Brick City Urban Farms: A Portable Farm in Newark, New Jersey - Part 1

This is the first of a two-part video about one of the most innovative urban agriculture projects in the United States. Brick City Urban Farms (prior posts) is located in Newark, New Jersey. The video features co-founders John Taylor and Lorraine Gibbons along with Newark Mayor Cory Booker. 

There are many unique aspects of this project. The most significant is the use of portable EarthBoxes (prior posts) on land with a temporary use agreement. This approach could be used in every city in America. Sub-irrigated planters will produce more food per square foot than any other method while saving precious water and time. This is a demonstrable and provable opinion. 

When and if the time comes to relocate the farm it will be a relatively simple matter to load the boxes on a truck and move them to a new location. 

The Center for Urban Greenscaping (CuGreen) will do everything within its power to get projects like this started here in New York. It is an idea whose time has come and a major CuGreen business priority. 

It you are interested in starting a project similar to Brick City Urban Farms (blog) here in New York City, no matter the size, please contact me.

Bob Hyland

urbangreenscaper [AT] gmail.com 

Comments

[Jonathan]

Love the urban garden ideas. I'm glad you're going to be engaging this concept. I put a lot of research into this subject personally prior to putting a submission together for ReVision Dallas. I think the key isn't so much the financial model or even the reclaiming of unused space that the urban gardens afford, it's the community building aspect that is the most powerful. It's perfect symmetry that such a concept is also sustainable. Well done.

[Tricia]

I recently discovered my urban backyard is contaminated with lead - so have to change the way i garden.

Your blog offers loads of great urban gardening inspiration thanks.

[Greenscaper Bob]

Thanks for the feedback guys. My new advocacy is modeled after Brick City Urban Farms or which I am a BIG fan. I call it a PONG - Portable Outreach Neighborhood Garden. The portable planters can be easily moved to a new location if necessary AND their portability allows OUTREACH to the surrounding community. The garden (i.e. sub-irrigated planter) can be moved to those who either don't have the time or physical ability to come to the garden. Ping me if your're interested in starting a PONG.

Bob Hyland
urbangreenscaper [AT] gmail.com