Farming Fairness

As part of their ongoing exploration of relationships between food systems and social justice,

high school students in Mel Chan’s Food & Justice course visited Skye Farm LLC, an educational rooftop farm in Queens operated by the Variety Boys & Girls Club. The visit brought classroom discussions to life, offering students a hands-on look at the interplay between ethical food production, sustainability, and equitable access to produce. 

Through conversations with educators and time spent exploring the farm, students examined how government policy, labor practices, and environmental stewardship influence what food is grown, who grows it, and who ultimately has access to it. The class also explored broader questions around food sovereignty and the role of locally-led, community-based solutions, seeing firsthand how urban agriculture can support education, workforce development, and local food access. 

By grounding complex ideas in a real-world setting, the experience deepened students’ understanding of food as both a basic necessity and a revelatory lens through which to examine justice, equity, and collective responsibility—key themes that students will continue to investigate throughout the course.