Urban Farming at Brooklyn Grange

Monday, July 27, 2015

New York never fails to surprise me. Last Saturday, we tagged along with my cousins to the Brooklyn Navy Yards to check out an event at the Brooklyn Grange. I was floored to discover a flourishing urban farm on a Brooklyn rooftop with the New York skyline as its backdrop.

Urban rooftop farming at the Brooklyn Grange with New York skyline views
Sunflowers on the Brooklyn Grange rooftop with a view of the New York skyline

The Brooklyn Grange bills itself as the biggest commercial rooftop farm in the world, with two farms located in the Brooklyn Navy Yards and in Long Island City. They sell their produce at the LIC farm on Saturdays and at Greenpoint's Down to Earth Markets on Sundays, as well as select online and local retailers. Brooklyn Grange shares the joys of urban farming with a wide range of audiences, including urban youth, refugees and immigrants. Apart from all its admirable do-gooing, the Brooklyn Grange's urban farm is a sight to behold. Its lush rows of dinosaur kale, tomato vines heavy with plump fruit, and cheery sunflowers look utterly surreal set against stunning views of the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center.

The event we attended last Saturday launched a partnership between Everlane and Edible Schoolyard NYC. Their goal is to raise $50,000 to bring better food and knowledge about where food comes from to the city's school children. Everlane teamed up with five chefs to design a range of market totes, which are currently available for purchase at Everlane. Profits will benefit Edible Schoolyard NYC, which partners with public schools to build gardens and kitchen classrooms so that school children can have a stronger connection with food, health and the environment.

Everlane and Edible Schoolyard tote
Lavender cocktails on the Brooklyn Grange Navy Yards rooftop
Urban rooftop farming at the Brooklyn Grange with New York skyline views

We had a really lovely time sampling lavender-spiked cocktails, touring the farm facilities and getting to know a bit more about these amazing New York initiatives. There's probably nothing more Brooklyn than sipping lavender cocktails on an urban rooftop farm—but at the same time, it's finding out all the amazing things Brooklynites and New Yorkers are up to that makes it so great to be a part of this community.

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2 comments

  1. Hello! Im a fellow blogger and I am in LOVE with this urban farming. Makes you kind of forget how dirty cities can be!
    --Bailey
    www.misscardioqueen.com.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. I totally agree! Thanks so much for stopping by, Bailey!

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