Tucked behind the Kingston YMCA is a bustling hub of urban agricultural activity known as the Kingston YMCA Farm Project. Since its founding by local farmer KayCee Wimbish in 2013, the organization has transformed a third of an acre of unused land owned by the YMCA into a vibrant oasis dedicated to providing the community with access to fresh, local food and empowering the city’s youth.
The heart of the organization is its Farm Crew program, which offers year-round employment for high school students from the City of Kingston aged 14 to 18. “We believe very deeply in the youth in Kingston having agency in their own community,” says Education Director Susan Hereth.
Each year, three seasonal crews of eight students get their hands dirty learning every aspect of urban agriculture—from greenhouse propagation to harvest, as well as the preparation of healthy meals. The farm produces over 5,000 pounds of fresh vegetables annually, which are available to the community at affordable prices at the farm stands run by the Farm Crew on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Y.
In addition to the farm, the campus has expanded in recent years to include a lush naturescape and pollinator garden, an all-ages accessible playground, and a community garden with 28 beds.
Throughout the pandemic, the organization also grew its programming to continue offering opportunities for youth to safely connect with each other and dive deeper into the Kingston community. “The Farm Project is a place where they find their sense of belonging,” says Wimbish.
In the past few years, their projects have included creating a bilingual cookbook with local cookbook author Julia Turshen, operating a pop-up restaurant in the lobby of the Fuller Building, and preparing and packaging meals as mutual aid for Kingston’s network of community fridges.
Its Youth Design Team has also participated in research and design for public projects that range from the Pine Street African Burial Ground to the forthcoming green space located at Broadway and Prince Street. The organization also hosts field trips for school and community groups and children from the YMCA's summer camps are regular visitors to the farm.
In celebration of its growth over the last decade, the organization is hosting a Summer Solstice Celebration on June 21 from 6 to 9pm at the farm, which will benefit its youth programs. Guests will get to stroll through the farm, playground, and pollinator garden as they snack on sweet and savory fare prepared by the Farm Crew and a variety of local chefs and vendors curated by Rebecca French of the Upstate Table. There will also be a complimentary bar, live music by The Broken Heartstrings, and a photo booth by Deep Tanks.
Tickets to the Solstice Celebration are $150 per person, with reserved tables for eight people available for $1500. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Kingstonymcafarmproject.org/solstice.
