The new 28-acre farm will sit in the middle of a dense urban environment, continuing a tradition of urban farming that Vietnamese immigrants started there in the 1970s to grow fruits and vegetables not available locally.

ASLA Award of Excellence Recipient, Viet Village Urban Farm by Mossop + Michaels (Photo: Mossop + Michaels)

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Before the devastation of Katrina, there were over 30 acres being farmed throughout the community. There was also a well-established tradition of informal markets in the community, developed as an outlet to sell produce local growers did not consume. The new plan centralizes the farming and market.

ASLA Award of Excellence Recipient, Viet Village Urban Farm by Mossop + Michaels (Photo: Mossop + Michaels)

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The first phase of the project includes the establishment of farm plots and a central reservoir to sustainably irrigate the fields. The plans will eventually incorporate solar and/or wind power to provide energy to the farm and market.

ASLA Award of Excellence Recipient, Viet Village Urban Farm by Mossop + Michaels (Photo: Mossop + Michaels)

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A cross-section shows the farm plots, paths and sustainable irrigation system. Water is pumped to the fields from a centralized reservoir via a windmill and water tower system powered by electrical pumps. The water then flows into a bioswale — a system designed to naturally filter the water through soil and plants as it heads back towards the reservoir for reuse.

ASLA Award of Excellence Recipient, Viet Village Urban Farm by Mossop + Michaels (Photo: Mossop + Michaels)

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Eventually the organically grown crops will be sold at a new farmer’s market (seen in the background), accommodating an estimated 3,000 shoppers each Saturday.

ASLA Award of Excellence Recipient, Viet Village Urban Farm by Mossop + Michaels (Photo: Mossop + Michaels)

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