Indiana urban farming project teaches city dwellers how to grow food
When large grocery stores move out of urban areas, fresh fruits and vegetables become harder for city dwellers to access. In Gary, Indiana, only four grocery stores sell fresh produce for the city’s 76,424 residents.
To increase opportunities for Gary residents to learn how to grow food, Purdue Extension launched a four-year urban farming project. Extension created a 10-week urban agriculture certificate program, which included technical assistance from Purdue Extension and local farmers, hands-on learning activities and field trips to nearby farms. The education covered harvesting, food safety, small farm tools and equipment, farm finances, pest control, growing vegetables, harvest techniques, season extensions, composting, organic weed management and irrigation. Purdue Extension bought tools for participating growers to borrow.
A total of 61 participants across three cohorts completed the certificate program in 2020 and 2021. Experienced, local urban farmers contributed to Extension’s mentor training about motivation, communication, responsibility, accountability and ethical behavior, professionalism, emotional intelligence, performance, networking and mentoring protocols. Each mentor then trained three interns on their farms to learn land preparation, seed selection, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, tools and marketing of fresh produce.
After completing the certificate program, 13 participants from 2020 (59.1% response rate) said they received answers about farming, learned new urban agriculture concepts or methods, and knew where to get technical assistance and financial assistance. Nine out of 10 beginning growers reported confidence in their ability to apply what they learned. As a result of the program, 67% planned to become urban farmers. Participants expressed their appreciation for connecting them with urban and rural farmers. They plan to pursue forming a farmer co-op and continue volunteering at the farms.
Project supported by Smith-Lever (3b&c) and USDA Capacity – Extension funds.
