QUEENS — New York might be in the middle of a harsh winter, but an urban farm at Queens Botanical Garden is already preparing for the spring.
The farm, which launched last year, is now looking for unpaid apprentices, who want to learn all the ins and outs of urban agriculture, said farm manager Lise Lorimer.
The Botanical Garden also offers a master composter certificate program that teaches people who want to participate in the city-run composting program.
In its inaugural year, the farm — an initiative of the Department of Sanitation’ NYC Compost Project and Queens Botanical Garden — grew a variety of vegetables, including peas, heirloom tomatoes, kale, peppers, turnips, radishes, eggplants and lettuce.
“We grew a little bit of everything,” said Lorimer, who works for the NYC Compost Project. “Our goal is to grow healthy, nutritious food to feed the local community.”
During the first season the farm produced about 3,000 pounds of vegetables, more than half of which was donated to emergency food relief programs in Jamaica, Lorimer said.
Some vegetables grown on the farm, which doesn’t use herbicides or pesticides, were also sold at a farmers market near Queens Botanical Garden, on the corner of Main Street and Dahlia Avenue.
But the farm also strives to serve as an educational tool for local residents where "they can learn about where food comes from and how it's grown," the organizers said.
The farm is now trying to find several apprentices, who would be willing to work at the farm at least two days a week.
“We are looking for really dedicated individuals to come out several times during the week,” Lorimer said, adding that the participants would help with seeding plants, transplanting vegetables, weeding, harvesting and composting.
“It’s really a chance to work very thoroughly in the urban agricultural field."
The organizers are also in the process of designing a program for volunteers who are not able to commit that much time but would like to be involved in the farm on a regular basis.
Susan Lacerte, Queens Botanical Garden executive director, said that she is "thrilled to partner on this engaging program that demonstrates the link between sustainable farming, urban composting and gardening.”
“Right here in Queens we have an example of the full cycle: farm to table, table to compost, compost to soil and back to plants.”
Those interested in applying for the unpaid apprenticeship, can find more information here.
Farm apprentices must be able to commit to a minimum of two work days per week over a 3-month period of time between April and November. Prior experience in farming is preferred but not necessary. Students are encouraged to earn school credit for their work with QBG.
To inquire about volunteering and group tours at QBG Farm, email: farm@queensbotanical.org.
Those interesting in pursuing composting can apply for Master Composter Certificate Program, also held at QBG.
