Imagine the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, a place where greenery flows abundantly with trees, flowers, and gardens blending seamlessly into the surroundings. That's the vision I have for my home - in the future.
Since moving in a couple of years ago, I've occasionally had to navigate through overgrown branches or uneven stone pathways in my backyard, each time reminding myself, "I need to get to this soon."
Fortunately, "soon" turned into "now" in July 2024 when my family and I finally began transforming our backyard into a lush garden. We’re still in the early phases of getting the land and soil ready, and should be done with that mid-month so we can start planting.
Note to self: landscaping in July during global warming is no joke!
Before
After
This personal venture into home gardening has been exhilarating, paralleling the growth of our commercial endeavors at The Urban Farming Initiative. Despite being relatively new to urban farming, the lessons I'm learning at home are directly informing our larger scale commercial projects.
For those interested in starting their own garden, whether as a hobby or a commercial enterprise, there are excellent resources that I’ve been digging into, even for beginners.
Here’s what I've discovered.
USDA Urban Farming and Urban Agriculture Programs
Did you know the USDA supports urban agriculture through ten different agencies and offices? I had no idea it was so extensive! Check out everything they have to offer and I encourage you to reach out and talk to someone at each respective office as they’ll be able to help you navigate the ecosystem most effectively.
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP)
Risk Management Agency (RMA)
Rural Development (RD)
Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE)
I do advise talking to someone about your plans because there’s a lot here.
During my visit to our local FSA office, (shout outs to John Williams and John Warrick from the Butler County FSA!), I learned that many USDA programs are designed to enhance existing farms rather than support new startups, which is why they have so many other branches.
Specifically, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Conservation Program can be a great help, providing resources like raised beds and hoop houses, ideal for urban farmers selling less than $900,000 annually. The application process is straightforward, especially for residents of urban areas like Cincinnati, with approvals lining up with growing seasons. Though I've only applied and am awaiting approval, the prospects are promising. Applications currently must be submitted through the NRCS in paper format.
Ohio TVSF Grants
We are currently exploring a TVSF grant from the State of Ohio—Technology Validation and Start-up Fund. This fund is designed to help commercialize technologies developed by Ohio-based higher education institutions and non-profit research organizations.
This opportunity aligns perfectly with our current go-to-market phase, as we are finalizing the technology vendors for our farms. While many components are off-the-shelf and already commercialized, we are also developing and perfecting specific applications such as sensors, lights, racks, and irrigation systems. The TVSF grant provides an excellent chance for us to collaborate with experts in the space, licensing the technology they have already developed but may not have a permanent commercial home.
Tech Transfer departments within universities are a gold mine for this sort of opportunity. If this is something you’re interested in, I would contact your local university and see what they’ve developed, which may save you some time and money while also connecting you to an expert in the space.
To apply for a TVSF grant, it's necessary to work with one of the state’s partners in the Entrepreneurial Services Provider (ESP) program. Potential partners include The Entrepreneurs’ Center in Dayton, CincyTech in Cincinnati, among others across Ohio, who can assist in navigating the application process.
CEA + Urban Farming Jobs and Entrepreneurial Opportunities
In each newsletter, we'll feature job openings in the CEA and urban farming sectors. Because we’re central to the Midwest right now, a lot of these opportunities will be near the center of the country, likely in Ohio, as we get started.
Controlled Environments Grower - Corteva Agriscience. Indianapolis, IN. Full-time. $80k - $100k.
Assistant Professor of Controlled Environment Agriculture. University of Connecticut. Full-time.
Farm Hand. Cincy Urban Farm (Sharonville). Part-time and Full-time.
Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager. 80 Acres. Full-time. Hourly wage.
If you are looking for work or hiring, reach out to our in-house recruiting team to get some help at recruiting@urbanfarminginitiative.org.
How to Get Involved with The Urban Farming Initiative?
Since launching in 2020, The Urban Farming Initiative has been refining our approach to introducing container farms in various settings. This year marks the launch of our first container farms, for which we're actively seeking:
Funding
Expertise
Produce Buyers
Space
Workers
Our immediate goal is to raise $1,000,000 to build and operate the first 20 farms in Ohio. If you're inspired to support or invest in this initiative, please contact us at funding@urbanfarminginitiative.org to discuss further!
Comentários