NYCHA Employees Pitch in to Help Farms Prep for New Season

Taking part in the spirit of Earth Week, groups of NYCHA employees volunteered to help the Farms at NYCHA sites prepare for the upcoming farming season.  

Starting on Earth Day, April 22, through April 24, the farms held one-day sessions where NYCHA employees pulled weeds, raked, picked up trash, and made compost all in the name of sustainability. A total of 35 NYCHA staff members from departments such as the Capital Projects Division, Healthy Homes, and Community Engagement and Partnerships assisted local community partners at the five locations.  

The sites included farms at Forest Houses in the Bronx; Bay View Houses, Pink Houses, and Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn; and Mariners Harbor Houses in Staten Island. NYCHA’s workforce development partner Green City Force (GCF) – which operates the Forest, Bay View, and Mariners Harbor farms – has designated the sites as Eco-Hubs to reflect their commitment to sustainability and health initiatives. NYCHA’s two other lead farm partners, East New York Farms! and Red Hook Initiative, also hosted staff volunteers.  

“We are excited to have NYCHA staff join in Earth Day celebrations by helping to kick off the season at the sites which have collectively grown and distributed approximately 100,000 pounds of produce since 2016,” said Andrea Mata, NYCHA’s Director of Health Initiatives.  

During the Pink Houses session on April 22, Ms. Mata said volunteers helped water plant seedlings and prep farm beds, and they were visited by a group of children from a local early learning center for Earth Day.  

At the Red Hook Houses farm on the following day, NYCHA workers learned about opportunities for the farm to repurpose wood scraps and install some benches. As part of their efforts at the Mariners Harbor Houses farm on April 24, volunteers harvested five large buckets of spinach, said Katya Spicer, NYCHA’s Assistant to the Vice President for Energy and Sustainability.  

“GCF continues to value our great partnership with NYCHA,” said Tonya Gayle, GCF Executive Director. “This year’s Earth Week was a very positive and inspiring time to connect with a range of NYCHA employees who make it possible for us to be successful in our work. I appreciate the efforts of NYCHA leadership and staff members who ‘walked the talk’ at three of our service sites during Earth Week.”  

COVID-19 safety protocols were observed at each of the farm sites, where visitors were asked to complete a screening form, wear masks, and maintain social distancing.