Breaking Ground on New Urban Farms at Ravenswood and South Beach Houses
NYCHA, Green City Force (GCF), resident leaders, and community partners recently celebrated the groundbreaking of two new urban farm sites at Ravenswood Houses in Queens and South Beach Houses on Staten Island, expanding opportunities for residents to access fresh food and for young NYCHA residents to learn skills in green service while strengthening their communities.
Both celebrations coincided with World Environment Day on June 5. Once construction is complete, GCF will operate both locations under its EcoHub model and will have AmeriCorps Members, primarily NYCHA residents ages 18 to 24, grow and distribute fresh produce and lead community programming.
Each groundbreaking event included tours of the future farm sites, discussions about the planned builds, and introductions to the future program model and how the farms will serve residents. Plum trees were planted, with plans for a larger orchard at South Beach Houses. Both farms will feature raised growing beds, seating and gathering spaces, ADA accessible pathways, and composting infrastructure.
GCF Executive Director Tonya Gayle noted that the expansion of the farms reflects the organization’s commitment to public housing communities.
“Green City Force was founded with a vision of centering public housing residents in work to expand opportunity in the green economy for young adults across NYC,” she said. “We are proud to have built and managed seven urban agriculture sites across NYCHA and we’re thrilled to build and operate these two new farms at Ravenswood and South Beach.”
NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt attended the South Beach groundbreaking where she thanked GCF for its continued partnership in providing leadership development for young adult NYCHA residents and expanding urban agriculture across NYCHA communities.
Resident Health Initiatives Elena Cromeyer and GCF Executive Director Tonya Gayle.
“Not everyone knows that NYCHA is also the largest owner of open space in NYC beyond the Parks Department, and that we host more than 1,000 acres of tree canopy,” CEO Bova-Hiatt said. “Our partnerships with organizations like Green City Force and many others, including the Parks Department and the Public Housing Community Fund, allow us to transform underutilized green space into welcoming outdoor amenities for residents to gather, engage, and grow together in support of community wellbeing.”
Resident leaders shared their excitement about what the farms will mean for their communities.
“Thank you for supporting the vision of bringing a farm to South Beach,” said South Beach Houses Resident Association President Rashida Reid. “The farm will help the community feed their families and develop career-building skills. I also want to thank the South Beach Resident Association Board. I’m so thankful this idea is becoming a reality.”
Ravenswood Houses Resident Association Board Member Christina Chaise said the farm will create lasting benefits beyond fresh produce. “Our new community farm represents an opportunity for us to meaningfully address food insecurity and access to fresh organic produce for our residents; to support economic and professional development of our young people; and to provide an opportunity for folks to be in relationship with the land again. We have a chance to put our hands in soil again, to remember the knowledge of our ancestors in tending to land and bringing life to plants that nourish us. To me, this community farm is deeper than just jobs; it’s about self- and collective-determination, and of course, remembering how our humanity is tied to this land.”
In addition to the two forthcoming farms, GCF current operates farms at Wagner Houses, Howard Houses, Bay View Houses, Forest Houses, Mariner’s Harbor, and Astoria Houses. Residents of these developments can visit now through November to pick up fresh produce every Saturday between 11am-2pm, drop off compostable waste, volunteer, and participate in programming.
Stay in touch with NYCHA’s Farms and Gardens program. For more information and to access support, email gardens@nycha.nyc.gov or call (212) 306-8282 and leave a message.