Bronx Market Shares Mind and Body Wellness

“We share ideas and knowledge for how to grow, and how to grow this dream. We share our talents, our art, our creativity, and inspire each other,” said Raymond Pultinas, the founder and director of the James Baldwin Outdoor Learning Center (JBOLC). “There is something dynamic here that teaches us how to sustain life and find happiness and peace in practicing essential human labors, like gardening, composting, cooking, preparing, and eating.”

Last Saturday, the JBOLC organized a community farmer’s market on the campus of  Dewitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, hosting vendors that sold handmade jewelry, crystals, skincare products, vegan food and drinks, and produce from local farms.

Organizers started it to increase awareness about food inequality and bring more sources of healthy food to the local community. “We’re trying to make an impact and get people to eat healthier, regardless of their ability to pay,” Pultinas said.

Ten years ago, Pultinas, a former teacher at DeWitt Clinton High School, began launching sustainability projects. “Every year I feel like it’s doubled in size. We started with the school garden … In 2016, we started this community garden. In 2017, we planted thirty-five fruit trees here, like an orchard, an edible forest. And this year we started the farmer’s market,” he said.

“We started this one in August, which was late for a farmer’s market, and that’s because of COVID.”

Other local markets lost their venues as a result of the pandemic, so the center was unsure if they would be able to open their market. But encouragement from community members and local jurisdictions helped make it possible.

In a press release, the Center said COVID-19 was one reason for opening the market. “People are getting COVID because they aren’t wearing masks. But also people with preexisting conditions are most susceptible to the most dangerous cases,” Pultinas said. “When you peel back the layers, really it’s about eating healthy and people having access to good food. In the absence of good food, people are relying on food that is making them compromise their system.”

Babafemi, a former student of Dewitt Clinton High School and founder of Baba Juice, sold handmade beverages with natural ingredients that help strengthen the immune system.

“These juices really helped me,” said Babafemi. He once weighed 280 pounds and became a juice-drinking vegan to lose weight. It was more than a physical lifestyle change. “I used to sell alcohol, but I wanted to help people put something good into their bodies,” he said.

Eighteen-year-old entrepreneur, Giselle, educates people about crystals and orgonite to help them explore their spiritual energies. Her business is called Innergcells, and she makes handmade orgonite pyramids and crystal necklaces, she explained, for people to protect themselves from radiation and negativity and promote peace and wellness.

To help people look as good as they feel, Zambo Aroma sold natural skincare products including face masks, soap, and relaxing body oils. At their table, Esther, a company representative said, “We were invited out, and being from the Bronx we thought we’d come out and support.”

Alongside the garden, children chased each other and rode their bikes while visitors grabbed food from Chef Rootsie’s Veggie Grub and rested on the sunlit grass.

“It’s nice to have this market here by our house and we can bring the kids,” said Diana, a local resident. “We get to go out of the house and we can come out and support the community.”

The market closed for the winter season, but organizers plan to be back next year. In the meantime, Pultinas is thinking about future projects. “Our next goal is to start a food kiosk or a food truck,” Pultinas said. “Like good food at a reasonable price to compete with some of the fast-food trucks that are in the area. Especially for students.”

“We’d ultimately like to bring in as many people to create a multi-national, multi-cultural assortment of good foods.”