Agraria_Journal_Summer_2022

“Intensive infrastructure development” is how Sherry Chen, manager of Melrose Acres Urban Agriculture Center, describes the work that’s been going on at the Center and what’s on the horizon. Much of that work over the last nine months has focused on the house purchased in 2020 with funds from a $400,000 USDA Community Food Projects grant awarded to Agraria in partnership with Springfield Ohio Urban Plant Folk (S.O.U.P.). A grant from Kettering Family Philanthropies funded a number of improvements needed to use the house as a center for educational programming and community gatherings. Upgrades to the electrical system, kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, walls, floors, and meeting room as well as a new coat of paint all around, have completely transformed the former residence. Part of the house will be used to house a resident caretaker for the center and surrounding growing spaces. More work remains to be done, including upgrades to make the building accessible to people with disabilities. The lack of indoor meeting space on site has not stopped Melrose Acres from offering educational programming and services in collaboration with partners in Springfield and beyond. Here’s a look at some of the activities: • Nutrition/cooking classes at the Springfield City School District’s School of Innovation and a workshop on out- of-place species in collaboration with Melrose partner Central State University Extension (CSUE). • Ready, Set, Grow, a business development program offered in conjunction with Central State Extension. • Development of a plot for production and education through CSUE’s beginning farmer program and another plot for an experimental raspberry patch using a robotic soil sensor system developed at CSU that will control irrigation. • A hoop house building workshop in partnership with Dayton Urban Grown. • Growing starter plants for Dayton Urban Grown, the Literacy Council, and Melrose’s annual Porch Garden Project. • A skill sharing workshop through Agraria’s Regenerative Farmer Fellowship program. • Addition of a monthly farm stand in collaboration with the Gammon House Farmer’s Market at the historic Gammon House, which was on the Underground Railroad. • Introduction of chickens and installation of a chicken tractor. • Installation of several bee hives by a local beekeeper. • 3D deer fencing around the two small orchard plots. • Finishing the "floor" of the orchards with cardboard and wood chips, and inoculating with wine cap mushroom spawn. The work Melrose Acres is doing to strengthen the food system and community resilience in South Springfield has attracted both volunteer and financial support from the Springfield area community. A $7,000 grant from the Springfield Foundation enabled purchase of a golf cart to help transport people with mobility challenges, and an $8,000 grant from the Community Health Foundation in Springfield will fund equipment for cooking and nutrition classes in the Center’s community room. The Center has also received donations of equipment and furniture from area residents. More information about the Center is available on their website ( melroseacres.com) and Facebook page (facebook.com/manpfarmfood) Amy Harper is project manager at Agraria and editor of Agraria Journal. A New Look for Melrose Acres BY AMY HARPER 38 AGRARIA JOURNAL 2022