Urban Farm Spreads Its Roots in Impoverished St. Louis Neighborhood
by Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, St. Louis, MO on 06.20.07
Farming's a tough gig, even in the best of circumstances. Yesterday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch took a look at the New Roots Urban Farm, a collective organic venture that is tackling not only the challenges of raising organic crops every year, but doing so in an urban neighborhood with higher-than-average rates of poverty and crime. Despite these potential obstacles, Farm founders Trish Grim, Joseph Black and Amy Gerth, along with their collective partners, are finding success in not just raising fruits and vegetables, but also bringing fresh food and educational experiences to a part of the city in need of both.
North city's St. Louis Place neighborhood provided fertile soil for the threesome's plan. According to the P-D article,
The neighborhood they chose has little access to fresh fruits and vegetables. On Sunday, Bob's Quality Market on North Florissant Avenue had crates of soda sitting on the produce shelves. Salama Supermarket at 14th Street and Cass Avenue had wrinkled green peppers and wilted iceberg lettuce among handfuls of citrus fruits in an old drink cooler. Two fried-chicken restaurants and a hamburger outlet are the only eateries along North Florissant, the main thoroughfare.Not exactly the terrain most entrepreneurs would venture into willingly, but with the help of some state grants, Grim, Black and Gerth purchased six city lots and started farming.
New Roots has flourished since its beginning, and the collective now offers a CSA, and a youth program for neighborhood kids. The farm also donates fresh produce to local shelters, sells food cheaply to local residents, and now runs the first-of-its-kind (in St. Louis, anyway) North City Farmers Market. New Roots donates 240 $5 vouchers each month to local food pantries for use at the market.
We're inspired! Kudos to these urban farmers who, from the beginning, realized organic produce had a needed place far away from high-end suburban supermarkets. ::New Roots Urban Farm via St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Photo credit: Laurie Skrivan /P-D
Wow! Double Kudos! I only wish that my local "farmer's market" was more than a big yard sale. They have flowers every once in awhile. You'd think that you could get some produce in rural Idaho. Not even any potatoes!!
I, too, am inspired!
It is always great news to hear about people taking a chance on something that produces a real change for the better.
We would all do well to take heart from this kind of example.
I'm on a huge project to reduce my footprint right now...and stories like this one give me that boost I need for the day, to remind me that it's not all about the convenience of my local supermart.
This is fantastic! I read that an acre of arable land yields approx. 5000 lbs of produce vs that same acre with cattle yields some 50lbs of meat. This is a big step in the right direction. More and more people are making changes happen one garden at a time.
Excellent enterprise. There's CO2 mitigation, localisation, and community health all in one hit. I wish them every success.
For those so inspired, this article, and this one, may help get you started.
Best.
Inspiring indeed !
Apart from the food-growing aspect, its probably a wonderful way to improve "blighted" neighborhoods too and provide much needed livelihood to unemployed.
I am interested in volunteering for next year. How do I get on the waiting list? i teach in Florissant, live in Kirkwood, grew up in North St. Louis, worked on 14th St as a teen at JC Penney and JJ Newberry Co.
Recently brought some of my students to lunch at Crown Candy, then walked along 14th St and shared tales of my teen time working there.
Very excited about helping out next year. I will be by one of these days to visit.
Good luck!!!
Sue Miller
Sue,
There are volunteer days a couple times a week. There is probably more information on the website. They also sell produce at the Tower Grove farmers market on Saturday mornings.