This past weekend we made it to Brooklyn Grange in Long Island City. The rooftop garden was exploding with organic produce… there was even a chicken coop! From their farm stand we purchased some spicy arugula, colorful snap peas, rooftop honey, fresh eggs, chives, purple basil, zucchini flowers, baby zucchini and carrots. It was a veggie dream (swoon). The people working on the farm were friendly, informative, and happy to answer any questions. It is important for me to purchase local produce and just as, if not more, important to know about the farm’s pesticide use (this is my go to question at any farm stand). They happily let me know that organic pesticides are only used when plants are infested with aphids… that’s what I like to hear! They even create their own compost from locally sourced organic waste; continually enriching the rooftop produce with nutrient dense soil.
Shopping for produce on this rooftop farm while taking in the city view was a true NYC experience.
I am used to the Union Square Farmer’s Market where there are diverse products to choose from. With scale comes crowds. You really don’t have to worry about tripping over anyone’s tiny terrified dog here or getting pushed out of the way by people walking through with their bikes; it was quite relaxing and pleasant. While diversity of products was limited, when compared to larger scale farmer’s markets, there was plenty of exceptional produce to be had. I recommend getting there on the early side, before all the good stuff is gone. In order to get upstairs you must first enter the building through COFFEED, where you can stop for a yummy cold brewed coffee pre-produce picking. I definitely plan on going back, with coffee in hand and an empty bag to fill with delicious goods.
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