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Battery Urban Farm is a one acre educational farm located in historic Battery Park.
As an educational farm, our mission is to inspire and educate youth, our downtown community, and the general public about growing (and eating!) great food. We offer a variety of opportunities for students and youth of all ages to experience the best the farm has to offer. At Battery Urban Farm, student farmers get their hands in soil and learn about sustainable organic farming — from seed to plant to plate, and back to soil.
Read more about our Farm Education Programs below. To register your class, student, or child for any of our 2013 programs, or for more information, email Lauren Kaplan at lkaplan@thebattery.org. Please indicate which program(s) are of interest, and be sure to include full name and contact information.
Teacher-Led Classes
Use the farm as your outdoor classroom!
Teachers, parents, or other representatives from downtown schools who are interested in bringing their class to the farm on a weekly basis can request to receive a plot of land (or a “berm”) for the growing season. In this outdoor classroom space, teachers of grades K-12 lead their own lessons on subjects ranging from math and science to history and art. Together with their students, teachers will plan, plant, tend, and harvest whatever and however best suits their educational needs. This options is available to all schools and all age groups, and is best for teachers with some gardening experience and/or who are comfortable working independently.
Space for Teacher-Led Classes is made available April-June and September-November. Spring 2013 berms are assigned on a first-come first-served basis starting in late February. For more information or to request a berm, click here for the Teacher-Led Registration Form.
Farm Educator-Led Classes
Learn with the Battery Urban Farm Educator!
Teachers, parent coordinators, or other representatives from downtown schools who want to bring their classes on a weekly basis during the school year, but who do not wish to maintain their own berm, can sign up for guided Farm Educator-Led Classes. These lessons, led by our Farm Educator, focus on farm-based education. Exploratory, inquiry-based activities are seasonal and age-appropriate, and can include seeding, transplanting, composting, and harvesting. In these classes, students will spend time becoming familiar with the different companion plants and beneficial bugs that live on the farm, and exploring topics such as plant life cycles, decomposers, and food webs.
Farm Educator-Led Classes are available for public schools ages K-3. The Spring semester runs April-June, and the Fall semester runs September-November. Farm Educator-Led Classes are fully booked for Spring 2013. Check back in August for forms to register your class for the Fall 2013 session.
Enrichment Visits
Bring your class or camp group for a farm field trip!
Enrichment Visits are a great introduction to the farm for new or visiting groups. These generally last either 60-90 minutes and offer a whole-farm experience, including a mini-lesson and a hands-on, farm-based learning activity led by Battery Urban Farm staff. Enrichment Visits are open for all schools and summer camp groups ages K-12. School-year visits are available Wednesdays and Fridays, April-June and September-October. Summer visits are available Mondays-Fridays, June-September.
For more information or to register your class or camp group, click here for the Enrichment Visit Application Form.
City Seedlings Summer Program
Come grow with your young farmer this summer!
Parents who wish to experience the farm with their youngsters can register for any of three two-week summer sessions. During visits, City Seedlings will spend time helping farmers tend the summer crops, exploring the plants and creatures living on the farm, tasting fresh vegetables, creating art to bring home, and enjoying farm-themed story time on the lawn. Each session meets twice a week for two weeks, from 9:00am-11:00am on either Mondays/Wednesdays (A) or Tuesdays/Thursdays (B).
City Seedlings is a great way for you and your child to experience the farm during some of its most fruitful months. Read more about City Seedlings, or email Lauren Kaplan at lkaplan@thebattery.org to request an application. Registration for Summer 2013 is on a first-come first-served basis, and will open late April/early May 2013.
Read more about our adult education opportunities in Community Outreach!
Or read more from our student farmers at The Schoolyard Dirt to see artwork, recipes, stories, quotes and more!
