Added Value's mission is to promote the sustainable development of Red Hook by nurturing a new generation of young leaders. We work towards this goal by creating opportunities for the youth of South Brooklyn to expand their knowledge base, develop new skills and positively engage with their community through the operation of a socially responsible urban farming enterprise.



For the past two and a half years Added Value has trained more than 30 young people, founded the Red Hook Farmers' Market and helped to revitalize Coffey Park. These early successes are due, in large part, to our ability to weave together a Community Advisory Council representing 30 local, regional and national institutions that support our work to improve the neighborhood by creating youth leaders.



Currently, Added Value has three programmatic components: Herban Solutions (our market gardening business), Digital Horizons (our media literacy and multi-media initiative), and Project R.E.A.L (our environmental justice projects). Youth participants work seventeen hours each week in our gardens, at market and on the computers. Among other things they are nurturing plants, selling produce and building our website. For their efforts youth participants receive a generous stipend while gaining the skills that will help them compete in today's economy. Upon completion of their year with Added Value participants possess the knowledge to make a difference in the quality of life in their community and the confidence to do just that.