Urban Agriculture

CCE Onondaga supports local food production and urban agriculture in Onondaga county through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)! 

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program

CCE Onondaga partnered with Refugee and Immigrant Self- Empowerment (RISE) through the BFRDP by providing the Syracuse refugee community classroom and hands-on learning in agriculture production. Additional components of the BFRDP include but are not limited to: business planning, marketing mentorship, English education, increase food security, create safe spaces for cultural exchange, and to provide economic opportunities for north side Syracuse residents.

Participants from various countries learn how to farm organically in an urban area under the northeastern US climate, which is dramatically different from their home countries. CCE educators works with RISE to provide classroom and hands-on learning for agricultural production. Topics include: crop planning, soil fertility, irrigation, integrated pest management, harvest and post-harvest handling, and food safety.

During the first year of the BFRDP program, participants learn basic production and English skills that relate to farming at the training garden which is located in the heart of north side Syracuse. Participants in their second year and beyond are assigned individual plots of land to start their own production at Salt City Harvest Farm (Kirkville, NY) or Matthew 25 farm (Tully, NY). They receive mentorship in marketing from RISE’s market manager and will have the opportunity to sell their produce to the local community as well as a means to supply fresh healthy produce for their own personal consumption.

Last updated August 15, 2023