D2_Agraria_Journal_21_OPT

Our work to cultivate a strong local food system has expanded and become a major focus for Agraria. The seeds we have been sowing, literally and figuratively, for the last few years have begun to bear fruit, with projects on and off the farm. We are continuing our support of the Yellow Springs Farmers Market and hope to expand to a market of our own pending the opening of a farm store and welcome center. MELROSE ACRES Agraria closed in April on the purchase of property that will enable development of the Melrose Acres Urban Agriculture Center in South Springfield. The goal of the project is to increase food security in the area, a severe food desert, along with the self-reliance of neighborhood residents. It has long term implications, not only for food access in south Springfield, but also for strengthening the local food system and building community and regional resilience. The purchase of the 7.5-acre parcel and adjoining house was made possible by a four-year $400,000 USDA-NIFA grant awarded last year to Agraria in partnership with the nonprofit Springfield Urban Plantfolk (S.O.U.P.). Senator Sherrod Brown’s support helped secure the grant. S.O.U.P. had been using part of the parcel for several years to grow vegetables and house bees. The purchase will allow S.O.U.P. to expand food production on site, including fruit, honey and egg production; increase afterschool and community-based educational programs; and engage neighborhood residents in growing, harvesting, selling, and purchasing food at existing summer farm stands. The house adjacent to the garden site will be renovated to house Melrose Acres’ educational programming as well as community events. S.O.U.P. coordinator Sherry Chen is the project lead for development of Melrose Acres, which reflects the historic name of the neighborhood where the center is located. Other partners include neighborhood residents, Central State University Extension (CSUE), Wittenberg University, Opportunities for Individual Change, and 1159 South, a nonprofit citizen group in Springfield. Agraria will serve as an educational resource, continuing a longstanding partnership with S.O.U.P. that includes collaboration on a 2017 Farm to School project for the Springfield City Schools. Last year, Agraria provided produce to S.O.U.P., through its COVID-related food distribution program, to sell at the neighborhood farmstands coordinated by the nonprofit. S.O.U.P. is also partnering with Agraria on the Regenerative Farming Fellowship program. Two South Springfield residents are Fellows in the program and have established their training plots on Melrose Acres. Chen will serve as their on-site mentor. CSUE has consulted with S.O.U.P. on site layout and soil testing and will also provide training and consultation throughout the project. Chen has attracted a corps of volunteers who have already developed a collaborative Porch Garden Project, a plant sale fundraiser, a production garden, and zoom workshops on food, gardening, and nutrition. SNAPSHOTS BY AMY HARPER 40 AGRARIA JOURNAL 2021 Snapshots Around and About Agraria