More than a decade ago, Mary Seton Corboy and her partner, Tom Sereduk, transformed a toxic industrial site into a thriving 1-acre urban farm. Today, Greensgrow Farms is an innovative nonprofit near the heart of downtown Philadelphia—one of many thriving urban farms that produce food and jobs for their communities. Sustainable urban farms provide fresh, local produce to city dwellers and restaurants. Here are some of our favorites. Find farms in your area at Local Harvest.
Midwest
1. City Farm, Chicago
City Farm operates a farm and farm stand directly between Chicago’s low-income Cabrini Green neighborhood and its upper-end Gold Coast.
2. Green Youth Farm, Chicago
Green Youth employs high school students on its organic farms and sells produce at several markets, including at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
3. Earthworks Urban Farms, Detroit
Earthworks provides for the Capuchin Soup Kitchen and also hosts several vegetable markets.
4. Kansas City Community Farm, Kansas City, Kansas
This 2-acre, certified organic farm offers educational programs for urban farmers and much more.
East Coast
5. Greensgrow Farms, Philadelphia
Greensgrow operates a 65-farm community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, plus community and educational programs.
6. Brooklyn Rescue Mission Bed-Stuy Farm, Brooklyn
Bed-Stuy Farm provides food to the Brooklyn Rescue Mission, operates a CSA and sells at the Malcolm X Farmer’s Market.
7. eVision Urban Farm, Boston
reVision works in conjunction with reVision House, providing shelter and jobs for pregnant or parenting homeless women.
South
8. Jones Valley Urban Farm, Birmingham, Alabama
This 3-acre farm on a formerly vacant downtown property grows produce and healthy communities through urban farming and youth education.
West
9. Homeless Garden Project, Santa Cruz, California
Providing homeless men and women job training and transitional services, the Homeless Garden Project cultivates organic produce, flowers and education through its training programs. Find organic produce and handmade products through its CSA and online store.
10. Rio Grande Community Farm, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Rio Grande Community Farm manages a portion of Los Poblanos Fields Open Space to demonstrate sustainable urban agriculture. A highlight is the annual Corn Maze Festival Market.
