When you picture a farm, you probably imagine rolling green fields, a red barn, and a farmer in overalls. But what if I told you that one of the most innovative farms in America is tucked away in the urban landscape of Brooklyn, New York?
This is the story of Oko Farms, a revolutionary aquaponics farm that is changing the way we think about food, community, and sustainability.
What is Aquaponics?
Aquaponics is a brilliant, self-sustaining method of growing food that combines aquaculture (raising fish) with hydroponics (growing plants in water). It’s a symbiotic ecosystem where fish, plants, and microorganisms work together in a perfect loop:
- Fish produce waste, which is rich in ammonia.
- Microbes in the water break down this waste, converting it into nitrates—a perfect fertilizer for plants.
- Plants absorb these nitrates through their roots, which in turn purifies the water for the fish.
The result? A system that produces fresh, organic produce and fish while using 50-80% less water than traditional soil-based farming. Best of all, you never have to worry about watering your plants!
More Than a Farm: A Movement
Yemi Amu, the founder of Oko Farms, didn’t start out to be a farmer. She was a nutrition educator who grew frustrated seeing her clients in low-income neighborhoods struggle to access and afford fresh, healthy food. In cities like New York, “food deserts” are a harsh reality, with junk food being far more accessible than fresh fruits and vegetables.
Yemi decided to tackle the problem at its root—by growing the food herself. What started with a few plants on a roof has blossomed into New York City’s only outdoor aquaponics farm that is deeply engaged with the public.
Oko Farms does more than just grow food; it educates and empowers the community. They donate nearly half of what they grow and run educational programs to teach people that farming is not only possible in a city but essential. They are breaking down the barriers of knowledge and space, proving that anyone, anywhere can grow their own food.
A Taste of Home and a Lesson in Resilience
One of the most beautiful aspects of Oko Farms is its celebration of cultural heritage. Yemi grows a wide variety of produce, including grains like sorghum and millet, and traditional Nigerian vegetables like waterleaf (efo gbure). For immigrant communities, this provides a taste of home that is impossible to find in a typical supermarket.
Farming, especially in an urban environment, is an act of resilience. Yemi emphasizes that nature is the ultimate teacher, showing us how to be creative, flexible, and persistent. Failure is part of the process, but just like nature, we learn to bounce back.
Oko Farms is a powerful example of how we can address food security, water conservation, and social justice all at once. It’s a story of how one person’s vision can cultivate a healthier, more connected community, one plant and one fish at a time.