West Side High School in Newark is planting seeds of hope, through the creation of a one-acre urban farm that teaches students about sustainability, agribusiness and nutrition. The high school’s principal, Akbar Cook, made a second appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in February, where he received $110,000 from DeGeneres for the farm. That farm is now named after her and comes complete with a mural of her face.
Once completed, it will be one of the biggest urban farms in Newark, with a goal of producing about 1,000 pounds of food this year. Head farmer Cesar Presa said the farm had 300-plus pounds of produce in 2021.
