Practices
How We Grow
As much as we can, we try to use a whole-systems approach to farming. Incorporating agriculture into nature and its elements, we work with soil, micro organisms, people and natural rhythms to create a low-input farm with healthy, safe produce and an educational setting. We do not use any chemicals on our land or crops. We avoid tillage and do everything by hand. We keep worms and chickens for our composting, soil, egg, and friend needs!
Our Soil
Soil is the life that feeds our farm. We believe in nurturing clean, living soil to ensure healthy and safe vegetables. Our farm is not a historical farm. Though we have found some very interesting artifacts here, we know that at one time there were houses standing where there is now cabbage. Because of this, we have gone to great lengths to ensure the cleanliness of our soil and produce.
Different practices have happened throughout our journey. We started with raised beds, and grew in those throughout the farm for a while. With only imported soil, we did not have to worry about the contaminants underground. As we acquired more lots, our practices became more sustainable and permanent. We have dismantled all of our raised beds by now (except a couple for herbs). We brought in a LOT of organic matter; burlap, wood chips, compost. We piled this up into ‘mound’ style beds and have been nurturing and growing in that ever since.
We have had soil and tissue samples tested by Cornell Cooperative Extension for three years as part of a grant on soil quality specifically on Urban Farms in New York State called ‘Green Gems.’
For the past two years we have done extensive work with other urban growers to develop a soil safety pledge and toolkit for safe soil practices. Look forward to that this year!
Along with the Farm Manager, Katie, the MAP Youth plant, cultivate, and harvest all of our produce.
Interested in volunteering or interning on the farm? Click here!
