Looking for insight on starting or improving your urban farm?  Join NOFA-NY and fellow urban farmers on June 12th in Queens, NY to delve into the challenging yet rewarding business of rooftop farming & production for urban markets.  The Brooklyn Grange is a working farm on a rooftop in Long Island City, Queens, New York.  Ben Flanner is the founding farmer and CEO of the 1-acre farm, which uses 750 cubic yards of soil to produce vegetables for farmers’ markets, restaurants and a 25-member CSA.  The farm is actively expanding to incorporate educational efforts, in the form of their City Growers program.  They are also planning to include bees and chickens into their rooftop environment.  During our Beginning Farmer Workshop, the farmers at The Brooklyn Grange will discuss the philosophical and technical aspects of their farming operation, including the process of site selection, rooftop farm installation & funding.  Through a thorough exploration of the farm, we will see and learn about space-saving intercropping, crop rotations, soil fertility management, the unique aspects of farming a formerly non-agricultural acre of space & much more!
To celebrate the revival of city agriculture, we will end the day with a rooftop potluck picnic & social hour (please bring food to share & your own place settings).
When: Sunday, June 12^th 4pm-8:30pm (including picnic)
Where: Brooklyn Grange
37-18 Northern Blvd, Long Island City, Queens, NY 11101
This event is free for NOFA-NY members and $15 for non-members, and open to farmers of all experience levels.  Some scholarships may be available.  For more information, visit www.nofany.org/events/field-days or call Rachel at (585) 271-1979 ext. 511.  Space is limited to 30 attendees, so pre-register by June 6^th to guarantee your spot!  If you are looking to share transportation or lodging to attend this event, please visit our newly-launched virtual bulletin board at www.nofany.org/bfam/bulletin-board.
This workshop is supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2010-49400-21847.