Ohio City Farm; Ohio City, Cleveland

One of the largest contiguous urban farms in the country, this beautiful farm is located at the top of a bluff across from Downtown Cleveland and helps to provide fresh food and jobs for residents of the Ohio City neighborhood.

Key Details:

The farm is a collaborative venture between Ohio City Near West Development Corporation, The Refugee Response, and Great Lakes Brewing Co.  Refugee Response is a local organization which helps refugees and immigrants adjust to life in Northeast Ohio.  They, along with Great Lakes Brewing Co., are the primary growers at the farm.  The Refugee Empowerment Agricultural Program (REAP) helps to provide education and job-training to refugees who are already familiar with agricultural practices.

The site was previously occupied by housing which was razed in 1999.  New topsoil was brought in and placed after the structures were removed  and crops are planted directly in the remediated soil.  Narrow rows of crops run in an east/west direction and a center pathway provides circulation through the planting rows.  Several trellises and hoop houses have been used to maximize the efficiency of the planting.  The north side of the garden contains a large storage structure and repurposed materials create an outdoor classroom and seating area.

If You Go:

The farm is generally closed to the public but much of it is visible from West 25th or Bridge Street.  The farm stand is open weekly; check the website for more information.  Other great amenities within the Ohio City neighborhood are nearby including the West Side Market, Great Lakes Brewery, and a number of additional local restaurants, retailers and brewpubs.

Source:

http://www.ohiocityfarm.com/farm.html

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/07/farm_to_grow_crops_economic_de.html

This work by Matt is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.