Programs: Urban Farm

You can find the Urban Farm at the Corner of
Smith and Fay Streets in central Columbia.
Credit: Maria Kritikos

Want to see an urban farm in action? Drop by the CCUA’s Urban Farm located at 1209 E. Smith Street – and see how we’ve changed an empty lot into a serene, green, veggie-producing machine. Late winter 2009, CCUA secured a lease on a 1.3 acre piece of land in central Columbia. Since then volunteers have worked around the clock to make this empty lot a productive and diverse Urban Farm. The farm is our main educational worksite for interns, apprentices, and volunteers.

• Permanent planting beds for annual vegetable production
• Blackberry and blueberry bushes
• Perennial stands of asparagus and herbs
• Fruit Trees
• A garden to attract native pollinators
• Moveable “chicken tractors” to house our hens throughout the property
• Two bee hives to improve pollination and produce honey, courtesy of Art and Vera Gelder at Walk-About Acres.

Beehive at CCUA's Urban Farm.
Credit: Valerie Mosley

Rows of future produce at CCUA's Urban Farm.
Credit: Valerie Mosley

Compost is laid into rows as the urban farm is established in spring 2010.
Credit: Billy Polansky

Rows are mulched to retain moisture, increase soil fertility and prevent erosion.
Credit: Valerie Mosley

Spring cabbage is planted at the Urban Farm.
Credit: Valerie Mosley

In the heat of the summer the garden is busy with red amaranth plants,
tall trellises and bushy beans and peppers.
Credit: Maria Kritikos

The Urban Farm has been an integral part of our organization’s growth and in 2011 we will continue to develop the property with a storage barn, fruit trees, berry bushes, and educational/interpretive gardens.