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Idea: An Urban Market Farm at City Center

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Started 2 years ago by joev
Latest reply from TomOver

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joev
Merion Village
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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.

Read More at Imperfect Urban Farm

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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I like the idea, and don't see why it can't work well with some proper planning and a small dedicated group of volunteers.

We've toyed with the idea of community gardens in the past but our biggest hangup as been with getting water to the site. Most veggies need a healthy daily watering, so it needs to be planned in there somehow, whether it's brought in from off-site or if there are water hookups on site that the CDDC is willing to let be used.

I'd be happy to do a weekly shift of weeding and watering in exchange for a few tomatoes or peppers here and there. ;)

Posted 2 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Rain barrels?

Posted 2 years ago #
racheltb
clintonville
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I think I already commented on your blog that I think this is a fantastic idea. It takes organization and dedication, though, and unfortunately I'm not downtown enough to contribute much more than moral support.

I'm guessing Jonathan of Rain Brothers might be interested in designing a water system. Most rain barrels fill from gutters, though, so unless an existing gutter is available for use it would be difficult to capture rain.

And then there's the matter of who owns the land and who might let a group lease it...

Posted 2 years ago #
Bear
The woods
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I'm an easy sell, but I'm intrigued by the idea. I have no idea who'd have to sign off on it, though.

Bunch of farmers around who'd have some interesting ideas about how to make it work. Ed Perkins down at Sassafras Farms in Athens does a lot with rainbarrels, solar, etc., to make his farm as independent and sustainable as possible... I think he may be entirely off the grid, and Dick Jensen's Flying J is heading in that direction.

My brother has a good habit when talking about projects. He always asks, "Who owns this?" I've noticed that when no one speaks up, the project is pretty much doomed. So one thing I'd suggest, right away, is figuring out who's going to own it.

Posted 2 years ago #
TomOver
herenowbeyond.org
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I'd like to think I've my finger on the pulse of what goes on in Columbus though I admit some of you would say it's somewhere else.

But this is the first I've heard about this idea. Has anything come of it ?

While we're at it, how about community gardens in other public places such as Whetstone Park or Goodale Park ? To my knowledge, they don't have them.

Also, some gardens on the State House property sounds like a good idea. Maybe it'd be good for public policy here in Ohio and beyond if some of our lawmakers spent some time tending an urban garden, working alongside some of us hoi polloi.

And how about tomatoes, collards, peppers, and watermelon growing in various parts of that landscape architecture work of art we refer to as OSU main campus ?

I'm with those who want food to be growing in prominent places that draw a lot of people. The term 'edible landscapes' comes to mind.

I don't relate to some folk's misgivings about food growing in front lawns, as if it were unseemly to be involved with growing food. If you're one of them, what's your problem ! ? ! ? ! ? ! ?

Posted 1 year ago #
10sun
Columbus, OH
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TomOver wrote >>
While we're at it, how about community gardens in other public places such as Whetstone Park or Goodale Park ? To my knowledge, they don't have them.
Also, some gardens on the State House property sounds like a good idea. Maybe it'd be good for public policy here in Ohio and beyond if some of our lawmakers spent some time tending an urban garden, working alongside some of us hoi polloi.

Franklin Park has an extensive community garden in the South East corner of the park. Unfortunately, the other major parks in the city have issues which make it difficult to establish a community garden; Comfest tears up Goodale park & Whetstone has too much traffic during the warmer months. There are lawmakers who work in the community gardens of Franklin Park, they just don't advertise themselves as anything more than other people with their hands in the dirt... it isn't as though they are a separate caste living in ivory towers, but rather they are just people who have dayjobs which effects us all.

Posted 1 year ago #
TomOver
herenowbeyond.org
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10sun wrote >>

TomOver wrote >>
While we're at it, how about community gardens in other public places such as Whetstone Park or Goodale Park ? To my knowledge, they don't have them.
Also, some gardens on the State House property sounds like a good idea. Maybe it'd be good for public policy here in Ohio and beyond if some of our lawmakers spent some time tending an urban garden, working alongside some of us hoi polloi.

Franklin Park has an extensive community garden in the South East corner of the park. Unfortunately, the other major parks in the city have issues which make it difficult to establish a community garden; Comfest tears up Goodale park & Whetstone has too much traffic during the warmer months.

Why not build upon what Bill Dawson and other folk are doing at FP Conservatory ?

IMO Comfest would work well with some areas of Goodale dedicated to community gardens. The high traffic at Whetstone could be a plus in terms of more people learning about the gardens and contributing labor and talent.

Posted 1 year ago #