New York: An Aerial Farm Sprouts In Manhattan At Essex Crossing
By CARLA ROMAN
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS | JUL 30, 2019
(L-R) Linda Bryant, president of Project EATS, Rick Smith, Project EATS Director of Farm Operations, and L+M Vice Chair, Debbie Kenyon, pose in the quarter-acre Essex Crossing Farm on top of the Essex Market on Monday in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)
Something’s taking root on a Manhattan terrace — namely, carrots, turnips, radishes and all kinds of leafy greens.
The garden with a view is the latest addition to Essex Crossing, the $1 billion mega-development project that will eventually cover nine city blocks around the intersection of Delancey and Essex Sts.
The airy green space is perched atop the 6th floor deck of The Essex, one of the nine developments that will populate the Lower East Side when the project is finished in 2020.
The quarter-acre plot ― already resplendent with organic arugula and kale, and soon to welcome tat-soi and bok choy — is being farmed by Project Eats, which runs a network of 10 urban farms around the city with an eye toward feeding and involving surrounding communities.
Although not very large, the Essex Crossing’s farm is the second biggest in Manhattan, second only to another green garden on Randall’s Island. Essex Crossing’s first ready-to-eat crop — arugula —will go on sale this Saturday at its farm stand in Essex Crossing Park.
Katie Archer, director of Community Relations for Delancey Street Associates, a conglomerate of developers building Essex Crossing, said a big goal of the garden is to connect with seniors and local youth groups.
Astro Arugula plants grow in the raised bed in the quarter-acre Essex Crossing Farm on top of the Essex Market Monday in Manhattan. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)
Despite the farm being in early stages, PE had over 40 applications for its spring after-school PEAS (Project Eats After School) program, with many kids coming from the 5 city high schools located on a campus right across the street.
The program teaches and develops farming skills and health awareness. From the 40 applications, 28 students were selected and three are now full time summer employees at the farm stand.
Other students from the program now serve as community health educators, trying to teach residents about the different types of vegetables available to eat.
The produce is also available at a “Farmacy” stand in the Essex Crossing Park near its farm stand. Working in partnership with nearby Gouverneur Hospital and other local medical providers, patients will get a dietary prescription detailing which veggies would be most beneficial for them to eat. These prescriptions are then filled at the “Farmacy” at a subsidized cost via Health Bucks, a SNAP benefit program.
Project EATS Director of Farm Operations, Rick Smith, picks some Astro Arugula from the garden Monday morning. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)
Essex Farm will also provide free breakfast on Saturdays using the produce on the farm – hoping to spark an appetite for green-eating while demonstrating to the community how to use the crops in their cooking. The first community breakfast will be on the Essex Farm roof in late August when the vegetation is ready to harvest.
For now, the breakfast program is for seniors. But by 2020 families with children will also be included.
The farm and roof will also host other community programs like farm yoga, cooking demonstrations, and “Up On the Roof” a commissioned public art project featuring local artists, according to Linda Bryant, president and founder of PE.
Rover radish plants grow in the raised bed in the quarter-acre Essex Crossing Farm Monday morning. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)