Urban farmers growing profit in Cleveland
From WKYC TV
CLEVELAND — There’s produce and profit growing in a Cleveland vacant lot that used to be filled with garbage. It’s an upside to the economic downturn in the city. Dozens of inner city residents are becoming urban farmers and turning a barren landscape into profitable growing spaces.
Margaret Armstead is a child care worker, but she spends part of her time digging in the dirt, weeding and feeding mustard greens, radishes and herbs.
Barbara Strauss is a librarian. She’s also part of Eco Village, a neighborhood collaboration that’s bringing the community together for a common goal.
“We’re trying to feed the neighbors through sales, improve the economic well-being of our partners and provide an economic development model for Detroit Shoreway and I think we’ve been successful,” Strauss said. The foreclosure crisis that crippled many inner city neighborhoods also forced several grocery stores to close. Leaving residents with little transportation and a difficult time in finding fresh fruits and vegetables.
Now more than 180 vacant lots have been transformed into fertile community gardens and farms. It took the members of Eco Village three years to turn their quarter acre into a blossoming garden. The soil couldn’t be used because it was full of garbage and demolition debris.
The farmers collected coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peelings from local restaurants and started composting their own soil. They then used it to build garden boxes on top of the land.
They’ve planted various herbs, beans, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, squash — almost everything you can find in the produce section of the grocery store.
Now, Eco Village hopes to reap $5,000 this season from what they’ve sown. They sell their goods at local farm markets and to local restaurants.
Urban agriculture is catching on. Morgan Taggart is with the Ohio State University Extension. She helps teach growers not only the tricks of successful planting, but also how to cash in on the fruits of their labor. Seventy-five people have already taken the class and there’s a waiting list for the next one.
“If they’re going for high-end restaurants and are growing very specific niche crops, they can make a lot of money,” Taggart says.
She says research shows, with the right crops, urban farmers can earn $68,000 on a half acre.
“We have thousands of vacant lots in the city and are looking for new strategies on how we can turn these into productive spaces,” Taggart says, “It provides income for the neighborhood and it also provides healthy food.” The Cleveland Health Department is also involved in the project for that reason. The project fits in with the Steps to a Healthier Cleveland initiative, which promotes healthier lifestyles, diet and gardening is great exercise.
Taggart adds that urban gardens save the city money because they don’t have to maintain vacant lots. Residents believe they cut down on crime because neighbors have an interest in making sure they’re successful.
The City of Cleveland now offers grant money to urban farmers who want to start a business. It’s called Gardening for Greenbacks. Contact the city’s office of Economic Development for details, (216) 664-3622.
To learn more about urban farming click on the link. To find locally grown fruits and vegetables, check out the Farmer’s Markets below.
Downtown Farmers’ Market1278 West 9th Street (at Constantino’s)Mondays from 4:30-7:30 pm June 5 through October 30
Kamm’s Corners Farmers’ MarketWest 168th and Lorain Ave.Sundays 10:00 am- 2:00 pm
Tremont MarketCorner of Starkweather and ProfessorSundays 10:00 am - 2:00 pmJune 22 through October 26
Ward 17 Farmers’ MarketCorner of West 65th and West ClintonSaturdays 9:00 am - 1:00 pmJuly 5 through September 27
© 2008 WKYC-TV
Posted by: noble on June 27, 2008 at 13:54:35