UC Tries Hand at Urban Farming

Of the nine city-owned plots of land leased to various organizations, the University of Cincinnati was awarded the largest sections to promote urban farming.

The 1.25 acres of land will be used to grow produce which will then be sold at the MainStreet farmer’s market. UC food services has committed to help purchase what produce is left from the on-campus market, said Daniel Oerther, director of the Center for Sustainable Urban Environments.

The food purchased by the dining halls will not only benefit the project, but will help the university reduce its carbon footprint.

“We’re reducing our transportation,” said Shawn Tubb, graduate student and President’s Advisory Council on Environment & Sustainability (PACES) coordinator. “If we’re growing our own lettuce, we won’t have to bring it in from Texas.”

The land, which is adjacent to 2291 Westwood Northern Blvd., will be maintained primarily by students who can earn volunteer hours or course credit. The National Science Foundation will also hire two co-op students to cultivate the land. The Center for Community Engagement and student government are identifying students who would be interested in volunteering.

The university is also set to create classes that will focus on maintaining the land and techniques for growing food.

To lease the space for an entire year, UC will pay $1, Oerther said.

Currently, approximately a third of the space is covered in brush, debris and litter, which are “typical of any abandoned city land,” and which will be cleared away Saturday, April 25, as part of the Great American Cleanup campaign.

Volunteers are scheduled to start cultivating the land around the middle of May, Oerther said.

Prior to planting on site, seedlings will be planted and will start to grow in the greenhouse at Rieveschl Hall.

“We’ll definitely start with tomatoes, a variety of peppers and herbs which can grow regardless of soil quality,” Oerther said.

The plants from the greenhouse, once ready, will be transplanted to the land.

The plan for the garden is to grow everything organically and to take a holistic approach that will engage students from the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning. UC will take on bees and four chickens as a part of the holistic, permaculture part of the project.

The university plans to maintain the land for several years to grow apple trees and grapes.
UC became involved in the project when Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory signed the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in 2006. Of the dozens of initiatives proposed in the Green Cincinnati movement in 2008, the city identified 15 plots of land that could be used for urban farming.

The university put in a bid for land. In all, 10 pieces of land have been leased to nine constituents – from local organizations to individuals.

Students interested in the Great American Cleanup project, especially in relation to the urban farm land, should contact Oerther or Tubb (Daniel.Oerther@uc.edu or tubbsp@email.uc.edu, respectively.)