Have you ever heard of Green City Force? If you haven’t, then you have now. Green City Force is a non-profit organization whose mission is turning New York City into a “green” one by gardening and farming throughout the five boroughs. Starting out in 2010, their first eco-house was built in Red Hook, Brooklyn in 2013, shortly after the tragic Sandy Hook incident. Their initiative to grow and provide fresh produce for the city targets NYCHA, where they give out free fruits and vegetables to residents and low-income communities on a weekly basis. “We’re picking them when they’re ripe and you’re getting it the day of. It doesn’t get any fresher than that,” says Service Coordinator Rosana De Leòn. By prioritizing NYCHA residents and low-income communities, they become a beacon for better eating and healthier alternatives which is considerably helpful as far as the inflating prices of groceries of today.
Not only is their mission focused on helping low-income families, but they’re also a pathway for kids of the ages 18-24 to get jobs within urban agriculture or sustainability. Assisting teens that may have hesitant thoughts or may not have the resources to obtain a higher education. Every six months, they recruit kids who are interested in learning more about job training where they walk out or “graduate” with several certifications that can help with getting a career in something they care about. With this cycle of recruitment and job placement for young kids, Green City Force is “Helping them understand that college may not be the right path for everyone and there’s other options available for anyone who can join”, says Forest Houses site supervisor and service coordinator, Marc Diaz.







