Sacred Places
Urban Farm, in partnership with Bon Secours Community Works
Herbs thick enough to smell, on the ground where fourteen rowhomes stood.
WHERE
Baltimore, MD
SETTING
Community Farm
PARTNER INSTITUTION
Bon Secours Community Works
Visit
Where it is
Fayette St. & Fulton Ave., Baltimore, MD 21223
What happens here
Crops grow in the outdoor plots, the two hoop houses, and the community garden plots, and go into refrigerated storage for two or three days before delivery. Since Spring 2019 the farm has delivered fresh food weekly to 75 families in the 21223 ZIP code. Other distribution runs through the Mobile Market, giveaway events, and a partnership with the Maryland Food Bank, often paired with nutrition events where the farm's nutritionist cooks with what was grown on site.
HOW IT CAME TO BE
Fourteen rowhomes, then fourteen vacant lots.
01
The Need
The quarter-acre site across from Bon Secours Community Works was the former location of fourteen vacant lots, and rowhomes before that.
02
The Vision
The Urban Farm was built for growing and distributing food to the neighborhood, but the community wanted more than production from it. They asked for an area aimed specifically at being enjoyed: a space where perennial herbs grew thick enough to smell, where bright flowers grew all season long, and where neighbors could sit and relax. A place of respite and conversation.
03
The Transformation
Bon Secours Community Works' Clean & Green workforce development training team adopted the lots and converted the land into green space, first with tree plantings and a community garden, then the farm, which has been actively growing fresh fruits and vegetables since late 2016. The site now carries aquaponics, beehives, an outdoor classroom, and a stormwater detention feature that slows the runoff sheeting through from the rest of the block. A herb spiral and native plantings frame the bench, which overlooks the farm's apple orchard.
WHO TENDS IT
Gerilyn Lackey
Firesoul, Urban Farm, in partnership with Bon Secours Community Works
Read more →
Timothy Douglas
Firesoul, Urban Farm, in partnership with Bon Secours Community Works
Read more →
Daniel Greenspan
Firesoul, Urban Farm, in partnership with Bon Secours Community Works
Read more →
Colin Smith
Firesoul, Urban Farm, in partnership with Bon Secours Community Works
Read more →
HEAR FROM THE VISITORS
From the Little Yellow Journal
Wake up every day and Smile :)
For every day above ground is a blessing
– Shakira, Clean + Green
