New City Farm: A History of Impact

Over the last twelve years, our farm program has been impacting our community through workforce development, leadership development, and food access. At the same time, our journey forward has been slowed because of a lack of stable land access. Let’s take this to the next level. Let’s place New City Neighbors On Solid Ground.

2012
New City Farm Debut
  • Develop a 1/2 acre field at 4th Reformed Church on Union Street
  • 5 youth employed
  • 22 farm shares
2015
First Greenhouse Built at Union
2016
First Pizza Oven Built
2017
4th Reformed Patio Built
2018
Tunnel Construction at Union Finished
2020
Loss of Union Lease
  • Ricardo Tavarez is hired as NCN Executive Director
  • 4th Reformed disbands from NCN
  • Notified Farming at Union needs to end by 2022
  • COVID pandemic
GVSU Welcomes Us at the SAP
Farmhouse Purchased & Renovations Begin
2021
Farmhouse Greenhouse Built
Farmhouse Field Production Begins
2022
New Pizza Oven Built & Cafe Relaunch
Plainsong Welcomes Us
  • Plainsong welcomes us in the Fall for our garlic planting
  • Plainsong grants us a 5-year lease in March, 2023
  • Begin shared food access model
  • Plainsong staff & volunteers help us with our move
2023
Tunnels Deconstucted at Union
Irrigation System Installed at Plainsong
Tunnels Rebuilt at Plainsong
2024
Plainsong Lease Uncertainty
  • Renegotiated lease requested by Plainsong
  • Lose 1/2 of our renovated production space
  • Expect to be able to continue to use space for our tunnels
  • On-going negotiations for irrigation improvement compensation
Ball Ave Site Discovered
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