, leaveners, and flavorings in baking.

  • Contextualizing baking in the historical context of BIPOC foodways and movements.

  • Deepening your relationship to the plants and pastry arts stories of Afro-Indigenous diasporas.

  • Feeling more confident when it comes to baking!

Register Here.

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