Interest grows in urban agriculture

Submitted by robinson.2709 on
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Community gardens, urban farm operations, and backyard gardens expand access to nutritious foods, help address food insecurity, and offer an engaging learning space for all ages. We highlight four urban gardens and farms around Ohio where communities connect with agriculture.
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A sign saying Highland Youth Garden is in front of a garden plot. To the right is a high tunnel, and houses can be seen in the background.
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A person crouches on the ground, harvesting green beans
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Franklinton Farms
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Nathan, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, harvests sugar snap peas in one of Franklinton Farms’ 12 neighborhood farm gardens, located in Columbus, Ohio. The VISTA program volunteers at Franklinton Farms focus on enabling food access, increasing garden education, and facilitating funding for all farm operations.  

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A bulletin saying "Franklinton Farms" stands in front of a vacant lot between two houses where there are green crops.
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Franklinton Farms consists of 1.5 acres scattered among the 12 farm gardens and 12 high tunnels. Some cover vacant lots, while others cover the space of a backyard.  

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A person stands in a high tunnel, inspecting the leaves of a growing tomato plant
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The high tunnels extend the growing season from early spring to late fall. High tunnels also enable a higher crop yield, increasing access to nutritious foods. 

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Hands hold a bunch of spinach in a basin for washing
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All crops are cleaned and packaged onsite by volunteers. Franklinton Farms offers several methods for buyers to receive their harvest, including online purchases, farmers markets, and their Weekly Harvest Pack (Community Supported Agriculture or CSA), specifically for Franklinton residents. 

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A sign reads "U-pick" in front of a large garden
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Franklinton’s “U-pick” Garden is where community members pick their own food items, ranging from herbs to sweet potatoes. Visitors can look through a booklet by the entrance for information on how to harvest their desired crop and prepare it for eating. 

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An indoor shelving unit holds trays of microgreens growing under bright lights.
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Microgreens are vegetable seedlings eaten before they mature. Cultivated and harvested within 7–10 days, microgreens are one of the easiest and quickest ways to a nutrient-packed diet.

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Behind a black iron fence is the Charles Madison Nabrit Memorial Garden high tunnel.
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The Charles Madison Nabrit Memorial Garden
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The Charles Madison Nabrit Memorial Garden in Columbus, Ohio, was created by Charles’ family one year after his death in 2014 as “free grief therapy.” Situated in an urban food desert, the 3,850 square foot garden grows flowers, herbs, and organic foods for nearby residents. 

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A robotic structure, called FarmBot, extends across a raised bed garden
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The Ohio State University College of Engineering provided the FarmBot, a robot designed to simplify raised bed gardening. The robot can plant seeds, water plants, identify and remove weeds, and maximize crop yield. It also serves as an educational tool for the CMN Memorial Garden STEM-to-STEAM: It’s All in the Garden program, a week-long summer day camp for youth.

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Small square plots of crops and flowers are separated by crushed limestone walkways
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CMN Memorial Garden utilizes the square foot garden method to increase yield and promote active engagement in gardening with volunteers and community members.

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A woman in a white shirt stands behind a table topped with bags of produce for a farmers' market.
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CMN Memorial Garden offers a seasonal, weekly farmers market on-site, where produce from the garden and two other local organic farms sell produce for $1.00 per pound. Garden co-manager, Paula Penn-Nabrit, shows off the garden’s bounty.

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A high tunnel sits next to a plot of land growing crops.
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Highland Youth Garden
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At 30 feet by 66 feet, the Highland Youth Garden high tunnel is one of the largest in Columbus, Ohio. Allowing year-round food production, the protected garden generates 3000 pounds of produce each year.

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Hydroponic towers grow leafy green produce.
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The Highland Youth Garden features hydroponic towers in its high tunnels. Hydroponic towers don’t require as much maintenance as other growing methods, nor are the crops produced as prone to pests.

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A sign saying Highland Youth Garden is in front of a garden plot. To the right is a high tunnel, and houses can be seen in the background.
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Ohio State University Extension educators are among those engaging with community youth to foster an inclusive, hands-on learning environment at the garden. 

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Several raised beds grow different crops. To the right is a high tunnel.
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Mansfield Microfarm
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The Ohio State University Mansfield Microfarm, in Mansfield, Ohio, produces fruits and vegetables such as carrots, kale, zucchini, tomatoes, okra, scallions, and more. Once harvested, produce is available for Mansfield residents, increasing accessibility to local, nutritious foods. Photo by Jessica Hudson, The Ohio State University.

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Snow can be seen on the roof from the inside of a high tunnel, where crops grow in raised beds.
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The Mansfield Microfarm uses high tunnels to grow produce year-round. Even when snow collects on the roof, the tunnel maintains temperatures in the low 80s. Photo by Jessica Hudson, The Ohio State University.