[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][nd_options_team nd_options_layout=”layout-5″ nd_options_image=”13090″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][nd_options_team nd_options_layout=”layout-5″ nd_options_image=”13089″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][nd_options_team nd_options_layout=”layout-5″ nd_options_image=”13088″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][nd_options_spacer nd_options_height=”15″][vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom=”no” pb_border_bottom=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”]In 2009, TCAH became the first community-based organization in New York City to effectively create its own “farm to pantry” distribution loop with the opening of Saratoga Urban Agro-Ecological Center. This farm was established as a 2,000 sq. ft. victory garden that produced approximately 2,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables annually, but has since become a model urban farm encompassing 7,900 sq. ft.and producing roughly 7,000 pounds of produce each farm season.
The focal point of this space is the Saratoga Hoophouse. Installed in 2013, it is the combined efforts of a number of corporate and local volunteers. This structure helps to extend our growing season by using heat from the sun to keep our crops alive during colder weather. For example, we are able to begin growing as early as March and continue to harvest as late as December. With the hoophouse in place, the Saratoga Urban Agro-Ecological Center has become the perfect setting for teaching important farming skills, as the warmer climate provided by the hoophouse also allows us to offer gardening classes on the farm throughout the winter.
The thousands of pounds of produce harvested from the Saratoga Agro-Ecological Center help to improve the quality of food available to the community. Fruits and vegetables grown on our farms are distributed through our SuperPantry, sold to local restaurants, and sold directly to residents at heavily-discounted prices during our Saratoga Farmers’ Market. Any unused or spoiled produce is used to create sustainable soil-enriching compost.
Similar to our Far Rock location, the Saratoga Urban Agro-Ecological Center is operated and maintained by our Green Teens, employees of a year-long internship program, which exposes local teens to skills involving farming, leadership, teamwork, and communication[/vc_column_text][mpc_accordion preset=”preset_0″ content_preset=”_preset_0″ auto_indent=”” opened=”1″ title_font_preset=”preset_1″ title_font_color=”#ffffff” title_font_size=”14″ title_font_transform=”uppercase” title_font_align=”left” title_background_color=”#a1cc7c” title_border_css=”border-width:0px;border-color:#eeeeee;border-style:solid;border-radius:0px;” title_padding_divider=”true” title_padding_css=”padding-top:7px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:7px;padding-left:10px;” title_margin_divider=”true” title_margin_css=”margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;” hover_title_color=”#ffffff” content_font_preset=”preset_1″ content_font_color=”#ffffff” content_font_size=”16″ content_font_line_height=”1.5″ content_font_align=”left” content_background_color=”#ffffff” content_border_css=”border-width:0px;border-color:#eeeeee;border-style:solid;border-radius:0px;” content_padding_divider=”true” content_padding_css=”padding-top:10px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;” content_margin_divider=”true” content_margin_css=”margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;” border_css=”border-radius:0px;” margin_divider=”true” margin_css=”margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;” mpc_icon__transition=”slide-down” mpc_icon__icon=”eti eti_plus_alt2″ mpc_icon__icon_color=”#ffffff” mpc_icon__icon_size=”20″ mpc_icon__border_divider=”true” mpc_icon__padding_css=”padding:10px;” mpc_icon__hover_icon=”eti eti_minus_alt2″ mpc_icon__hover_icon_color=”#ffffff” mpc_icon__hover_border_divider=”true”][mpc_accordion_tab title=”Market Schedule”][vc_column_text]July – November
Tuesday – Friday: 9 AM to 2 PM
Saturday: 8 AM – 3 PM[/vc_column_text][/mpc_accordion_tab][/mpc_accordion][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” preset=”preset_1″ content_preset=”_preset_1″ css=”.vc_custom_1663788190880{background-color: #ededed !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/3″][nd_options_text nd_options_text_tag=”h4″ nd_options_text_weight=”bold” nd_options_text_family=”nd_options_first_font” nd_options_text=”Location” nd_options_text_color=”#f29760″][vc_column_text]1965-1971 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11233
At the intersection of Hull Street, Fulton Street, and Saratoga Avenue[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Sponsored by:
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_gmaps link=”#E-8_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” size=”200px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” rtl_reverse=”yes” preset=”mpc_preset_126″ content_preset=”_mpc_preset_126″ css=”.vc_custom_1538491898120{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column][mpc_carousel_image preset=”mpc_preset_10″ single_scroll=”true” loop=”true” auto_slide=”true” delay=”1000″ speed=”2100″ layout=”fluid” enable_force_height=”true” force_height=”350″ images=”13092,13091,13106,13105,13104,13107,13112,13110,13109,13108,13103,13111,13067″ gap=”10″ start_at=”1″ image_size=”large” image_opacity=”100″ image_hover_opacity=”100″ mpc_navigation__preset=”mpc_preset_2″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”3″ gap=”2″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1663788155646-6db8c93c-672e-0″ include=”10039,11051,10073,10060″][vc_text_separator title=”Farm Overview”][vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom=”no” pb_border_bottom=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”]The third installment of Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger’s Urban Agriculture initiative is Saratoga Urban Agro-Ecological Center. This space is home to approximately 14 different t types of fruits and vegetables that are harvested throughout the year. We operate Saratoga in conjunction with Eagle Academy For Young Men. During the school year we host Mott Hall IV regularly and use the farm for our Stomp Out Obesity classes.
The focal point of this space is the Saratoga Hoophouse. Installed in 2013, it is the combined efforts of a number of corporate and local volunteers. This structure has the effects of a greenhouse and extends the growing season. We are able to begin growing as early as March and continue to receive a harvest as late as December. Additionally, the warmer climate allows us to continue offering gardening classes at the actual garden during winter temperatures. With the hoop house in place, the garden has become the perfect setting to teach important skills to the community and students while increasing the quality of food available to the community with the influx of thousands of pounds of fresh produce. In addition to selling the produce at deep discounts, we are able to provide technical service skills to facilitate soil preparation, irrigation, and the planting of hundreds plants, as well as a variety of herbs.
Produce grown at Saratoga is sold at our Farmer’s Market which operates on Saturday Mornings from June – November, sold to local restaurants and donated to our SuperPantry. Any unused or spoiled produce is used to create sustainable enriching compost.
The best part of Saratoga Urban Agro-Ecological Center is that it is operated and maintained by local at-risk teens. Through an intensive summer paid training the Green Teen Internship Program takes local students and develops their green thumb while reinforcing grade-level environment and science lessons.
The benefits of the project are tremendous. Many individuals who ordinarily wouldn’t be exposed to gardening and farming have the opportunity to learn many new skills. The local economy is benefitting from the addition of jobs and money spent in the community as well as the accessibility of fresh vegetables beyond the normal six-month growing season. There has been an outpouring of support from the entire community for the Saratoga Urban Agro-Ecological Center and all of its benefits.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner]
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