Urban food revival. Protecting what is already there.

On August 6th, 2015, Troy Urban Farming Initiative and members of the city wide community began their Urban Orchard Project.  Originally with the intent to take vacant city owned lots and convert them in to public space as a park and orchard in neighborhoods all across the city of Troy, NY.

While working on the logistics, mapping out the location of these often hidden lots located where roads and railroad tracks once ran, checking on suitability to planting fruit trees and if they will remain viable for the long range as well as what to plant, the group realized that through out the city there were stands of existing fruit trees that have been long neglected, some are even remnants from the heyday of victory gardens and self sufficiency that disappeared at the close of WWII, along with the city's industry.  Not to mention the number of abandoned properties that contained fruit trees, mostly apples, that were not owned by the city, yet.

John Cubit, founder of TUFI, commented that "These trees are all over the city.  You just need to get out there and look.  From the bike trail to the river and from North Troy to South Troy, even hidden in areas of Rensselaer Poly Tech campus and the Russell Sage campus there are fruit trees just waiting for people to enjoy the food they are providing."

That is when one volunteer, Francis Magia suggested tracking these sites on-line and sharing with the residents where to go and when to harvest.

Trees after being pruned

The group decided to go ahead and get started while working on the original concept and start revitalizing the current stands of fruit trees through out the city.  Their first stop was on 1st St. and Adams, a once mixed industrial and residential area that other than those living there is a barren site of brown fields, except this little corridor with several various species of apple trees.

A mix of large crab-apples, used for preserves and desserts, to large, very sweet apples that are still ripening.  All the trees but one were filled heavily with apples.  One was completely dead and the group removed that due to the infestation of worm and carpenter ants, but the wood was taken away for use in an art project, since the main trunk was mostly undamaged, other than from the worms that girdled the tree.

Peter demonstrating correct pruning methods

After a brief class on pruning and branch removal by Peter Tarantelli, referred to as Peter the Pruner, the group went at clearing the sidewalks of low hanging branches as well as the roadway.  They removed dead and diseased branches as well.  Though the amount of branches were small they knew that what they did will have a major impact on the health of the tree and its longevity.

John commented that now we need to let people know about these trees. "Come late September, October these are going to be great apples, and they are there for everyone to enjoy."

The group is scouting out another site not to far away for their next guerrilla pruning session as well as still working on a site location for the original concept of an urban orchard, food security is one of TUFI's top priorities, not to mention it helps make Troy a better place to live.

If interested in helping out with the orchard, tree pruning or interested in learning skills to become self-sufficient or developing a urban farm join up and follow Troy Urban Farming Initiative on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TroyUFI or email at TroyUFI@gmail.com.

Revitalization and job creation through sustainable community farming.

While farm to table and farm to market are seemingly popular catch phrases of the day, the truth remains that urban cities as a whole continue to decline, buildings are razed and often development focus is on city centers over the prime, tax base of the surrounding residential neighborhoods and jobs decline.

In cities like Troy the development of good paying jobs has not happened, many residents are at or below the poverty line, Lansingburgh School district is rated with over 53% of the students below. Development of diverse business base has not happened and the protection of housing stocks has not happened. Troy continues to push forward on development of new housing, catered around the city center, which has seen much revitalization in the past 10 years.

We reviewed the number of city owned properties available for sale 75% of the are vacant lots. Each lot carries a potential agriculture benefit of $1,000,000 of production a year. We are not talking livestock other than maybe a few chickens, a goat or two or even an aquaponics center, then the numbers can increase two fold, but actual fruit and vegetable production.

As a co-operative model TUFI looks to take those currently unused lots and transform them to working farms. Allowing individuals to develop and build solid urban farm businesses that will help the economy of the individual, the neighborhoods, the city and other businesses that need produce. It will redefine farm to table or farm to market to what it is meant to be, fresh inexpensive produce, eggs and fish.

Our goal is not to compete with groups like Capital Roots but help them with supplying more fresh local farm items to our residents and to incubate job creation in the world of urban farming.