Farms at NYCHA

Farms at NYCHA

Building sustainable and connected public housing communities.

The Program

Farms at NYCHA is part of Building Healthy Communities (BHC), a city-wide partnership active from 2015-2020, designed to improve health outcomes in 12 neighborhoods in New York City. Through the initiative, young public housing residents built and maintained farms on public housing properties across the city to serve fellow residents in collaboration with local partners. The Farms expand healthy food access and provide youth workforce and leadership development.

Farms at NYCHA has built and managed six urban farms on public housing property since the inaugural farm, Red Hook Houses Farm, launched in 2013 with partners NYCHA, Added Value, and Green City Force. As of 2020, the Red Hook Houses Farm is operated by Red Hook Initiative. The remaining five farm sites are currently powered by Green City Force. Our ambition is to transform the current farm sites into Eco Hubs as well as to eventually build more urban agriculture-based sustainability demonstration sites across the NYCHA portfolio.

 

Farm Email Updates

For up-to-date news about each farm, sign up for our farm email lists.

 

Farm Email Signup




Past and current
Farms at NYCHA
partners

Farms at NYCHA Outcomes
(2013 to spring 2024)

Farm Stand Times

NYCHA residents can pick up fresh, organic produce grown on site, drop off household compostable waste, and volunteer at Farm Stands operated by GCF typically from June through November. 2024 Farm Stands will reopen soon.

All farm stands run from 11 AM – 2 PM. 

FarmsOperated byDaysMap
Wagner Houses FarmGCFSaturdaysGoogle Map
Howard Houses FarmGCFSaturdaysGoogle Map
Bay View Houses FarmGCFSaturdaysGoogle Map
Forest Houses FarmGCFSaturdaysGoogle Map
Mariners Harbor Houses FarmGCFSaturdaysGoogle Map
Astoria Houses FarmGCFSaturdaysGoogle Map
Red Hook Houses FarmRed Hook InitiativeGoogle Map

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A Year in Service At the Farms



How are the farms designed?

GCF Corps Members and NYCHA staff attend community meetings and gatherings at each development to get residents’ input on the farm’s plan and design. Residents are surveyed about location, size, and the crops they would like to grow.

 

How can NYCHA residents get involved?

There are many ways to help out, and enjoy the benefits of NYCHA Farms:

  • Volunteer to help plant, water, and weed in exchange for fresh produce.
  • Bring compostable food scraps (fruit/vegetable peels, coffee grounds, egg shells) to exchange for fresh produce.
  • Attend a cooking demonstration, or community event at your local NYCHA farm.

Where are the farms and who runs them?

There are currently six farms. The farms are constructed and operated by 18 to 24 year-old NYCHA residents who are Green City Force (GCF) AmeriCorps Members. Five farms are powered by GCF, and the Red Hook Houses Farm is run by Red Hook Initiative.

 

Who gets the harvested food?

NYCHA residents receive free produce in exchange for volunteering on the farm or bringing household food scraps to the farm stand each week. Farm Stands run from June through November. See the table above for the date and time of your local farm stand.

 



Farms at NYCHA, Powered by GCF

GCF works with partner organizations throughout NYC to construct and operate farms on NYCHA property. GCF manages the six farms at our Eco-Hubs listed below.




Astoria Houses Farm

Astoria Houses Farm


Location: Astoria Houses, Astoria, Queens. The closest street address is 3-20 27th Ave.

Resident Population: 2,816 (NYCHA 2022 Databook)

Opened: April, 2023

Size: 2/5 acre

Bay View Houses Farm

Bay View Houses Farm


Location: Bay View Houses, Canarsie, Brooklyn.
At the center of the development.
The closest street address is 2085 Rockaway Parkway.

Resident Population: 3,393 (NYCHA 2022 Databook)

Opened: September, 2016

Size: 2 acres

Forest Houses Farm

Forest Houses Farm


Location: Forest Houses, Morrisania, Bronx.
At 730 East 165th Street.

Resident Population: 2,801 (NYCHA 2022 Databook)

Opened: May, 2018

Size: 1 & 1/3 acre

Howard Houses Farm

Howard Houses Farm


Location: Howard Houses, Brownsville, Brooklyn.
Behind the Brownsville Brooklyn Public Library branch at the end of Glenmore Ave.
The closest street address is 60 Glenmore Ave.

Resident Population: 1,782 (NYCHA 2022 Databook)

Opened: July, 2016

Size: 3/4 acre

Mariners Harbor Houses Farm

Mariners Harbor Houses Farm


Location: Mariners Harbor Houses, North Shore, Staten Island.
At 132 Brabant Street.

Resident Population: 1,387 (NYCHA 2022 Databook)

Opened: May, 2018

Size: 1 acre

Wagner Houses Farm

Wagner Houses Farm


Location: Wagner Houses, East Harlem, Manhattan.
At 122nd Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues.

Resident Population: 4,512 (NYCHA 2022 Databook)

Opened: October, 2016

Size: 1/3 acre