Anastasia Cole-Plakias is Vice President and Founding Partner of Brooklyn Grange. A published writer and veteran of the NYC restaurant industry, her passion for food politics is outweighed only by her knowledge of obscure vegetable-related trivia, which she shares on her Heritage Radio Network segment, Anastasia's Fridge. A born-and-raised New Yorker, Anastasia is dedicated to making her native city a greener and more sustainable place to live.
This is a sweet and inspiring story about what can be accomplished by a group of smart, idealistic young people dedicated to environmental and business goals Publishers Weekly Brooklyn Grange is the incredible rooftop farm I dream of seeing in every city across the country. Alice Waters, Owner Chez Panisse Restaurant, Founder the Edible Schoolyard Project Brooklyn Grange represents the best of passionand purity, and every page of this book oozes the sweet nectar of creativity, community, andcommercial wisdom. That the story reads like a fast-paced novel simply confirms the powerof visionary sustainable businesses. Joel Salatin, author, farmer, and owner of Polyface Farm The Farm on the Rooftells an unvarnished and gritty tale about what it takes to build a business with purpose and profit. This book is jammed with inspirational stories of overcoming entrepreneurial challenges and provides endless lessons that can be applied to any organization. Eric Ryan, cofounder of Methodand Olly The remarkable tale of how a bunch of savvy do-gooders turned their socially conscious dreams into an innovative and economically thriving reality.The Farm on the Roofis an engrossing story of how hard work, ingenuity and an utter refusal to settle for the status quo led to the largest for profit green roof farm in the world. Joe Bastianich, author of Restaurant Man, restauranteur, and TV personality This book answers the big, tormenting question: how can a small, organic, local farm become financially independent? It's a blue print for sustainable agriculture, which requires not only that we don t pollute Mother Earth, but that we find ways to make farming work financially in order to perpetuate and sustain it. Isabella Rossellini, actress, filmmaker, and conservationist The Farm on the Roof is not just a heartwarming success story about how a group of young people with a shared dream faced every challenge head on to reach their goal. It s also the story of the search for a new way of living, one that makes the reader reflect on the endless opportunities sprouting in the streets of our cities. Carlo Petrini, founder of the international Slow Food movement