New NYCHA Farm in Staten Island
Mariners Harbor Houses is home to NYCHA’s newest farm, which will provide residents and other members of the community with free, fresh, and local produce.
The farm was built by Green City Force Corps Members, young NYCHA residents ages 18 to 24 who worked with NYCHA staff to get resident input on what the farm should look like and which crops should be grown there. Residents will receive free produce in exchange for volunteering on the farm or bringing in household food for composting. The farm will be maintained by the Staten Island Foundation, a local nonprofit.
Mariners Harbor Farm is the sixth urban farm at NYCHA. The others are located at Bay View, Howard, Red Hook, Wagner, and Forest Houses. Since the “Farms at NYCHA” program began in 2015, the farms have distributed over 32,000 pounds of fresh produce, diverted 8,600 pounds of food scraps from landfills and incinerators through composting, engaged NYCHA residents in 800 volunteer shifts, and provided young NYCHA adults with training and leadership development. The farms are part of the Building Healthy Communities initiative, a citywide partnership to improve public health and safety outcomes in 12 New York City neighborhoods.
