Neighbor News
Gardeners plant themselves at Brownsville lot to protest construction plans that would dig their urban farm out
The protesters gathered in a greenhouse — part of a farm spread that includes bee hives, fruit trees.
A hardy group of urban farmers dug in deep Saturday as they fought to save a Brownsville community garden from going to seed next month.
Local residents, politicians and health food activists joined the protest at the Green Valley Community Farm — a Brooklyn staple for more than two decades, now facing a major January eviction.
“This is our Whole Foods,” said Paul Muhammed, co-chair of the Community Board 5 economics committee. “We took the land and built a farm. Affordable is a misnomer. It’s do-for-self. We did it.”
According to the two dozen protesters, the land was sold for $4 to a developer who plans to build up to 20 units of affordable housing.
“Whose farm? Our farm!” the demonstrators chanted. “Whose community? Our community!”
The farm is located across from five lots, with the city Housing Preservation and Development agency now poised to peddle four of the properties.
A statement from HPD said a 2012 agreement between the city and the farm had provided for use of just the single lot for the garden.
“The challenges we face demand that we make thoughtful choices and find creative solutions to identify sites for affordable housing as well as green space,” the statement read.
