New York: Urban Farms
Illustration by Don Foley.
So New York’s concrete jungle is about to get more green, nice! Thanks to Gotham Greens, which is building a hydroponic rooftop farm in Brooklyn. The eco-efficient farm will take a small bite out of the $2 billion in produce that’s trucked into the city each year. Here’s how it works.
1. Power Feed – The $2 million, 16,000 square foot farm, which opens this spring and is powered by a 60-kilowatt solar-voltaic array.
2. Waterworks – A large cistern collects rainwater, which is used for irrigation.
3. Buzz Off – Beneficial bugs, such as ladybugs and wasps, are used instead of pesticides to protect crops.
4. Green Wheels – Produce is delivered by bicycles or renewable-energy-powered vans, depending on distance and volume.
5. Watery Fields Forever – Everything from bok choy to basil is produced using hydroponics, a soil-free method of farming. “Our plants grow straight from nutrient-filled water,” says CEO Viraj Puri. Hydroponics uses 10 times less water than traditional farming, with higher crop yields.
6. Local Hunger – Of the 40 tons of expected crops, 70% will head to Whole Foods. The rest will be sold to restaurants and at farmers markets.
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