{"id":4503,"date":"2009-05-20T17:56:55","date_gmt":"2009-05-20T23:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145705.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=4503"},"modified":"2009-05-20T17:56:55","modified_gmt":"2009-05-20T23:56:55","slug":"six-urban-farms-from-us-coast-to-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/six-urban-farms-from-us-coast-to-coast\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Urban Farms, From U.S. Coast to Coast"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>With spring bringing out the gardener in many of us — veteran, rookie and in between — my household has been expanding our growing. Last year, we had a couple of small vegetable plots that maybe totalled 15-20 square feet. Plus, we created a wildflower and native grass section that stretches to a slim 40 square feet.<\/h3>\n

[social_buttons]This year, we have turned nearly half of our backyard — tiny as it is — into a vegetable garden, adding 125 square feet, or so. I built a wooden-pallet compost bin<\/a>. And our front yard — yes, tiny front yard — is quickly becoming garden space, too (more flowers, native grasses and such). We’ll soon have a rain barrel<\/a>. I’ve torn up a 50-foot stretch of sidewalk, and will replace it with a more drainage-friendly, more attractive solution. My wife also has started dozens of vegetable seedlings, which she is giving away for others’ gardens.<\/p>\n

And all of this has us thinking. We want to keep going. We want to grow more vegetables. We want to expand our urban garden into an urban farm. We want to use it for greater positives in our neighborhood and city. Until those ideas reach their potential, we’ll be keeping an eye on people we can learn from.<\/p>\n

There are urban farms and farmers all across the country<\/strong>, with Web sites offering loads of information and inspiration and, in some cases, consultation. Here are six:<\/p>\n

Seattle Urban Farm Company<\/a><\/strong> is one of those that is happy to offer professional guidance for area residents to get their own farm’s going:<\/p>\n

\n

An urban farm will provide you both tangible and \tintangible rewards.\u00a0 Our goal at the Seattle Urban Farm Company is to \tprovide your family with a wide variety of vegetables every week throughout \tthe growing season. Depending on the time of year, you may receive a basket \toverflowing with tomatoes, peppers, beans, and salad greens or a box full of \tbutternut squash, Brussels sprouts, celery and leeks.\u00a0 In addition to \tthe supply of fresh produce, an urban farm will add beauty to your \tlandscape.\u00a0 The flowers and vegetables of all colors and sizes will \tmake your yard an even more desirable place to spend your summer days.\u00a0 \tWe believe that an urban farm can help foster a connection to our food, \tenvironment and community.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Back Door Harvest (in St. Louis)<\/a><\/strong> is another urban farming business that is willing to help you design and implement plans for an urban garden\/farm. But it also offers the possibilities of garden owners taking little or no part in the act of reaping from their land, yet getting the goods; or someone without space or inclination for a garden on their property can opt to share in a neighbor’s bounty.<\/p>\n

Mill Creek Urban Farm (in Philadelphia)<\/strong><\/a> has the support of its city:<\/p>\n

\n

Part of the site has been home to a thriving community garden for over 15 years and the rest of the lot had been vacant for over 30 years. Thanks to funds allocated by the Philadelphia Water Department in partnership with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the land was awarded in the summer of 2005 to begin an urban farm.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Earthworks Urban Farm (in Detroit)<\/a><\/strong> is “a program of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen:”<\/p>\n

\n

Earthworks Urban Farm seeks to restore our connection to the environment and community in keeping with the tradition of our spiritual patron, St. Francis. It is a working study in social justice and in knowing the origin of the food we eat. This project relies on the gracious donations of time from volunteers and materials from sponsors. Neighbors and friends of all ages, incomes and faiths join us in our work. We hope that you will visit us and see what a special project Earthworks Urban Farm has become.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Jones Valley Urban Farm<\/strong><\/a> is a community-based non-profit organization in Birmingham, Alabama. It uses more than three acres of otherwise vacant property downtown, JVUF grows organic produce and flowers and contributes community education. The vision of JVUF:<\/p>\n

\n

JVUF will be a model sustainable urban farm that teaches youth and the Birmingham community about sustainable agriculture and nutrition through outdoor experiential education.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Urban Farm (in Phoenix)<\/strong><\/a>, like so many urban farms, has been a project long in the works, according to owner Greg Peterson. He welcomes visitors for tours and, on his Web site, suggests that he is plenty willing to share his 25 years worth of vast experience, academic and practical.<\/p>\n

Photo: Adam Williams<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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