HKFP is an urban rooftop farm in Hell’s Kitchen, managed and run by volunteers. HKFP is the outgrowth of community discussions concerning nutritional security, especially scarcity of affordable fresh produce, in Hell’s Kitchen. ​Our Mission is to create a more food secure urban community through collaborative farming, education, and community initiatives.

We strive to do this by growing fresh food on a previously underutilized rooftop for distribution through a local food pantry, providing community nutritional education, and organizing a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

Rooftop Farm

How we grow

The farm operates on the 4,000 square foot roof of Metro Baptist Church. We grow in 52 raised beds (plastic kiddie pools), which provide 1,000 square feet of growing area. Holes were drilled into the bottom of each bed to facilitate drainage.

Why Kiddie Pools?

They are durable, affordable and lightweight. ​This design is so simple it can be created anywhere. It is important that our design is easy to replicate so we can continue to grow more food all over the neighborhood. Add soil and we are ready to grow!

Composting

We use a combination of anaerobic and aerobic composting on the farm.

• Indoor (anaerobic): Food scraps are mixed with Bokashi bran and sealed in 5 gallon buckets for at least 2 weeks.
• Outdoor (aerobic): Afterwards, those food scraps, along with plant material from the farm, are put into 2 composting tumblers on the roof.

Rooftop Challenges

During the first growing season, the biggest challenge we faced was that the new plants, when left unprotected, often ended up as pigeon dinner. We found that with some wire mesh and netting, the pigeons could be kept at bay, and our veggies were free to flourish.

What's Growing Up There

Basil, Beans, Blueberries, Cabbage, Collard Greens, Chives, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Kale, Lettuce, Oregano, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Radishes, Rosemary, Scallions, Tomatoes

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