This week on Straight, No Chaser, Katy Keiffer chats with Ben Flanner, Anastasia Cole Plakias, Chase Emmons & Michael Meier of Brooklyn Grange, a community oriented commercial organic farm located on New York City rooftops. Hear what the crew has been up to and what plans they have in store for the new rooftop farm at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Learn more about storm water management, beekeeping, seed saving and the educational components of the farm. This program was sponsored by Fairway Market.

Photo by Cyrus Dowlatshahi

"We're living in a city who's sewer system was built well before a period of rapid development. With all these non-porous surfaces that have been added, there's a lot more water entering the sewer system. Now people are looking for creative ways to manage storm water, such as green roofs, and a farm like ours can store much more storm water than a normal green roof."

--Anastasia Cole Plakias of Brooklyn Grange

"In the new farm at the Navy Yard we will have between 20-30 beehives. Part of that project is genetic-oriented. In three years or so we hope to end up with New York City genetics, bees that are adapted to their environment. We want people to purchase bees from us, not just honey."

--Chase Emmons of Brooklyn Grange on Straight, No Chaser

Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge, makes her second appearance on THE FOOD SEEN, to discuss her new/first book, “Design*Sponge at Home“. In it, great DIY projects like Silverware Curtain Hooks, Recycled Cake Stands (made of old plates and candlestick holders), and a “sneak peak” into Grace’s own home and kitchen (complete with a blazingly orange Julia Child-esque peg-board wall for pots/pans). Also, new recipes Design*Sponge’s In The Kitchen With column, as well as a few drinks from Behind the Bar to round out the meal. You can also listen to Grace’s earlier interview on THE FOOD SEEN here.

On today’s THE FOOD SEEN, the wandering stars of the weekly online video series The Perennial Plate, Daniel Klein and Mirra Fine, are halfway through their national tour “taking the viewer on a journey to appreciate and understand where good food comes from and how to enjoy it.”. From their Minnesotan beginnings, they’ve now hunted frogs in Arkansas, fished for shrimp in New Orleans, dove for sea urchin on the West Coast, and even cooked a collaborative dinner here in NYC at Prune restaurant. What’s next on map for The Perennial Plate? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out … This episode is sponsored by Fairway Market.