From Environmental Hazard to Educational Haven

In an innovative transformation, Grain has taken a 1.5+- acre urban brownfield and transformed it into a lush living laboratory for public schools in this Brooklyn district.  Our work remediates a heavily-contaminated site: the brownfield will be capped, rendering it safe for use, and a green outdoor classroom will be cultivated on top of it.

Plans for this “urban farm” include vegetable gardens, a greenhouse for year-round use, an outdoor classroom and kitchen, a composting station, a rainwater harvesting system, and a dedicated space for a farmers’ market. By tending the gardens, managing pests and irrigation, and eventually enjoying the fruits of their labors, children will learn about food production and food insecurity, urban agriculture and the local economy—and, crucially, their own agency within the system.