La Ferme du Rail, the urban farm tucked away along the Petite Ceinture

In the 19th arrondissement of Paris, the Ferme du Rail is one of those discreet places that reveal another way of living in the city. Nestled near the Petite Ceinture, on the rue de l'Ourcq, this urban farm in Paris brings together market gardening, social inclusion, dining, and a circular economy.

Winner of the Reinventing Paris call for projects, she transformed an old railway site into a community hub that feels open to the neighborhood, where the vegetables, residents, and pathways to reintegration intersect daily. For the Ferme du Rail, this is an ecosystem in its own right, with crops in open ground, in containers, under glass, and on rooftops, plus practices around permaculture, aquaponics, agroforestry, and composting.

Neighborhood organic waste from the area and from some restaurants is used to enrich the soil, in a short supply chain that gives meaning to every gesture. The venue also emphasizes educational activities and knowledge transfer. Through its work‑and‑insertion workshop, La Ferme develops discovery workshops around urban agriculture, soil life, the protection of urban wildlife and flora, botany, and turning organic waste into compost.

The project also shines through the maintenance of jardins partagés, the collection and management of organic waste, and also the sale of young plants produced on the farm, from April to October. The farm thus offers a very tangible way to participate in neighborhood life, between gardening, sustainable eating, and ecological awareness.

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Another standout feature of the venue is the restaurant Le Passage à Niveau, open to all, where produits cultivés sur place can go from garden to plate just a few meters from the cultures. You dine as if in a countryside interlude, with the Petite Ceinture en toile de fond and the 19e arrondissement all around.

The Ferme du Rail speaks to those curious about urban farming, to environmentally conscious families, to gourmands who want to understand what they eat, and also to anyone seeking a smart, socially responsible plan without leaving Paris!

The urban gardens and farms of Paris and Île-de-France, with workshops and citywide activities
In Paris and the Île-de-France region, urban farms and community gardens are winning over city dwellers hungry for nature, sharing, and authentic experiences. On the capital’s rooftops, around a repurposed vacant lot, or in a hidden garden tucked between two buildings, these green spaces offer a genuine bucolic interlude. The lineup includes gardening workshops, hands-on learning, family moments, and an introduction to urban farming. [Read more]