Teens for Food Justice (TFFJ), a nonprofit working to combat food insecurity through youth-led urban farming, celebrated the launch of a new hydroponic farm at M.S. 053 in Far Rockaway on April 24, expanding its Far Rockaway Farm Hub and giving hundreds of students hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture and STEM education.
The 1,040-square-foot indoor farm is designed to produce more than 5,600 pounds of pesticide-free produce each year. More than 500 students will benefit from the fresh food grown on-site, with over 100 students annually participating directly in hands-on learning about sustainable agriculture, food justice, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production program, the New York City Council, the Queens South Borough Office of NYC Public Schools, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, the new facility was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by elected officials, school leadership, and community partners.
The farm is fully integrated into the school's curriculum, allowing students to engage in hydroponic farming, nutrition education, sustainability projects, and food advocacy. Produce grown on-site will be incorporated into the school cafeteria's daily lunches, distributed bi-weekly to campus families, and shared with the wider community through partnerships with the Central Assisted Living Facility and New Horizon Counseling Center.
Read more at QNS