Community farms


Feeding the nation

This initiative builds large-scale, community-powered vertical farms in cities across the country. These environmentally controlled farms use hydroponic and aquaponic systems to grow pesticide-free produce, based on the Mediterranean diet. They are housed in vacant commercial buildings—turning unused space into vital infrastructure for food security, local jobs, and public health.

Why It Matters

  • Delivers fresh, affordable vegetables and herbs daily

  • Prevents disease by making healthy food easy to access

  • Transforms abandoned buildings into food hubs

  • Creates thousands of local jobs in farming, tech, and logistics

  • Slashes food waste, transportation costs, and pesticide use

How It Works

Each vertical farm is tailored to its city’s size and needs. Farms are built inside former department stores, warehouses, and other large buildings, using smart growing technology:

  • Hydroponic towers growing leafy greens, herbs, and fruits

  • Aquaponic tanks with fish to naturally nourish plants

  • Solar energy, water recycling, and AI climate control

  • Public food distribution and education centers for local access and learning

Scaling by City Size

City Population. Farm Building Size
100,000 ~90,000sq ft
200,000 ~120,000 sq ft
500,000+ 250,000–400,000 sq ft

Prototype Sites

Los Angeles, CA — Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza

  • Repurposing a vacant anchor store (~120,000 sq ft) into a vertical farm

  • Feeding up to 200,000 residents daily

  • Partnering with local food banks, churches, and markets

  • National model for urban food justice and community-powered farming

Chicago, IL — [Location TBD]

  • Launching a second flagship farm in one of Chicago’s food-insecure neighborhoods

  • Matching scale and technology with the Los Angeles prototype

  • Creating jobs and fresh food access in underserved areas of the Midwest

  • Demonstrating bi-coastal scalability and nationwide impact

National Rollout Plan

  • Retrofit vacant buildings in 15+ cities over the next 5 years

  • Build 1 site in every U.S. city over 50,000 people (1,200+ sites total)

  • Focus first on food deserts and underserved communities

  • Partner with schools, food banks, and local governments

Jobs, Education, and Community Access

  • Every site includes a public access point for fresh food

  • Onsite jobs in farming, engineering, teaching, and logistics

  • Partnerships with local colleges and trade schools

  • Workshops, nutrition classes, and youth programs

How It's Funded

  • USDA and Department of Energy grants

  • Public-private partnerships and clean infrastructure funds

  • Local tax incentives for donated buildings or land

  • Long-term sustainability through food sales and community programs

Our Goals

  • Daily fresh food access for over 200 million Americans

  • End food deserts in 10 years

  • Create over 250,000 green jobs

  • Shift to prevention-based public health through nutrition

Learn More

Visit the Nutrition & Healthcare page to see how this project supports national health reform through food.

Ready to bring a vertical farm to your city?
Let’s grow together.