LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Brooklyn Rescue Mission's Bed-Stuy
Farm upon the occasion of being named one of the top producing urban
farms in the United States

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals that are devoted to the welfare of the community
and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend the Brooklyn
Rescue Mission's Bed-Stuy Farm upon the occasion of being named one of
the top producing urban farms in the United States; and
WHEREAS, NATURAL HOME, an environmental publication, has selected
Brooklyn Rescue Mission's Bed-Stuy Farm as Number 6 of its top ten farms
for its active role in providing food for the Brooklyn Rescue Mission
Food Pantry program, running an educational youth farming internship
program, a free CSA for food pantry guests, a community farmer's market
and contributing to the health of Central Brooklyn residents by offering
fresh produce for consumption; and
WHEREAS, The Bed-Stuy Farm began in 2004 with the cleaning of a
double-size, trash filled lot on Decatur Street in Brooklyn between
Malcolm X Boulevard and Patchen Avenue; it has since grown into two lots
near the Brooklyn Rescue Mission Food Pantry and Malcolm X Boulevard
Community Farmer's Market; and
WHEREAS, Members of the Growing Success Youth Farm Stand program, an
educational program for youths age 13 to 21, perform most of the Malcolm
X Boulevard Community Farmer's Market duties; the Market is designed to
bring produce markets closer to low-income families by accepting EBT,
WIC, and Farmer's Market Nutrition Program coupons; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 2002, the Brooklyn Rescue Mission, Inc. is a
community-based organization in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, that
develops creative solutions to food justice, community health and the
economic challenges its community endures on a daily basis; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the Brooklyn Rescue Mission, Inc. is to
promote healthy living and neighborhood revitalization for Central
Brooklyn through an innovative sustainable food system, with a focus on
families and youth; it envisions urban farming as the starting point for
a self-reliant movement enabling neighborhood residents to take owner-
ship of their own food supply, nutrition and re-vitalization; and
WHEREAS, The Brooklyn Rescue Mission endeavors to build community
pride, provide healthy provisions for its neediest residents, encourage
youth entrepreneurship and develop a communal culture towards land use
and community health through an innovative sustainable food system; and
WHEREAS, In 2008, the Brooklyn Rescue Mission was awarded the Harry
Chapin Self-Reliance Award; it is a member mission of the Association of
Gospel Rescue Missions; and
WHEREAS, This occasion presents an opportunity for this Legislative
Body to recognize and pay tribute to the Brooklyn Rescue Mission's Bed-
Stuy Farm; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to call attention to
organizations such as the Brooklyn Rescue Mission's Bed-Stuy Farm, which
serve to bring people together for the united purpose of actively pursu-
ing improvements in their communities; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Brooklyn Rescue Mission's Bed-Stuy Farm upon the occasion of
being named one of the top producing urban farms in the United States;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Brooklyn Rescue Mission's Bed-Stuy Farm, Brooklyn, New
York.