Teena and Michael Bailey recently welcomed visitors from New York to their Red Cat Farm in Germansville.

Teena Bailey grows a variety of organic vegetables and herbs in the greenhouse at her farm.

"I have always loved growing things," Bailey said. "I wanted to be a farmer. Being able to do something necessary for life is rewarding."

Bailey said smaller, local growers are the key to the food system.

"There is a more personal relationship with small growers and production," Bailey said. "Most small growers eat what they grow."

Tianna Du Pont, extension educator with Penn State Cooperative Extension, Nazareth, was taking the New York City residents on tours of several farms in the area so they could view and learn how to farm on small plots of land.

According to the Farm School NYC webpage, students from the school study urban agriculture, "to build self-reliant communities and inspire positive local action around food access and social, economic and racial justice issues."

Farm School NYC teacher Molly Culver told The Press during the tour of the Baileys' greenhouse the classes meet twice a week.

Many of the students tend community, backyard or rooftop gardens in the city so they can access fresh produce.

Upon completion of the course, they receive an Urban Ag Certificate.