5 minute read
GIVING BACK
From empty lots and corner squares to churchyards and cityscapes, farming is no longer just for rural areas on the outskirts of town—and multiple acres are not a requirement for impact. With Raleigh’s continuous growth—both in size and population—so, too has the demand for accessibility to healthy food options increased. Urban and community gardens have popped up around town to fill th need for food-insecure families, as well as those who simply want to have a hand in the process of growing their food. Not only do these gardens add beauty to an otherwise gray landscape, they benefit highly populate neighborhoods that lack reliable access to affordable, nutritious food.
From nonprofit urban faming to community garden rental programs, these Raleigh growers’ mission is the same: To plant seeds of hope for people who are seeking connection and convenience to healthier foods These city dwellers are joining neighbors with likeminded wants and needs. They are gardening for good.
RALEIGH CITY FARM 800 N. Blount Street, Raleigh
raleighcityfarm.org
One would not expect to find a fam with a view of Downtown Raleigh, but Raleigh City Farm is a striking mix of country meets city. A nonprofit urban fam founded in 2011 on a vacant lot next to William Peace University, Raleigh City Farm has the mission of “sharing it forward,” providing produce to help fight food insecurity in our aea.
In 2020, Raleigh City Farm donated 920 pounds of harvest to local partners as part of its Farmshare program, including A Place at the Table, where diners can find a healthy and delicious meal n matter their means. A Place at the Table relies on community kindness—including food donations—to be able serve its steady flow of guests
“Raleigh City Farm has been incredible to us, and their produce has been invaluable to our menu,” says A Place at the Table Founder and Executive Director Maggie Kane. “We are able to provide the freshest produce to so many because of them,” Kane says. She gives credit to Raleigh City Farms’ greens for the restaurant’s reputation as offering the “best salads in town.”
FOOD SHUTTLE FARM 2300 Dover Farm Road, Raleigh
foodshuttle.org/farm
With programs such as BackPack Buddies and Senior Nutrition, in addition to mobile markets and food trucks, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle seeks to end hunger in and around the Triangle. By serving low-income families who live in food deserts (locations that do not have adequate access to nutritious food choices), or those who cannot afford to purchase healthful meals, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle connects hungry neighbors to reliable food options that can be accessed easily.
The Food Shuttle Farm consists of a garden and farm stand, and 80% of its harvest goes directly to school pantries, grocery bags for seniors, food trucks, The Spinning Plate food truck, the Mobile Tastiness Machine (which serves free, healthy meals to children during the summer months) and countless other programs offered by Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. The remaining 20% of the Food Shuttle Farm’s crop is sold to the public, with all proceeds going back to hunger relief programs.
CAMDEN STREET LEARNING GARDEN 315 Camden Street, Raleigh
foodshuttle.org/camden-garden
Located in southeast Raleigh, the Camden Street Learning Garden is a fruitful respite in the city’s heart. It offers 23 “adoptable” beds neighbors can rent for $20/year to grow food for their families. The garden’s “learning” aspect takes on meaning through educational opportunities offered by Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. Gardening and cooking workshops titled “Cooking Matters” teach growers to learn how to transform their bounty into healthy and affordable meals.
The garden offers a wide variety of vegetables and is also home to a greenhouse, beehives and an outdoor classroom. Rainwater from nearby buildings and churches is collected for the garden’s 2,600 gallon cisterns, utilizing natural resources to sustain its health.
HOLLY SPRINGS FOOD CUPBOARD GARDEN 621 Holly Springs Road, Holly Springs
hsfoodcupboard.org
Oftentimes, inner city needs are spotlighted more frequently than those in smaller, surrounding communities. Carol Moran decided to fill the gap for food-insecue families in Holly Springs by starting the Holly Springs Food Cupboard in 2010. Offering ample garden space and countless volunteers who assist with its care and harvesting, this nonprofit povides Holly Springs residents with a local place to find wholesome food. Those i need have access to drive-through distributions of pantry staples, fresh produce, meats and eggs on a weekly basis. Imagined, planned and maintained by the Holly Springs Garden Club, the Holly Springs Good Cupboard Garden offered 1,300 pounds of fresh produce to those in need last year.
LOURDES BOUNTY COMMUNITY GARDEN Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church 2718 Overbrook Drive, Raleigh
ourladyofloudescc.org/lourdesbounty-community-garden
Many churches in town maintain a garden that serves as a ministry to their parishes, giving fruits and vegetables to not only elderly or needy parishioners, but to anyone who lacks food. After all, churches are often home to those who desire to help others, feed the hungry and honor thy neighbor.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church maintains a charming garden on its grounds. This garden has yielded nearly 1,000 pounds of donations to Plant a Row for the Hungry and the Catholic Parish Outreach Food Pantry. The Lourdes Bounty Community Garden exemplifies the chuch’s mission of being a steward of the community.
