Urban Harvest STL - Downtown Community Garden

terence d · PostFeb 03, 2011#12011-02-03T03:18+00:00

A group of downtown residents are working on getting a community garden going in a yet to be determined location downtown. As a long time reader of this board I know there are a lot of people with a lot of info with respect to downtown and the city in general here. If anyone has any ideas for a good location downtown, please feel free to speak up.

Also, anyone interested or with experience in community (especially urban) gardening I'm sure would be very, very, very welcome to attend the next meeting on the 24th at 6pm at the Syndicate (915 Olive).

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Urban-Har ... 8089284070

As a downtown resident for the last two and a half years, and a long time city resident, I think this is something that downtown could really benefit from.

Thanks,
Terence

RobbyD · PostFeb 03, 2011#22011-02-03T08:10+00:00

As a Downtown resident, I'd be very interested in something like this...What about the open fields north City Museum near the park back there? Seems there are some already cleared megablocks sitting idle...? I really have no idea what size (large or small) would be needed, condition, etc...Good luck!

the central scrutinizer · PostFeb 03, 2011#32011-02-03T15:35+00:00

How do you plan on keeping the bums out?

Are there lots owned by the city or a sympathetic owner? I can't imagine many people who own vacant lots allowing someone to put a garden on them. Too much of a liability issue.

Good luck on your endeavor! I hope it works out for you.

DaronDierkes · PostFeb 03, 2011#42011-02-03T17:28+00:00

There's a growing community garden at the Pruitt-Igoe site. The Sierra Club and Gateway Middle School are working on it together. Gateway Greening has a hub garden in Old North. Some of the people involved in those projects would probably be able to help an effort downtown.

There's a lot of space around the trailhead to the Riverfront Trail. Since Trialnet won't be moving their offices there to anchor the spot, it'd be nice if some other volunteers moved in. Just be sure to remediate the soil first.

RobbyD · PostFeb 03, 2011#52011-02-03T17:37+00:00

I know in NYC a lot of them are on rooftops...Though I'm sure in places like Manhattan that's about the only alternative...

It's be nice to have something within the walkable street grid of Downtown...

terence d · PostFeb 03, 2011#62011-02-03T19:58+00:00

the central scrutinizer wrote:How do you plan on keeping the bums out?

I believe initial suggestions are fencing.

the central scrutinizer wrote:Are there lots owned by the city or a sympathetic owner?

Seems there would be a definite possibility of this.

the central scrutinizer wrote: I can't imagine many people who own vacant lots allowing someone to put a garden on them. Too much of a liability issue.

Insurance?

RobbyD wrote:What about the open fields north City Museum near the park back there?

Yes, I believe this was identified as a possible location. Various other locations were identified as well, this occured during the first meeting on 1/27. It's my understanding that a group of volunteers from the first meeting will be evaluating maybe a dozen or so possible sites. If any one wants "in" on this, I'm sure they'd be welcome to join the evaluation group.

RobbyD wrote:As a Downtown resident, I'd be very interested in something like this..

Come to the next meeting: Feb 24th, 6pm, 915 Olive

RobbyD wrote:It's be nice to have something within the walkable street grid of Downtown...

My thoughts exactly.

RobbyD · PostFeb 03, 2011#72011-02-03T20:26+00:00

^Best of luck...I'm outta town until this summer; but I look forward to helping where I can at that time!

gone corporate · PostFeb 03, 2011#82011-02-03T21:59+00:00

Let me draw attention to a community garden currently being operated around Pine and the 22nd Street Parkway. The focus on this garden is towards the homeless, with those who run it encouraging the homeless to learn how to cultivate fruits & vegetables. I'm quite unfamiliar with it myself, other than seeing the original newspaper stories probably about two years ago. But, I have seen people tending that garden (not just vagabond-looking bums).

While I'm sure the group looking towards a Downtown Community Garden are already aware & better informed of this community garden than I am, I thought I'd just make sure to mention this project's existence.

the count · PostFeb 03, 2011#92011-02-03T22:54+00:00

^City Seeds Urban Farm

RobbyD · PostFeb 04, 2011#102011-02-04T09:24+00:00

the count wrote:^City Seeds Urban Farm

Thanks for bringing this to our attention! I had NO idea this program was going on right under my nose in Downtown West!

Probably one of the best ideas I have ever seen for the homeless...Just the mental health benefit received by working the earth has to make supporting this program worth it and then some...

jakektu · PostFeb 04, 2011#112011-02-04T20:18+00:00

Maybe the new St Louis Centre garage can spare some parking spots on the top floor?

While Cleveland's forlorn steel mills may be crumbling, the city's shopping malls are springing to life—plant life, that is. In the former Galleria at Erieview mall, a project dubbed Gardens Under Glass is helping the mall morph into a greenhouse. Sunlight streaming through the glassed-in atrium, as well as a hydroponics system, ensures the lush growth of vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, and tomatoes. Once harvested, the veggies are sold at the mall's weekly farmers' market.

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-37533159

terence d · PostFeb 05, 2011#122011-02-05T00:53+00:00

the count wrote:^City Seeds Urban Farm

I was vaguely aware of this space but had no idea what an awesome program was going on here. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

PostJul 23, 2012#132012-07-23T18:37+00:00

Less than a year since groundbreaking and already over 100 lbs of produce harvested so far this season. This includes donations to McMurphy's Grill. A 100% grass roots project by residents of downtown.

http://www.facebook.com/urbanharveststl

PostDec 16, 2012#142012-12-16T17:36+00:00

Despite a harsh summer, a very successful first year: 982 lbs of produce grown with 150 lbs donated to McMurphy's Grill. More Info

...And STLToday story on rooftop expansion plans for 2013.

STLToday.com wrote:Urban Harvest STL, a group of city residents and gardeners, plans to turn the roof of an 8,000-square-foot warehouse at 1335 Convention Plaza into the city’s first rooftop farm: The Food Roof.

“Our goal is to bring hyper-local, organic food to the surrounding community, and downtown,” said Mary Ostafi, who launched the group in 2011. “We want to help the health of the social fabric downtown. We want to build community while growing food.”