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new to America.

Last year, the owner of the farmland let the Umurima and Global Growers know that hundreds of apartments, a grocery store and other stores are going to be built around East Decatur Station. The Umurima are now harvesting the last crops to grow at the site.

“The farm was good,” Nyibizi said. “I feel we accomplished a lot here.”

The women did not want to stop farming, however, so Global Growers again went to work searching for land.

“One of the ways we’ve looked for land over the years is very old school, which an area identified as food insecure by the USDA and this partnership with Global Growers Network will support these refugee families and food equity in the surrounding communities,” Greenwood said.

Chanin said Global Growers’ license agreement with MARTA, which is free like those issued for Soccer in the Streets, is planned to last five years. In July, MARTA’s board of directors issued a request for proposals for a transit-oriented development at Indian Creek. The board also selected a master planner for the project. The ideal plan would incorporate

is using Google Maps and just scanning green space,” said Robin Chanin, cofounder and executive director of Global Growers.

“I spent some time looking at the MARTA rail corridor, following it, and I am just looking for patches of green,” she said. “And at the end of the line at Indian Creek I said, ‘What’s that green space in the corner of the parking lot?’”

In June, MARTA announced it is partnering with Global Growers to establish a farm for the Umurima in that corner of the parking lot Chanin saw via Google Maps. The women will grow food for their families, and their produce will also be sold at MARTA Markets at West End, Bankhead, College Park, H.E. Holmes, Five Points, Doraville, and Kensington MARTA stations.

“When we heard about this farm being uprooted and that those who tend to it are MARTA riders, we knew we wanted to help,” said MARTA Interim General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood in a written statement.

“Indian Creek Station is located in the farm into the new development, Chanin said, but that possibility is uncertain.

What is certain is Global Growers’ intention to continue connecting diverse farmers to land so they can grow food in sustainable ways, sell the food at markets to bring in income for their families, and increase consumption of culturally familiar foods, Chanin said.

Earlier this year, the organization acquired 23 acres in Conyers to serve as a “flagship” farm. Fifteen to 20 small farms are planned to operate on the land, all led by diverse growers, Chanin said.

“Global Growers is on a pathway to land ownership following 10 years of developing farms and gardens on leased land with our talented grower network, most of whom face current and historical barriers to land access,” she said.

“Together, we are creating a model of land stewardship that will drive community wealth building while also preserving and sharing important cultural traditions.” QUICK German discount grocer Lidl will open its doors to shoppers on Aug. 17 at its newest store in Kirkwood. The 30,000 square-foot BITES store in the Parkview Station shopping center, 1855 Memorial Drive, will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony before the store opens at 8 a.m. The first 100 customers will receive a gift card ranging from $5 to $100 each, according to a Lidl press release. Gigi’s Italian Kitchen will take over the space in Candler Park now home to Gato, which closed July 23. Find out more at their IG @gigisitaliankitchen. ◄TKO, a Korean American street food concept, is set to open its first brick-andmortar location in East Atlanta’s Southern Feed Store later this summer. Find out more on IG @tko_thekorean1. Buckhead restaurant The Betty has earned Wine Spectator’s prestigious Award of Excellence in the 2022 Restaurant Awards. Make a reservation at thebettyatl.com. Hodgepodge Coffeehouse closed its Reynoldstown location in July, stating on social media that its team had been “spreading themselves too thin trying to keep all three shops operating.” Hodgepodge locations in Decatur and East Atlanta will remain open, while plans have been scrapped for a fourth location in Summerhill. Find out more at hodgepodgecoffee.com. ►Capella Cheese, a modern take on the traditional cheese shop, is now open at 255 Ottley Dr. in Armour Yards. More details on IG @capellacheese. Longtime Atlanta lesbian bar My Sister’s Room has moved from 12th St. to the former Publico space 1104 Crescent Ave. in Midtown. More details at mysistersroom.com BeltLine cocktail bar The James Room will open a second location in Buckhead Village featuring a rooftop lounge later this summer. Get updates at thejamesroom.com. Tickets are on sale for Taqueria del Sol and Fox Bros BBQ’s Foxeria del Sol Hatch Chile Fest on Aug. 21 at The Works. Proceeds benefit children’s brain cancer charity Hogs for the Cause. Tickets are available at bigtickets.com by searching for the event.

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CANDLER PARK