Growing Veggies in a Concrete Jungle: An Introduction to NYC's Urban Farms

New York is famous for its extensive dining options—from waitlist restaurants to trendy taco trucks—so it’s surprising how difficult it can be to find fresh, affordable produce. If you know where to look, though, residents of this city are sowing, toiling and tending, helping veggie patches flourish in unexpected places. Here’s what you need to know about New York’s thriving urban agricultural scene, and why you should care.
Food justice
According to estimates from the city’s many food banks, 1.4 million New York City residents face a gap of 250 million meals a year. Put simply, “food-insecure” people can’t afford to feed themselves three square meals on around 60 days of every year. Local farms provide these communities with access to affordable produce, and by offering educational programs empower them to grow their own food.

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Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture tripCentralAmerica
1. Guatemala
An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.CentralAmerica
2. Belize
A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.CentralAmerica
3. Mexico
An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.SouthAmerica
1. Ecuador
A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.SouthAmerica
2. Peru
An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.Europe
1. Italy
The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.Europe
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A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.Asia
1. South Korea
Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.Asia
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From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.Asia
3. Sri Lanka
A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great priceAfrica
1. Morocco
An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!Africa
2. Egypt
From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.Environmental contributions
To make it all the way to your dining table, the ingredients in your meal have travelled thousands of miles—perhaps even internationally. By contrast, growing in New Your City proper helps reduce CO2 emissions. Urban farms also enhance biodiversity, both by growing more unusual heirloom varieties of vegetables, and by fostering an environment that encourages insects and birds to prosper.

Roof-to-table cuisine
At some of the city’s restaurants “locally sourced” doesn’t just mean farm to table, it means the ingredients were literally picked earlier that day, from that very rooftop. ABC Kitchen’s Jean-Georges Vongerichten uses herbs grown 10 stories above the restaurant; Bell, Book, and Candle in the West Village has its own soil-free rooftop Aeroponic tower garden cultivating lush organic greens; and Roberta’s pizza place in Bushwick has a flourishing backyard orchard with fruit trees and more than 60 plant varieties. With such a short delay between picking and serving, their produce also retains more of its nutrients, making it a healthier option.
Community building
Besides benefiting local communities in terms of availability and access to healthy food, New York’s farms also play host to weddings, workshops, classes and dinners. Brooklyn Grange—one of the city’s most successful farms, with two locations in the borough—offers yoga, introductions to bee keeping, flower arranging, and dumpling making. At Eagle Street Rooftop Farm visitors and Brooklynites are encouraged to stop by during growing season and lend a helping hand—plating and harvesting food and contributing to the local food system in the process.

Youth education
Down in Battery Park, on the southern-most tip of Manhattan, The Battery Urban Farm’s plump produce is harvested by the city’s volunteer students, then donated to food pantries and school cafeterias. Meanwhile, in Bushwick, four schools have teamed up to operate 3,000-square-foot of vegetable patches and a tightly-packed greenhouse, producing food which they then sell to members of their own communities.
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meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


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