In this episode, I have an inspiring conversation with James Paul, the founder of Blacque Acres, an indoor hydroponic container farm in Utica, NY. James shares his journey from military service to urban farming, and we’ll talk about how he was able to commit to the project without knowing much about container farming or fundraising to make the first container farm a reality.
We’ll get into how he created buy-in from the community and funders, raising over $200k to start the first farm, and how you don’t need to know exactly what you’re doing to get started on your big idea. Blacque Acres aims to provide fresh, affordable produce to the Cornhill neighborhood an often overlooked part of the city, addressing food insecurity and promoting community health in the process.
James is proving that fresh, affordable produce can be grown year-round in the middle of the city—and that a farm can be about much more than food.
Learn more about Blacque Acres at their website: www.blacqueacres.com







Rust Belt Startup · Blacque Acres: Container Farming and Committing in Cornhill