And not just one.
Added Value, the nonprofit with a model farm in Red Hook, has started a slightly larger one - three acres - in Picnic Point. The first planting, in June, included hot season crops like eggplant, peppers and, of course, tomatoes. They have also planted cover crops to improve the soil. Come fall they will plant for the winter - garlic, perennial herbs, flowers - and will start planning for livestock - bees, chickens, maybe sheep or goats.
Added Value, the nonprofit with a model farm in Red Hook, has started a slightly larger one - three acres - in Picnic Point. The first planting, in June, included hot season crops like eggplant, peppers and, of course, tomatoes. They have also planted cover crops to improve the soil. Come fall they will plant for the winter - garlic, perennial herbs, flowers - and will start planning for livestock - bees, chickens, maybe sheep or goats.
Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks volunteers planted vegetables
at the Added Value farm on the Island in June / Photo by GIA
at the Added Value farm on the Island in June / Photo by GIA
Added Value is the creation of Ian Marvy and Michael Hurwitz, co-founders in 2001. The home plot is on Van Brunt Street, not far from the Red Hook Ikea and Fairway. Its generous concept is the "sustainable development of Red Hook by nurturing a new generation of young leaders," providing work and training for South Brooklyn teenagers. The added byproduct of the Island plot will be produce for the restaurant at Water Taxi Beach and for a retail stand opening next month.
College interns and Added Value staff have been the primary work crew, but staff were joined by almost 100 volunteers from Goldman Sachs' Community TeamWorks (CTW) for a day in June. Since the program was founded in 1997, CTW volunteers have assisted communities around the world through volunteer endeavors and partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Together the volunteers helped to ready the beds and plant roughly 270 peppers, 190 eggplants and 490 tomatoes - to which Leslie Koch added three of her own. There will also be "farm days," when local children's groups may visit and see seeds becoming tomatoes. The Summer Youth Empowerment Program is sending the first group.
Are there any special challenges to farming on Governors Island? You can bet there are. Ian Marvy explains: "As with any new piece of land there is a significant learning curve. This land has poor drainage. We may also see significant wind and sea salt spray in coming months. We expected a challenge from the geese, but they don't seem interested."
College interns and Added Value staff have been the primary work crew, but staff were joined by almost 100 volunteers from Goldman Sachs' Community TeamWorks (CTW) for a day in June. Since the program was founded in 1997, CTW volunteers have assisted communities around the world through volunteer endeavors and partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Together the volunteers helped to ready the beds and plant roughly 270 peppers, 190 eggplants and 490 tomatoes - to which Leslie Koch added three of her own. There will also be "farm days," when local children's groups may visit and see seeds becoming tomatoes. The Summer Youth Empowerment Program is sending the first group.
Are there any special challenges to farming on Governors Island? You can bet there are. Ian Marvy explains: "As with any new piece of land there is a significant learning curve. This land has poor drainage. We may also see significant wind and sea salt spray in coming months. We expected a challenge from the geese, but they don't seem interested."