It's been a while since Brooklyn and Queens lead the country in vegetable production, but the new Brooklyn Grange farm may take the city a step back to those days. The group began installation on their rooftop farm at the Standard Motor Products building on 38-17 Northern Boulevard, Queens on Monday, dumping out two-ton bags of soil and rolls of green roof membrane materials. Head farmer Ben Flanner told the Daily News, "It just makes sense because we're using space that is not utilized and we're growing things that are usually shipped into the city from far away."
Though they managed to secure nearly an acre of roof space for their for-profit farm, partner Anastasia Cole regrets that they had to "settle" for Queens instead of the more fashionable namesake borough on the other side of Newtown Creek. But what they lose in street cred they gain in irony! Cole said, "The fact that we're in Queens is just sort of another ironic and unlikely aspect of the project. I think we all find it pretty funny." Can you imagine how ironic it would be if they were forced to go to the Bronx?
Once the soil is down, volunteers will be busy planting their seedlings, which include tomatoes, eggplant, onions, and various herbs. Check out their video explaining the project, and why urban gardening is so hot right now.
