BK Farmyards and the Benefits of Urban Agriculture

posted by Liz, on August 17, 2009

Urban agriculture has the potential to feed all of us city dwellers, but the benefits of city growing go way beyond nourishing the millions of people here.

Health benefits

It’s no secret that greenery is good for our health. Edible and medicinal plants nourish and heal our bodies while aesthetically providing psychological well-being and comfort. Plants clean the air, sequester carbon, and provide us with oxygen. They also abate heat island effect and absorb rainwater that would otherwise flood and pollute surrounding waterways.

Social benefits

Urban gardens build community. Community gardens and farms provide right livelihood and – in the case of Nuestras Raices in Holyoke, Massachusetts – discourage gang violence. City farming promotes land stewardship and civic pride. For people surrounded by buildings, concrete, and asphalt, urban agriculture brings a reconnection with the land, a reconnection to the soil that provides much more than sustenance.

Economic benefits

Urban agriculture also strengthens the local economy. Farmers markets and community-supported agriculture (CSA) ensure that jobs stay local and that money stays in the local economy.

BK Farmyards

With all of these benefits in mind, and with a strong desire to bring people together through food, Stacey Murphy started BK Farmyards – a decentralized urban farming network. BK Farmyards is a departure from the traditional community garden. The premise of the network is that there isn’t one central location for the farm. Private landowners with viable plots (enough sunlight, enough space) hire BK Farmyards to work their land. The landowners determine how much of the yield they will consume and the remaining crop is sold to neighbors.

In this inaugural season, Stacey has faced some challenges that she’s not accustomed to in her native Michigan. Unusually heavy rains opened some of her crops up to pests – like the vine borer attacking her squash – a special challenge given that Stacey is growing organically. BK Farmyards launched at the Brooklyn Food Conference at the beginning of May, a little late for a full summer harvest.

Despite these minor setbacks, BK Farmyards has a bright future. Stacey has her sights set on vacant lots, such as parts of the Atlantic Yards, and is being approached to farm diverse locales in Brooklyn, including Gowanus (a challenge!) and Howard Beach. Her team includes Liz Elkin, an organic farmer with a permaculture and ecological horticulture background, and Justin Gerry, who is a naturally gifted handyman.

Part of BK Farmyards mission is to connect people through food, specifically through dinner parties. This sense of growing community is at the core of the BK Farmyards ethic. According to their philosophy:

The rituals of preparing and eating meals are the foundation of culture: it is how we celebrate the gift of life, and how trust is established in a community. BK Farmyard provides local jobs, local economic growth, and a sense of stewardship and pride in the community: it educates, organizes, and mobilizes new social relations around food. Integrating a new farming model into the existing urban fabric is a radical approach without taking a wrecking ball to the city and without massive investments. If applied across all the urban centers in the United States, BK Farmyard is a lean strategy to overhaul the food system.

Help support this vital effort by attending the BK Farmyards fundraiser next Saturday, August 22nd. Details below.

AUGUST 22 BK FARMYARDS FUNDRAISER 3pm-12pm at COMPOUND Brooklyn
2pm-12am
CELEBRATE LOCAL FOOD
hosted @ COMPOUND brooklyn
1287 Atlantic Ave, near Nostrand: 2 blocks Nostrand A stop; 2-3 blocks B44, B65 , B25; LIRR Nostrand stop steps away
Please RSVP on Facebook

Live bands, original artworks, dance troupe, local food & drinks, growing display, cooking demonstrations, and games: Fun for all ages. Bring along a blanket to picnic on the grass. Suggested donation $5 at the door or pay what you can. All donations go toward creating more farmyards. We are currently working with developers on converting 3 acres to farm next year. Gift certificates for Get Fresh Table and Market, Ici, Franny’s, The Farm on Adderley, Brooklyn Kitchen, Edible Brooklyn, and more will be auctioned off.

Pass the word along! Help us build more farms!

Liz Neves is a Sustainable Living Consultant and founder of Raganella. You can follow her on Twitter @raganella7.