The New Roots Community Farm (NRCF) is an urban farm on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. This South Bronx based urban green space serves over 30 families as well as students from several neighborhood schools. Program participants work together to start seeds in the greenhouse, create compost to nourish garden beds, care for native plant gardens, harvest fresh fruits and vegetables and tend two honey bee hives.

The NRCF is supported by the International Rescue Committee in order to provide land, training opportunities and access to healthy, nutritious food for newly arrived refugee families and the broader South Bronx community.

They offer amazing programs such as New York POWER (Providing Opportunities for Women’s Economic Resilience) Food and Agriculture job training, right here in the Bronx. The POWER Food & Agriculture program is designed to build financial literacy, individual leadership and language skills while building on the agricultural knowledge and experiences clients have brought from their home countries, but the program also fosters a sense of community and friendship amongst the participating women.

For example, last May, five women have shared traditional recipes from their home countries, including Bolani and Ashak from Afghanistan, Chicken and Potato Kabab from Pakistan, and Fatoush from Syria. The participants provided cooking demonstrations at the weekly New Roots Community Farm Market once harvest season begins, and are now working on planting and nurturing their young crops.