Downtown Raleigh will welcome its first urban garden, as Raleigh City Farm begins converting vacated downtown space into farmland.
The urban farm will be located on a one-acre lot on the corner of Franklin and Blount Street. This location will give the community access to local produce, and also increase awareness and knowledge of the benefits of producing and consuming food from a local environment.
Not only will the farm give visitors a chance to purchase fresh food, but it will also serve as a new resource for local residents to learn about growing their own produce through demonstration growing techniques. The emphasis is on a ‘restorative and local food system’.
“Because I don’t have a meal plan, I normally purchase my food from Harris Teeter or the Farmers Market when I get a chance, but having an additional resource to buy fresh produce is great,” Arthur Juliani , junior in psychology, said.
According to its website, the mission of Raleigh City Farm’s is to “transform unexpected downtown spaces into beautiful and nourishing farmland. We will engage city dwellers in the process of growing food, sparking imaginations about agriculture in the city. These highly-visible spaces will be an educational tool to demonstrate responsible, intensive growing techniques as we move toward a restorative, community-based food system.”
Often, food is shipped from distant locations. Creators of the Raleigh City Farm are hoping to change this by establishing self-sufficiency for residents by equipping them with the information and techniques to grow their own food.
“I think it’s a nice place for couples and families to visit while learning about fresh produce. I support the downtown garden,” Sharka Holmes, junior in agricultural business management, said. “I work as a landscaper, so I’m always happy to see more green-friendly area than buildings.”
Erin Bergstrom , co-founder of Raleigh City Farm, started seeing great feedback on the project from supporters during a previous report. All the great reactions served as confirmation to proceed with a fundraising opportunity.
“Local supporters are nurturing ideas and taking an active role in everything from tool drives to initial seed plantings in their own homes,” Bergstrom said. “We are overwhelmed by the amazing support we have received from health advocates, restaurants, parents, educators, and neighboring citizens of all ages – their enthusiasm has brought us to this critical point of fundraising.”
Raleigh City Farm is a North Carolina not-for-profit corporation; therefore, any financial donations are essential to supporting the project. The farm is hoping to demonstrate sustainability in its business model through the sale of products and services. This business approach is hoping to create many opportunities for employment in the ‘green’ market as well.
Supporters of the Raleigh City Farm can get involved by volunteering or donating. Donations can be made through the fundraiser campaign, which was recently launched. The fundraiser was started this past Saturday, March 10, 2012, on raleighcityfarm.org . The 30-day online fundraising campaign is striving to raise $10,000 in donations for funding, maintaining, and building projects for this upcoming spring.
Raleigh City Farm team members and volunteers celebrated the campaign’s launch by participating in the “Plant A Row for the Hungry” event, held at Logan’s Trading Company during this past weekend.
Josh Whiton , CEO of Raleigh City Farm, hopes Raleigh’s first urban farm will motivate other communities as well.
“The funding will directly support building an infrastructure to demonstrate intensive urban growing techniques. Specific needs now are constructing a watering system that includes a large rain barrel array, design and implementation of a rain garden, soil and land improvements. We hope our efforts will not only inspire local residents, but also serve as a catalyst for the urban farm movement across America,” Whiton said.
