Governors Island Adds Sustainable Farm at Picnic Point
Jun 25, 2009 3:24 pm
Governors Island has added a sustainable farm at Picnic Point! Added Value has planted a three acre farm on the newly created green space. The plants include tomatoes, squash, eggplant, sunflowers, and much more. The farm uses a drip watering system which uses a fraction of the water that sprinklers use but still keeps the plants happy and healthy. Added Value is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable development by nurturing a new generation of young leaders. They work towards this goal by creating opportunities for the youth of South Brooklyn to expand their knowledge base, develop new skills and positively engage with their community through the operation of a socially responsible urban farming enterprise. We are so happy that they have crossed the Buttermilk to begin farming on Governors Island! Added Value staff and volunteers will provide Governors Island visitors with educational programming, teaching visitors about sustainable farming. The farm will also be open for “farm days” which will allow local children’s groups and camps to visit the farm and learn about how it works. In addition, during the harvest months, Added Value will operate a farm stand, selling produce grown on Governors Island. Produce grown will also be sold to Water Taxi Beach, Governors Island’s newest tenant. Water Taxi Beach will use the greens and produce in their food concession. Ian Marvy, director and co-founder of Added Value, said that they could probably expect around $25,000 could be generated from the farm this year, and in a few years down the line, the farm could steipend 25 students $1,400 each for their work.