Come see the French Intensive Gardening system in practice with 100 wading pools planted in herbs, vegetables, and flowers on this brownfield site. Learn how this urban farm was started including the hurdles faced in terms of funding, cooperation with zoning/city officials, working with multiple community groups, and organizing harvesting and marketing efforts. Then, participate in hands-on soil preparation! We'll mix the ingredients necessary for optimum growing using the French Intensive method and learn weed management and irrigation techniques specific to this method, known for yielding the most produce for the least area and requiring little annual upkeep and no power tools or large equipment. See a demo on modifying the pools/beds for winter growing similar to a cold-frame system.

A community effort, this 3/4-acre farm began in the fall of 2007. Since then, working with the Open Door Church Congregation, Youth Places After School Program, the Department of Labor Job Corps as well as several other community groups, the farm is producing for its first season. Seeds were donated, bat houses constructed, marketing is evolving and the French Intensive beds are producing! They even have the USDA’s Wildlife Service involved in advising them how to coexist with deer, wild turkeys, and groundhogs in the urban environment.