Berea Urban Farm Newsletter October 2014
Mission
To produce high-quality food for residents and visitors in a manner that restores the land, educates youth and adults, provides a neighborhood gathering place, increases food security, promotes local economic development, and improves the health and quality of life of the community.
The Berea Urban Farm site occupies 1.4 acres in Old Town, Berea bordered by Fee, Adams and Grant Streets.
Activities on site
City workers are in the process of removing the last two derelict houses on the site after a structural evaluation showed them beyond rehab. Students from the Berea College Agriculture Program are analyzing soil samples from the vicinity of the tear downs for lead and other possible contaminants. This complements analyses conducted across the entire site this summer by several Chemistry students.
Honey was harvested from the BUF top bar bee hives last month, and there were good yields from two heirloom beans: Frank Barnett Cornfield and the Small Speckled Greasy Cut-Short. Unfortunately the Chinese Chestnuts were riddled with chestnut weevil larvae.
In the tree nursery there were some losses to fire blight, but most of the grafted varieties of apples in the nursery grew well this summer as did the hazelnuts.
Activities off-site
Thirty people attended the October 24 showing of Growing Cities, a film about urban agriculture, followed by a discussion relating examples from the film to the Berea Urban Farm.
Urban Farm Governance Committee Actions
The Committee voted to add the Community Sustainability Laboratory (CS-Lab; as a partner in the Berea Urban Farm. This brings to seven the number of organizations with membership on the UFGC.
The Committee also decided to file for incorporation of the Berea Urban Farm, creating a legal entity as a precursor to applying for 501c3 status as a non-profit. Until this is finalized, Sustainable Berea will serve as fiscal agent for the Berea Urban Farm.
Coming Up
Building on last May’s successful workshop, permaculturist Peter Bane will return on November 6 and 7 to lead development of a more complete site plan. Peter will walk the site with people from the Madison County Conservation District, Berea Tourism Commission, and other participants in the farm to finalize the layout of key elements.
Meanwhile, BUF will be installing a tiny library ( at the corner of Grant and Adams. This “take a book, leave a book” operation will focus on books about food – growing it, processing it, eating it – and will have a kids section.
Another Film!
More than Honey
Tuesday, November 11, 6:30pm to 8pm
Loyal Jones Appalachian Gallery
205 N. Main Street
Light supper at 6pm
Stunning photography and a compelling story of the importance of and threats to bees. After the film, the 2015 Backyard Bees Project will be introduced, and application forms will be available.
Internships at the Urban Farm
Abby Adams, BUF’s first intern during summer 2014, played a critical role in getting the urban farm off the ground. She has continued her involvement as the Berea College Agriculture Program’s representative on the Urban Farm Governance Committee.
BUF is recruiting three interns for summer 2015 to take the lead in implementing several initial projects including:
A project to involve youth in gardening and raising chickens
A small apiary and associated cut-flower production
Demonstration plantings of Appalachian heirloom beans and tomatoes
Resources
We are inspired and informed by the great work of established urban farms. We are particularly indebted to:
Greensgrow Farm in Philadelphia (
Growing Power in Milwaukee
(
Check them out. You will be inspired, too.
You can help!
The Berea Urban Farm is an all-volunteer effort of our neighborhood and community. The UFGC welcomes volunteers with ideas and energy to make the urban farm a reality.
Berea Urban Farm Project
PO Box 1302
BereaKY40403
859-985-1689