St. Nicholas Miracle Garden Greenhouse
The Greenhouse Project
We launched our greenhouse project at St Nicholas Miracle Garden to address issues such as food insecurity, urban farming challenges, and limited green space in New York City. This urban garden maximizes space in a dense urban area and allows us to grow seedlings year-round. These seedlings support farmers’ markets, community gardens, and local farms in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx.
The project has seen collaboration with union carpenters, architects, student designers, and community volunteers, creating an ecosystem of shared knowledge and skill development. The greenhouse currently produces seedlings for local farmers and will serve as an education hub for agribusiness and sustainable technology training.
Who We Are
The Uptown & Boogie Healthy Project empowers communities in Upper Manhattan (Uptown) and The Bronx (Boogie) through urban agriculture, sustainability, and education. Since 2021, we’ve operated farmers’ markets in Harlem and The Bronx, providing fresh, locally-grown produce and educational programming for the community. Our latest project is a year-round greenhouse designed to support urban and rural farming, workforce development, and community-driven innovation in agriculture.
The Need
To continue expanding the greenhouse’s impact and reach, we require support in acquiring supplies and technology to enhance production and educational programs. Here is a breakdown of our budget needs:
– Consumable Supplies (Potting Soil, Seeds, Fertilizers): $1,000
– Equipment Purchases (Lights, Irrigation Systems, Tools, Tables, Shelving): $4,000
– Program Supplies (Marketing, Educational Materials): $1,000
– Technology (Climate Control Systems, Devices Data Tracking Software): $2,000
Total Budget: $8,000
Community Impact
The greenhouse is a hub for local food production and workforce development to grow seedlings supplying farmers’ markets. We are strengthening food security and fostering economic resilience in underserved communities. At the same time, we’re equipping participants with practical skills through paid internships in agriculture, marketing, and technology.
Our collaboration with union carpenters and architects led to constructing a sustainable greenhouse while offering valuable job training and apprenticeship opportunities. College interns, currently designing and building interior tables for seedling production, are gaining hands-on experience in sustainable design and engineering. We plan to expand these efforts by continuing to offer workforce development programs that teach young adults skills in urban farming, carpentry, and sustainable construction while also creating internships in technology and agribusiness.
Workforce Development & Union Collaboration
Our collaboration with union carpenters is a testament to the project’s emphasis on high-quality, skilled labor. These partnerships have allowed residents to gain experience in construction while ensuring community members built the greenhouse to the highest standards. We plan to expand this by offering more apprenticeships and training programs, positioning our greenhouse as a hub of food production and workforce development.
