The Brooklyn Grange (rooftop farm) and Added Value (raised beds) begin research into the potential of urban farming as a stormwater management measure. After successfully raising the seed money via kickstart.com to finance the purchase of equipment, this collaboration between two urban farms will begin quantifying stormwater volumes with the aim to broaden the support and proof that roof-top farming can provide additional urban value. “Seeing Green: The Value of Urban Agriculture” is a year-long research project that will measure the stormwater management potential of two urban farms; Brooklyn Grange (a rooftop farm) & Added Value (raised beds) in NYC. Our aim is to create a model for future research that can be replicated anywhere, to help validate and support urban farms. We think policies should be based on scientific study and we want our work to encourage the adoption of supportive incentives and non-restrictive regulations for urban farming. This is important because farms give us a lot more than just produce- they increase food security, decrease food miles traveled, offer healthy and nutritious produce, create green jobs, improve air and water quality, combat Urban Heat Island effect, create habitat for critters, beautify neighborhoods and many more (feel free to message us we LOVE to talk about this).”
