BE ‘YA’ Farms

At Building Eden Farms, we believe the next generation of growers must also be healers of the land. Our Youth Apprenticeship Program teaches young people not only how to grow food, but how to do so in ways that restore ecosystems and strengthen community resilience.

Building Eden Youth Apprenticeship
(Ages 18-26)

Two women gardening in a community garden with houses in the background, soil in the foreground, and sunlight.
A young man with glasses wearing a black t-shirt and shorts standing in a garden holding a large freshly harvested carrot.

Apprentices dive into the foundations of regenerative agriculture—soil health, composting, no‑till methods, seed starting, crop planning, and harvesting—while working alongside experienced farmers. Weekly lessons, hands-on fieldwork, and workshops with guest growers and land stewards give young people a deep understanding of biodiversity, closed‑loop systems, and the principles that make farming truly regenerative.

Our youth apprentices gain the opportunity to not only steward the land but to become leaders of their communities.

Group of people painting a raised garden bed outdoors on a sunny day.
Stylized brown leaf with multiple elongated oval shapes on a transparent background.

Peekskill Regeneration Farm

Peekskill Regeneration Farm is our cornerstone initiative and the living heart of Building Eden Farms. What was once a ¼-acre parcel of city-owned land has been transformed into a thriving, regenerative food space rooted in access, education, and collective care. Here, fresh food is grown and shared freely with the community through workshops, youth programming, weekly farm stands, and public gatherings that honor both nourishment and culture. The farm is more than a growing space—it is a model of what is possible when land is stewarded with intention and community at the center. As our first project, it serves as the inspiration and blueprint for our broader vision: cultivating a network of local food gardens across Peekskill and building a truly food-sovereign community.

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A woman standing in a vegetable garden, reaching upward with her arm extended, surrounded by tomato plants and leafy greens, with a blue sky overhead.

Once a year, the Peekskill community comes alive on the farm for Praise in the Garden, a celebration of food, art, and connection. Neighbors gather for a free farm-to-table meal while enjoying live performances from local artists, as well as talent from NYC, Upper Westchester, and beyond. From dance to open mic, the farm becomes a stage where creativity and community meet, creating unforgettable shared moments on the land. Serving over 100 people, this beloved event has become a cornerstone of both the farm and the Peekskill community.

Praise in the Garden

Beige and black stylized illustration of a leaf with a curved stem and elongated pods.
Group of musicians playing instruments outdoors in a garden, with a brick building and trees in the background.
A woman performs a yoga pose in a garden with a woman in the background talking on a phone.
Group of children dancing outdoors during daytime, some with braided hair, wearing white t-shirts with black star logos and blue skirts or pants, with trees in the background.
Three women in matching pink dresses dance outdoors with their arms raised during daytime.
Women in red tops and black bottoms performing a dance outdoors on a grassy area with trees and an audience seated in the background.
Two people dancing outdoors, one holding a lit LED poi with a blue and green fabric attached, surrounded by green trees and garden beds.
Three women bowing during an outdoor performance, wearing purple skirts and white tops, with a crowd watching in the background under trees.
A man wearing sunglasses and a patterned traditional African shirt playing drums, with another man in a similar attire sitting next to him, and a group of children in colorful clothing standing behind them, outdoors in a park with a fence and trees i
A woman dancing outdoors in a garden, holding fabric in each hand, with music instruments and people seated nearby, surrounded by trees and plants.

Explore the Praise:

HElp us create a sustainable, replicable model for regenerative urban agriculture.

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