The farm was started in 2016 with generous support and vision from a private donor. The 5.8 acres lie between Onondaga Creek and a tributary of the creek, and are split between two parcels. Even though the farm has a creek and woods, it is an urban site surrounded by homes, a school, and traffic just blocks away. The development of the Brady Farm offers a chance to transform the physical and social environment of the neighborhood, resurrecting its past as a place to nourish bodies and bring people together and heal some of the environmental and social scars we left behind.

The Brady Farm’s Urban Farm Apprenticeship Program is funded with a grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. The program is geared toward providing the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to run an urban farm. The program covers gardening skills, using equipment and specialty tools, managing high tunnels, marketing and sales, pest and weed management, shiitake mushroom production, and developing community connections. This is a hands-on, work-based program. Apprentices are paid for training and work, they work alongside staff in all aspects of farm operations, in addition to receiving focused training.