\nBenjamin Shute was portrayed as a hipster farmer. But growing food is no trendy
\npastime for him and his business partner, Miriam Latzer, 35. Since 2004,
\nthey’ve run Hearty Roots Community Farm<\/a>, which is
\ntackling two big challenges facing sustainable agriculture: 1) the scarcity of
\naffordable land for new farmers; and 2) the need to broaden access to
\nsustainably grown local food. They’ve already had to move their operation once
\nbecause they couldn’t afford the multi-million-dollar sales price of the land
\nthey’d been renting near New York City, but they got up and running again on a
\nnew rented 23-acre farm. Their crew of nine people produces food for 400 New
\nYork City families through a CSA program<\/a>, and they work with
\ncity agencies and NGOs to get 1,000 pounds of produce each week to five food
\npantries in Flatbush, Brooklyn—bringing fresh, top-quality food to people who
\notherwise wouldn’t have access to it. Shute is also working to organize the National Young Farmers’ Coalition<\/a>, a new
\nnonprofit that provides support for beginning farm entrepreneurs. Read a Grist
\narticle about Shute and other young farmers<\/a>. <\/p>\n
Watch food-pantry reps visit Hearty Roots farm:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Meet more people who are redefining green<\/a>.<\/p>\n Next »<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n Related Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n Urban farms don’t make money—so what?<\/a><\/p>\n Being prepared—to grow your own meat<\/a><\/p>\n Leaving biodiesel Shangri-La for a farm amidst suburbia<\/a><\/p>\n
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