Queens County Farm Museum has introduced its largest agricultural expansion in over 50 years, in honor of its 325th anniversary.
The historic expansion plan for the 47-acre farm consists of cultivating a further 5 acres of land by 2025; investing in the farm’s Urban Agriculture Workforce Development Program; strengthening upstate and downstate agricultural partnerships; introducing year-round rising methods; increasing its livestock program; and making a controlled-environment agricultural showcase to contribute to the town’s city agricultural curriculum.
The announcement on Monday, Jan. 10, follows New York City’s $26 million funding in Queens Farm’s Education Center, which would be the first new building on the location in virtually a century.
“Three-hundred-twenty-five years of continuous farming in New York City is quite an accomplishment,” mentioned Jennifer Walden Weprin, government director of the Queens County Farm Museum. “Queens Farm is on the precipice of exponential growth to expand public service through increased food production, job training, employment opportunities, education and cultural programming. We are excited for this journey.”
Queens Farm employed Daniel Morales as its director of agriculture and Christina Leung because the farm supervisor in order to spearhead the expansion. The pair, together with GrowNYC, will work collectively to reshape Queens Farm’s Urban Workforce Development Program in order to assist apprentices and create a inexperienced workforce.
Morales is a Queens native with seven years of farming expertise at Rigor Hill Farm in the Hudson Valley, Shekomeko Farms in Dutchess County and coaching at Four Season Farm in Maine. He earned a B.S. in environmental research with a focus in ecosystems from Binghamton University.
Leung accomplished Farm School NYC’s Certificate program and got here on board at Queens Farm quickly after. She was promoted from apprentice two seasons later. In this system, she studied meals justice, botany, crop planning and land administration.
“What an incredible anniversary — 325 years! Many congratulations to Queens Farm on this milestone, as well as on their 5-acre expansion and for selecting both a new director of agriculture and a farm manager,” mentioned Marcel Van Ooyen, president and CEO of GrowNYC. “We look forward to working together with Queens Farm in our effort to bolster a new urban agriculture workforce development program.”
The farm’s historical past dates again to 1697, making it one of the longest frequently farmed websites in New York state. Today, the 47-acre web site is the most important tract of farmland, residence to the only largest apiary and the one farm with a full vary of livestock in New York City. It lately annexed 1.6 acres of land from the state that was half of the farm’s authentic footprint.
Queens Farm makes use of regenerative farming strategies and grows over 200 varieties of fruits, greens, herbs and flowers. In addition to shortening the space from farm to fork, the farm is working towards an aggressive purpose of zero waste by 2030.
“New York Farm Bureau values the partnership we have with Queens Farm, an important connection between upstate and Long Island farmers and the more than 500,000 visitors every year to the historic 47-acre working farm and museum. We congratulate Queens Farm on 325 years and its continued growth educating urban New Yorkers about agriculture and showcasing the importance of having a strong regional food system,” mentioned Jeff Williams, New York Farm Bureau’s Director of Public Policy.
To study extra, go to queensfarm.org.