Westside EcoFarm

The Environmental Action Lab

Westside EcoFarm

A community-driven agricultural initiative on Syracuse's Westside, fostering sustainable food production, environmental education, and community empowerment through hands-on farming and ecological stewardship.

Location

209-211 Elliott Street, Syracuse, NY

Project Overview

Mission & Vision

The Westside EcoFarm serves as a vital hub for sustainable agriculture and environmental education in Syracuse's Westside community. Our mission is to provide accessible, locally-grown food while educating community members about sustainable farming practices, food sovereignty, and environmental stewardship.

Community Impact

Since its establishment, the Westside EcoFarm has become a cornerstone of food security and environmental education in the Syracuse Westside community. Through partnerships with local organizations and schools, we have created a space where sustainable agriculture meets community empowerment.

Our work addresses critical issues of food insecurity, environmental justice, and community development through direct action and hands-on education. The farm serves as an outdoor classroom where visitors learn about permaculture, companion planting, and ecological restoration techniques.

Educational Programs

We offer educational programming for all ages, from elementary school field trips to adult workshops on sustainable gardening. Our programs cover topics including organic growing methods, composting, food preservation, and the connection between healthy soil and healthy communities.

Project Phases

Phase One: Establishing the Farm (2024–2025)

Activities:

Preparation of the land, including soil testing, construction of garden beds, and planting of fruit and nut trees to create a sustainable food source. Community engagement is fostered through cleanups, workshops, and Earth Week events. Rainwater collection systems are implemented to support early irrigation needs.

Goals:

Soil testing and bed construction

Tree planting and early infrastructure

Community engagement initiatives

Installation of rainwater barrels

Early infrastructure development

Supported in part by the Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance (SOFSA) Urban Garden Grant.

Phase Two: Building Capacity (2025–2026)

Activities:

Next, we’re expanding infrastructure and launching educational programs. This includes securing water permits, installing irrigation systems, and constructing a chicken coop and rabbit hutch. We’ll also create indoor and outdoor learning spaces and onboard a Food Justice Officer to lead programming and deepen community engagement.

Goals:

Funded in part by the Gifford Foundation’s “What If…” Mini-Grant, supporting water infrastructure and permit access.

Secure land lease/purchase

Install rainwater irrigation and formalize water access
Construct rabbit hutch and chicken coop
Develop outdoor classroom and indoor education space

Install beehives and bat boxes

Phase Three: Growing the Movement (2026–2028)

Activities:

Looking forward, we’ll build a barn, explore wetland restoration, and expand the farm’s footprint. A Food Justice & Environmental Conservation Corps will train youth in food systems and land stewardship, growing a movement rooted in sustainability, justice, and mutual aid.

Goals:

Build barn and wetland reserve
Expand farm acreage
Launch Food Justice Corps

Launch Environmental Conservation Corps
Deepen partnerships and offer formal trainings

In The Works

Food Forest

TEAL is building a food forest at the Westside EcoFarm to improve food security and support local biodiversity.

A food forest is a regenerative, multilayered garden that mimics the natural structure of a forest, featuring trees, shrubs, vines, and ground cover. This design promotes soil health, conserves water, and requires significantly less maintenance than traditional gardens or farms.

So far, our food forest includes persimmon, pecan, and hazelnut trees, along with elderberry, raspberry, and currant bushes with much more to come.

Garden Beds

We built six garden beds and filled them using the hügelkultur method, layering logs, branches, leaves, compost, and topsoil.

This technique helps the beds retain water while the wood slowly decomposes, releasing nutrients for our plants to thrive.

Currently, our beds are growing eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, tomatillos, cucumbers, butternut squash, and a variety of herbs.

Chicken Coop

Our chicken coop will soon be home to six hens at the Westside Eco-Farm. The coop will support our closed-loop farm system by helping us reduce food waste, build soil fertility, and produce fresh eggs to share with neighbors.

As part of our educational farm, the chickens will also help visitors learn about animal care, composting, sustainable food systems, and the role small livestock can play in community-based agriculture.

Rooted in community. Growing toward sovereignty.