Megan and I travelled to Tuscaloosa Alabama during the last week of July to attend a wedding. We decided to drive and schedule tours of established urban agriculture projects along the way. Here is a list of our stops with a few details about each:
Omaha, NE – Big Muddy Urban Farm (https://www.bigmuddyurbanfarm.org/) Big Muddy owns and leases lots within a 2-3 block neighborhood. Seasonal interns collaborate on a business model for that year and tailor their spaces accordingly. Currently Big Muddy provides CSA shares, offers weekly educational gardening for children, sells produce at Omaha farmer’s markets, and has established a pretty amazing food forest. Megan and I aim to take Big Muddy’s weekly educational gardening approach into summer 2023. Community volunteers who have unique agricultural knowledge or skills are integral to these weekly classes at Big Muddy. We know people like this are in Sioux Falls too! Thank you to Brent for showing us around and introducing us to the summer crew!
Memphis, TN – Alpha Omega Urban Farm (https://www.alphaomegaveterans.org/urban-farm-garden) Alpha Omega Veteran Services (AOVS) is a 1.5 acre urban farm that is adjacent to a veteran housing complex. Veterans receive CSA shares and are encouraged to help on the farm. Excess produce is sold at Memphis farmer’s markets and to local restaurants. The farm manager, Jennifer, showed us their caterpillar tunnels (very similar to what we will have), orchard and bee hives, bed prepping methods, and strategies of planting a robust cover crop between rows for weed control while also building organic matter. Thank you to Jennifer for making time for us and sharing knowledge!
Memphis, TN – Green Leaf Learning Farm (https://www.knowledgequest.org/) When Megan and I arrived at AOVS, Theo was picking up a borrowed BCS Tractor from Jennifer. He generously invited us to Green Leaf Learning Farm. Green Leaf is an offshoot of Knowledge Quest which is a very successful after school program in a lower income neighborhood of Memphis. Green Leaf’s space is very well manicured, has multiple outdoor structures for educational programming, and just recently installed 2 new greenhouses for aquaponic production. Theo detailed many of the organizational partnerships Knowledge Quest has established which has resulted in significant investment into the space. Megan and I were encouraged by what is possible when many players are at the table. Thank you to Theo for his down to earth, no nonsense words of wisdom!
Tuscaloosa, AL – Jeremiah’s Garden (https://www.facebook.com/jeremiahscommunitygarden/) Jeremiah’s Garden is a 13 acre plot of land in the middle of Tuscaloosa. Roy and Bettye are the primary caretakers along with a few other consistent volunteers. Jeremiah’s Garden provides 10,000+ lbs. of produce to soup kitchens, food pantries, markets, and schools in the Tuscaloosa area. They have developed strong relationships with nearby elementary and middle schools which enables children and teens to visit the garden consistently to help plant, tend, and harvest much of produce. Megan and I have never seen such large pecan trees! Thank you to Roy and Bettye for showing us a very special place in the heart of Tuscaloosa!
Little Rock, AR – Dunbar Community Garden (http://dunbargarden.org/) Megan and I really liked Little Rock. Dunbar Community Garden left us with an even better impression. This garden space was established over 30 years ago and there are some really cool things happening here: 1) hops grown and distributed to a local brewery 2) community compost drop off 3) wind energy powering the operation 4) educational gardening with neighboring elementary and middle schools 5) CSA shares and selling excess produce at farmer’s markets. The farm manager, Chris, was a kindred spirit to Megan and I. Our shared passion for agriculture, but also ultimate frisbee and disc golf made for easy conversation. Thank you to Chris for showing us what a long established urban agricultural space can look like!
Springfield, MO – Urban Roots Farm (http://www.urbanrootsfarm.com/) To break up our near 8 hour drive to KC, Megan and I searched for urban agriculture in Springfield, MO. We texted the farm managers the morning of and they graciously made some time for us in between harvesting for CSA shares and market. Along with their CSA program, Urban Roots hosts community meals, sells at local farmer’s markets, and even has a couple AirBnB’s for those interested in staying the night on an urban farm. Megan and I were impressed with Urban Roots full utilization of space nestled in a neighborhood of homes and are excited to try the soil blocking techniques they recommended for starting seedlings in a greenhouse. Thank you to Kevin and Carson!
Kansas City, MO – The Quite Contrary Garden (https://www.quitecontrarygarden.com/) Megan met Mary in Thailand in December of 2018. Through their chance encounter, we had the opportunity to tour an urban farm that was a bit different than all the rest. Mary has established a large flower garden on her mother’s property and sells cut flowers at multiple farmer’s markets throughout Kansas City. Mary was open and honest that the market for flowers is difficult. People can be overly particular, and often times the work put into growing and arranging the flowers doesn’t yield an equal or better payout. Megan and I would like to donate some of our space to a good friend who would being growing cut flowers at IronFox and greatly appreciated Mary’s perspective.
Here we are a month later. I am back to teaching and Megan continues to work full time. IronFox Farm has been neglected more than before and it shows…We are hopeful some new grant opportunities may allow us to hire additional help during the next growing season. We have big dreams for our space and many of the urban ag examples we toured proved what is possible. We cannot thank enough the many people who have helped us so far. Many hands have lightened the load (and the mood sometimes)! Thank you to everyone who has volunteered, visited, and supported us this summer.