harvesting amaranth_0541.JPG

The Newburgh Sanctuary is a BIPOC centered healing garden rooted in love, justice and care for the earth. Transforming public land since 2020 into flourishing spaces of nourishment, healing and belonging. We grow and share life-giving food, herbs, and flowers through our community gardens; nurture youth leadership through regenerative farming and ecological land care; and uplift stories and community-led conservation through our youth media program. Through arts, wellness, and cultural events, we strengthen collective identity, pride and joy. Together, we empower people and the land to thrive in harmony.

In a city facing food insecurity, environmental injustice, and a scarcity of safe, welcoming spaces for marginalized communities, we realize the value it brings to our community and the responsibility to care for it with love.

VISION

We envision a future where people & the land flourish together, where restored ecosystems strengthen community well-being, and where youth, elders, and families reconnect through food, culture, care, and nature. 

Newburgh
By Nature

Meet our Land-Stewards

  • A woman with curly dark hair smiling, wearing a beige sweatshirt and jeans, standing in front of a colorful mural of abstract flowers and leaves.

    Betty Bastidas

    Executive Director

  • A woman with short dark hair, wearing a red shirt with a white pattern, gold jewelry, and earrings, smiling against a neutral background.

    Anusha Mehar

    Founder and Board President

  • A woman with dark curly hair wearing a light blue blazer, white top, black pants, and a silver necklace smiling confidently, posing with one hand on her hip against a white background.

    Ivonne Rayo

    Board Treasurer

  • A woman in a red and white checkered shirt holds freshly harvested green vegetables outdoors in front of a brick building.

    Jocelyn Apicello

    Secretary Board Member

  • A woman with dark, wavy hair and a nose piercing, wearing a sleeveless blue top, sitting outdoors on a metal chair with greenery in the background, speaking or explaining something.

    Johanna Guevara

    Communication Strategist

Youth Programs

Three people outdoors in a wooded area preparing food. One woman on the left, wearing a white apron and head covering, observes. A young man in the middle, wearing a black athletic shirt, is chopping red sauce on a wooden cutting board. A young woman on the right, dressed in a navy hoodie, is stirring a pot of red sauce on a portable stove.

The Youth Apprentice Program trains youth to grow food using regenerative farming practices, make medicine from the herbs & flowers in the garden, and prepare nutritious meals through hands-on cooking demonstrations. Youth also participate in ecological restoration projects strengthening  local ecosystems and cultivate environmental stewardship. In partnership with Orange County, this paid apprenticeship offers young people the opportunity to deepen leadership abilities, engage with the community, and build practical skills that support personal and collective well-being. WATCH MORE

YOUTH FARM APPRENTICE PROGRAM

A woman being filmed outdoors by a person with a professional camera near a river surrounded by trees and fallen leaves.

Our Youth Media  Program uplifts the voices of Newburgh’s young people as they document & celebrate community-led conservation. Since 2024, nine local youth have interviewed neighborhood leaders, highlighted grassroots organizations, produced & screened stories that educate the public about ecological restoration, cultural celebrations, & the transformation of Crystal Lake. Through storytelling rooted in place, youth learn to see themselves as both witnesses & shapers of change. This program strengthens leadership, creativity, and environmental awareness—while honoring the people & movements restoring our land. WATCH MORE

YOUTH MEDIA PROGRAM

Follow Our Journey on Youtube

Meet Joanis, long time enjoyer of Crystal Lake park, volunteer of Newburgh Sanctuary.

With the energy and care of volunteers and community organizations, Crystal Lake bloomed with transformation.

Every season, we bring the land to life with art, music, wellness, and community events.

Meet Ronald, the founder of Outdoor Promise and a long-time community partner at Crystal Lake.

Community Events

Two women preparing food outdoors on a colorful tablecloth near a body of water and trees with fall foliage. One woman is pouring liquid into small jars, and the other is using a knife on a wooden cutting board. Various jars, herbs, garlic, and cooking supplies are on the table.

Our workshops such as Woman’s health, Making Winter Medicine with the Herbs, Mushroom foraging, etc– invite the community to reclaim ancestral practices, connect with nature’s wisdom, and build practical skills that support healing and resilience. Together, we grow stronger, more connected, and more rooted in care for the land and one another.

WORKSHOPS/ SKILLSHARES

Four women smiling outdoors holding signs with the text 'Newburgh Sanctuary, Crystal Lake' during a sunny day.

We Love Crystal Lake are stewardship activities  rooted in both celebration,care and honoring the land’s beauty. What began as a call for deeper stewardship has grown into a vibrant series of events—art exhibitions, cultural music concerts, talent shows, poetry jams, and hands-on ecological restoration days—that celebrate and actively protect the land. Together, we celebrate Crystal Lake as we work to preserve it for future generations.

WE LOVE CRYSTAL LAKE EVENTS

Blog

Featured
Celebrating 5 Years of Impact at the Newburgh Sanctuary
Celebrating 5 Years of Impact at the Newburgh Sanctuary

Celebrating 5 years of impact at the Newburgh Sanctuary—ecological restoration, food access, youth programs, and community-led stewardship in Newburgh.

Read More →
We Love Crystal Lake Celebration
We Love Crystal Lake Celebration

We Love Crystal Lake celebrates how far we’ve come and reflects our shared commitment to protecting and nurturing Crystal Lake for generations.

Read More →

Follow Our Journey on Instagram

👩🏽‍🌾 Our paid Youth Farm Apprentice Program trains young people to grow food using regenerative practices, make medicine from garden herbs, prepare nourishing meals, and restore local ecosystems. In partnership with Orange County, youth gain r
📣 City Council Meeting Alert — Hear Our Story We’re bringing our story to a Work Session for City Council. 🗓 Thursday, January 22 🕕 6:00 PM 📍 83 Broadway We’ll be presenting our Impact Report—highlighting five years of gro
🌻 Youth are central to everything we do. Through regenerative farming, herbal medicine, and ecological land care, young people build leadership skills while deepening their relationship with the land and their community. We nurture confidence, respo
With so much happening in the news and it's only the first few weeks of Jan 👀 we are reminded how deeply we need one another. In a city facing food insecurity and environmental injustice, The Newburgh Sanctuary grows and shares life-giving food, her
As we step into the New Year, we recommit to care. ✨ The Newburgh Sanctuary is a BIPOC-centered healing garden rooted in love, justice, and care for the Earth. Since 2020, we’ve transformed public land into spaces of nourishment, healing, and b