I know a lot of ideas for downtown have been tossed around. We're not at a loss for new ideas in Columbus. It's the execution that's been a problem for us.
Well, I want to test balloon an idea. I want to do something for our community that I'm passionate about, and I just haven't found what that thing is, so I think it's a new thing. I'd love to see an urban farm on the grounds of the former City Center. One that grows heirloom food with Ohio ties - there's actually a ton of this stuff. It's an idea that wouldn't have a huge need for scarce city dollars, but one that would have a moderate need for community support. And I'm not talking the whole park, and not a vertical farm, but maybe a two-tenths-of-an-acre market garden in that six-acre, future park. I figure the time is right to get something like this going, because the thing isn't built yet.
I was in Indianapolis late last week, and saw their Growing Places Slow Food Garden. It was truly impressive - some non profits and local businesses joined forces with community volunteers to build the 6,000 square foot garden. It will sell its produce to local restaurants and donate some produce to local food banks. But I know we could do it better. It was just a month old, and already overtaken by weeds.
There are a few reasons I think this would be a great addition to downtown: Columbus has a rich agricultural heritage, but little of that remains. A market farm like this would encourage residents that however little area they have, they can make it productive. It would feed people downtown with nutritious food, and it would help preserve our local heirlooms.
Read more here, and please let me know what you think, especially if you think it's a bad idea, and what the barriers might be. What would could improve the idea? This isn't an idea I want to wait for "The City," to plan and execute; it's one that I want to help along with my own time, money and will.




Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.