grow yer own

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/46972731@N08/ / CC BY 2.0

Last summer, the mistress of all things beautiful about this website, traveled around the country in search of the “eco/sustainable/renewable/badass” United States. On her journey she came to NYC, but before she did I filled her in-box with what I thought were the coolest and most most awesome DIY and thoughtful things going on in the city up to that date. One of them was Added Value Farms in Red Hook.

The phrase “Food Justice” is one that every. single. one. of. us. should know.

For most people living in NYC, hearing the name “Red Hook” doesn’t usually bring to mind fields of lettuce, tomatoes and squash. More likely you will hear “no transportation”, “drugs” and “housing projects”. Red Hook can be a rough place to grow up. In the spring of 2001 the only full-service grocery store closed down leaving this harbor-side neighborhood of very little mass transit without a place to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. forcing them to get expensive, crappy produce from bodegas.

But in 2002 two people (Ian Marvy and Ben Balcolm) decided that they didn’t want to wait for someone else to make things better and Added Value Farms was born. 8 years later, it is a community hub with 115 student volunteers who learn about food growth, volunteerism and community. Last year the farm grew 12 tons of fresh produce for donation, sale and their CSA. They send produce to food pantries and have partnered with local restaurants who purchase the fruits and vegetables.

Added Value farm in Brooklyn - flickr.com/46972731@N08

This is happening all over the country. Not everyone can farm but you can be a part of helping others to do it.

Would you spend your Saturdays learning about farming along-side some city kids? Is there a farm near you where you can volunteer?