Bringing Urban Farming To Ridgewood, NJ

What is Urban Farming?

Urban farming is a form of agriculture which aims to grow and produce crops in urban areas, putting the power in the hands of consumers, and creating a sense of community in the process. Urban farms can be private enterprises on private land, or can be collectively owned and maintained by the community. Either way, the consumers have more transparency, and control as to where their food comes from and how it’s grown. Urban farms usually focus on growing organic crops, free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, in contrast to conventional farms, which prioritize high yields by adding as many chemical inputs as possible.

Conventional farming is wasteful, and destructive to the planet. Agriculture is responsible for up to 80% of global deforestation, and is the single largest consumer of water in the US. New Jersey, being the most densely populated state in the country, has the potential to be a hotbed of urban farming. Luckily, some of us are off to a head start. Capital City Farms, in Trenton, turned a trashy vacant lot into a thriving community farm that now grows 37 varieties of crops. Aerofarms, headquartered in Newark, uses advanced technology to precision grow veggies to certain specifications, and they run one of the largest indoor farms in the world!

How will Ridgewood Benefit from Urban Farming?

Urban farms require collective input. So, off the bat, you’ll find yourself forming bonds with other members of the community, and create a space for people to socialize and learn about farming. Children, especially, can potentially learn a whole lot from urban farms. School field trips and entire class curriculums can be organized around learning to grow fruits and vegetables. People come together over the farm, and build social relationships that go beyond farming. In a town like Ridgewood, which already has a rich history and strong sense of community, why not have one more thing to be proud of?

Ridgewood can see some wonderful economic benefits as well. Private farm owners can sell their produce to local supermarkets, or restaurants, keeping the wealth circulating through the local community. Farmers markets and festivals will sprout up, as local farmers come together and create a market for their products. Jobs can be created by hiring folks to tend to the crops. How about your teenage son or daughter working at a local farm instead of some fast food restaurant? It’ll keep them healthier, more fulfilled, and they’ll learn some valuable knowledge, as they will literally see the fruits of their labor.

Sustainability is the biggest gain from urban farming. You’re helping create a self-sufficient community. You’re adding lush green spaces around town. You’re eating food that was grown organically. There are no pesticides or fertilizers leaching into the water table. The produce doesn’t have to be delivered via gas guzzling diesel trucks across state lines. Instead of chemical fertilizers, compost collected from the community can be used to naturally add nutrients to the soil. This also reduces waste, and keeps trash out of landfills. The culture of sustainability is contagious. Other cities and towns in North Jersey will be eager to follow and adopt some of the sustainable practices of their eco-friendly neighbors.

Urban farming is especially needed in poorer communities, many of which lack access to fresh produce. Most of these areas are food deserts: neighborhoods where one has to travel over a mile to find fresh fruits and vegetables. Instead, they are often littered with fast food restaurants, promoting illnesses like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. These neighborhoods desperately need the social and economic benefits of urban farming to begin revitalizing their broken communities. The Newark Community Food System is a great example of this. In a city marred with poverty, crime and even a water pollution crisis, the Newark CFS is pushing back by revamping its food system. Though we’ve got it pretty good in Ridgewood, let’s set a good example for our neighbors, so we can export sustainable farming to low income communities across New Jersey and beyond!