Rider Farm

As New Jersey’s largest city, with over 300,000 residents, Newark needs green spaces to support the community, but finding green space is no easy task. When a group of creative locals noticed the abundance of green space on the front lawn of West Side High School, dreams of an urban farm began to take shape.

In 2020, with support from Trust for Public Land and L.L.Bean, community organizers received $50,000 to develop a hydroponic greenhouse, apple orchard, vegetable beds, an outdoor kitchen, and spaces for students and neighbors to get together and enjoy the fruits of their labors.

Rider Farm will become a source of fresh, healthy food for students and neighbors, in the heart of a community where nutritious food can be hard to find. It will also provide students hands-on opportunities to learn about farming, health, and running a successful business.