By Ben Hanon, KCC Urban Farm Student Aide

Today’s story is about staff distribution, one of the most exciting times of the year. We hope you enjoy!

The sign outside the farm gate seemed simple enough. It told the staff and faculty what time the distribution of vegetables began. 11:30 A.M. on the dot, never a second too early, and never a second too late. From the back of the farm looking out, the farm crew could see a sea of bodies. Bodies of people who had dedicated themselves to two things. The first was serving the Kingsborough community to the best of their ability, the second was getting their farm fresh organic veggies before our stock ran low. This crowd had been waiting all year as students came and went as they pleased to student only distributions of produce. They were ready, they were hungry, and we were ready to serve them.

A farmhand joked about how the floodgates were about to open, and told the farm crew, in jest, to brace themselves for the impact. He did this every week, however it seemed more true on that day than any day before it. A distant clinking of metal was heard. The lock had been removed, the chain had been ripped from the gate, the doors had opened. A mass of people too dense to see through briskly walked to the side of the distribution area where the sign in sheet was located. The siege had begun.

Our first line of defense knew her lines very well. “Welcome to the KCC Urban Farm” “Please sign your name and indicate if you are a student, staff or faculty” “You may take any three items.” Surely these lines repeated over and over in her head as the barrage of hungry health conscious Kingsborough staff converged on her location. The staff moved slowly and deliberately from one side of the distribution to the other, carefully weighing their options and determining what they felt they could prepare, what they wanted to try out, which bunch or bag looked best to them.

Throughout the hour there was a flurry of moving hands, constant restocking of baskets and crates so they would always appear full and bountiful. Vigilant eyes scanned the room to make sure everyone was respecting the 3 item limit.

Around 12:30 the last of the staff had dispersed. The produce was all taken and the Kingsborough community had once again been served by the farm. It was a moment of reflection. We could not exist without all of the wonderful people we served that day. This day was a shining example of why the farm is here. Our farm manager called us into a huddle. We all touched hands and as we raised them into the air we shouted “Go farm!” as loudly as we could. As our voices echoed, we were content. We knew what we were doing was important, and we knew that we did job doing it.