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Beneath the Steel and Concrete Lies the Charlotte Urban Farm Project

Katie | July 30, 2012 | 0 Comments

Steel. Concrete. Glass. That is what you see when you drive into Uptown Charlotte. Tall buildings made of steel, glass, built on concrete and asphalt. But, drive a little deeper into Uptown Charlotte and you might be surprised to see a little farm on the side of the road.

A garden that looks a little out of place in a city of steel. But what that little garden represents is the true heart and soul of Charlotte. The Charlotte Urban Farm Project displays their fruits of labor at the garden. A non-profit organization, the Charlotte Urban Farm Project aims to “… provide the space for communities to produce healthy food, healthy people, and a healthy planet for generations to come. Through production of healthy food, we will create job opportunities, skills training, educational programs, and health programs that will create a sustainable foundation upon which the local community can empower itself.”

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Marci Mroz
Hard working volunteer.

Their first farm, located on 8th Street between Brevard and Caldwell, is in the process of growing, and will be the “main” farm. The fruits and vegetables grown on this farm will be sold at the 7th Street Public Market. Maintained by volunteers, the farm was created using recycled materials, donations, and a lot of sweat. They have also partnered with DSS in “bringing Charlotte-area refugees to nurture and maintain this site. They are bringing us their expertise and we are giving them some of their first work references in America.”

Because this farm is located on the side of the road, in middle of Uptown Charlotte, you can imagine people who drive by wondering what the heck is going on. Lindsay, President and Program Manager at the Charlotte Urban Farm Project, told me that people drive by, stop their cars and come ask questions about the farm. Local residents walk their dogs and ask questions. As a matter of fact, while I was there a cab driver pulled over, got out of his car, came up to the farm, and wanted to know everything about it.