By Carrie Byrne Putelo
Founder, James Paul
In a sleek shipping container tucked away on James Street, something extraordinary is growing—without soil, without tractors, and without any of the traditional farm tools we’re used to seeing. Under LED lights, leafy greens sprout in clean rows, nourished by nutrient-rich water and monitored by an app. Welcome to Blacque Acres, Utica’s first hydroponic container farm—and the city’s boldest step yet toward food equity.
Founded by James Paul, Blacque Acres is more than just a high-tech grow house. It’s a nonprofit with a mission: deliver fresh, locally grown produce year-round to neighborhoods that have long lacked access. “We’ve found a way to grow healthy food right here,” Paul says. “Bypass the contaminated soil many communities face, and grow something that’s truly fresh—from seed to harvest.”
Inside the container, James walks me through the process, showing off the carefully crafted grow plugs and channels—designed to keep the roots clean and healthy. “It’s better for the plants themselves,” he explains, pointing out how they’re optimizing the look and feel of the lettuce even if it’s being donated. “We don’t want the produce to deter people from accepting it. It should look good, feel right in your hands, and still taste amazing.”
Right now, there’s no formal distribution site for the produce that’s ready—but that’s about to change. James is working with Mosaic Health, just two blocks away, to launch a “prescription produce” program. The vision? A distribution center near Mosaic where clients—many of whom are navigating chronic health issues—can pick up fresh greens alongside free wellness services like blood pressure checks and CPR training. At some point we’d like to offer some form of dental health awareness or services. “There are plans to expand beyond James Street too. James envisions a series of micro-farms—each within walking distance of the others—serving the Cornhill neighborhood and surrounding areas. “We’d love to build right at the developing impact center on West Street,” he says. “Put the farms where the people are.”
For now, they’re donating much of the harvest to the local community, friends, and neighbors—testing varieties, perfecting texture and taste, and gathering feedback. “We gave some to the team at The Wild,” Paul says. “Even if a head of lettuce doesn’t look perfect, it’s still perfectly good for our animal friends.”
Long-term, James sees the distribution model as something closer to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) subscription, with set pickup days—perhaps Fridays—and additional on-site healthcare access. “You might pick up your produce and get your blood pressure checked by a doctor. We’re building something holistic.”
What inspired James to start all this? Surprisingly, it began with an idea to build a shipping container home. “Once I started Googling, the algorithm kept feeding me these container farms,” he says. “I had never seen one before. But it just clicked. This could reach the same families, that rely on community gardens, year-round. No off-season. No gap in access.”
People here often end up at corner stores, and we all know what they’re getting—processed food, junk. “With this? It’s fresh. It’s walkable. It’s right here,” he says.
And James isn’t just thinking about what to grow—but who he’s growing it for. “We live in a diverse community, and we’re starting to ask people: what do you actually eat? What produce matters to your family? If we can’t grow it, maybe we can start the seeds and get you going with plant baskets at home.”
He’s also building connections to local schools. The farm sits across the street from an elementary school, and James wants kids involved every step of the way. “They can come plant the seeds. A few weeks later, they can come back and transplant. Five weeks after that, they can harvest it. And they get to put their name on it. This is mine. I grew this.”
Blacque Acres will once again participate in MV Gives this fall—now with a farm, a following, and a fully realized mission to share with a broader audience. “People need to see that this is doable. That it’s real. That it’s theirs.”
You can find Blacque Acres at 137 James Street in Utica.
Learn more at blacqueacres.org
