Believing that everyone has a right to fresh produce, the Brooklyn Rescue Mission worked for 8 months to bring a farmers market to a food desert in Bedford Stuyvesant. With the New York City Parks Department and the New York State Department of Agriculture, they brought fresh food to the neighborhood, and along the way changed policy at the Dept. of Agriculture and created a model that will be replicated at 17 gardens throughout New York City.

“We started the garden and farm first, and then started the youth stand,” says Rev. Robert Jackson, co-founder of BRM. “And these were offshoots of other programs — all of our programs are connected.” BRM programs provide healthy food, nutritional information, and health education to the people of Central Brooklyn. The programs include the BRM food pantry, the senior pantry, emergency food, Bed-Stuy farm, the youth farm stand, and now the farmers market.

BRM serves 4,000 people each month through their food pantry and emergency food program. “In 2004 we started growing produce for the emergency food program on a lot behind the pantry,” says Jackson. “It was a way to expand the fresh food we offered.” The Extension Service gave the group a lot of guidance. “They came out and said ‘we’ll help you if you follow our advice’. I think a lot of people just don’t listen to what they say. But they taught us how to build the soil, to rotate crops, to compost.” The Botanical Garden and local non-profit Just Food also provided training and education at the Farm, and continue to do so.

When the farm began producing a surplus, they decided a youth farm stand would be a way to support their mission and BRM’s other programs. “With the farm we teach youth about service to the community and growing food. The stand let us teach more job skills.”

A farmers market was a logical step in strengthening community health and food justice. Launching the farmers market was no easy task. Jackson and BRM co-founder Reverend DeVanie Jackson worked for 8 months negotiating permits, looking for supplies, and finding collaborators. Christina Grace from the NYS Department of Agriculture and Kevin Jeffrey from the NYC Department of Parks were key allies, advocating on BRM’s behalf and streamlining processes.

The farmers market provides a way to expand the products they offer to the community and also provides a new market to local small-scale farmers. “We sell our own vegetables, produce from farmers in the area, and even fish from a local fisherman. And we’re reaching people who may not need or want to accept food assistance but want access to fresh produce.”

The farmers market, the garden and the farm have created an oasis in this food desert, and they provide more than the fresh food required for healthy bodies. “Having this garden where we grow food, it reminds people what they know,” says Jackson. “And seniors are sharing their knowledge about gardening and about food with the youth.”  And, Jackson points out, everyone’s learning. On any given day you can find workshops on soil health, canning, medicinal herbs, container gardening, nutrition, and nutritious cooking.

The Brooklyn Rescue Mission’s Bed-Stuy Farmers Market shows what can come from a garden, a belief that we all deserve good food, and a determination to build a strong and healthy community.

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