All year long, The Hort has been quietly nurturing a project we can finally share: the Carol Pino Learning Farm, a two‑acre outdoor classroom in Bergen Beach, Brooklyn.
When NYC Public Schools set out to transform an empty lot into a living laboratory, they asked The Hort to supply the planting and programming vision, as well as the maintenance roadmap.
Building on horticulture design expertise and years of success in programming and operating the Greenhouse & Education Center (GEC) in Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park, The Hort was brought on to not only bring plants, but to also provide thoughtful design to the space, ensuring an environment for hands-on plant learning.
In partnership with NYCPS District 22, we’ve brought this outdoor classroom to life. This dynamic new green space is designed for NYC students to experience outdoor learning that celebrates agriculture in the context of an urban ecosystem.
The Learning Farm serves as an open‑air classroom where New York City public‑school students can explore how agriculture thrives inside an urban ecosystem. Raised beds, wide pathways, and a central greenhouse turn school lessons into memorable experiences with soil, food, and ecology.
From initial sketches to the final transplant, we wove horticulture, education, and therapeutic concepts together. The layout supports science experiments, sensory exploration, and quiet reflection in equal measure, echoing the holistic programming that powers the GEC’s year‑round success.
The Learning Farm includes:
- Three Sisters Garden – corn, beans, and squash grown in harmony
- Food Crop Garden – veggies galore, perfect for learning about food systems and making healthy snacks
- Pollinator & Aromatherapy Beds – designed to engage the senses and support native wildlife
- Greenhouse – state-of-the-art space for seed starting and growing unique plants
This long-envisioned project was made possible with funding from the NYC Mayor’s Office and Council Member Rita Joseph.
Although the Carol Pino Learning Farm is reserved for school groups, you can experience The Hort’s work any day at the Greenhouse & Education Center – open seven days a week with family‑friendly gardening, cooking, art, and community programs, plus a thriving year‑round learning garden – all free to the public! Stay tuned for more Learning Farm updates as the season unfolds.