It is garden tour season. Many non-profits hook up with community, public and private gardens for organized tours as a fund raising event. This was one in Ferguson, Missouri this past weekend.

Heirloom tomatoes, obscure orange-fleshed honeydews, peppers in every color of the rainbow but blue — nearly everything grown organically and on the premises — fill the Maryland farm stand that Dave and Lydia Liker started two years ago quite by accident.

Usually ABC’s Nightline program would run a story about hydroponics that is all about growing marijuana. They deviated from their usual norm by running this story about a soon to open restaurant in New York City serving vegetables grown hydroponically on their roof, supplying their operation with much of their fresh produce. The video below tells the story…

Will Allen’s Growing Power in Milwaukee, Wisc. is the model for urban farming that many are duplicating. Now, in Cleveland, Ohio, Green Acres Plaza is a planned 60,000 sq. ft. agricultural structure designed for production, distribution, and the processing of locally and regionally grown foods. From Green Acres Plaza’s web site,

Green Acres Plaza will serve as the headquarters with links to Neighborhood “Victory” Gardens, public school initiatives, grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals, and food banks.
Green Acres Plaza will also serve as an economic development engine and training site for residents in the target area and surrounding communities. The location will be accessible from any direction within the Lee-Harvard area and will encourage socialization among residents while shopping, attending community room activities or enjoying a delicious drink made from fresh fruits and vegetables at the juice bar. Building a wholesale/retail foundation will create a positive economic impact in the community not only because of the jobs that will be created, but also because of the quality of food distribution that will be accessible at competitive prices.
Our sustainability program includes, establishing relationships with regional farmers, creating public-private partnerships and solidifying community support.
A fabrication facility will be positioned next to the Plaza and will be the site of training and job development opportunities in manufacturing and fabrication of future greenhouses. The results-oriented training will lead to years of employment for residents and individuals in surrounding communities.

Peach Crest Farm near Oklahoma City, OK. is a very successful sustainable organic farm. Almost all the inputs on the farm are produced at the farm. The farm is also part of the Farm to School program supplying public schools and universities with fresh produce for their cafeterias. Click for Peach Crest Farm web site.

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They gotta make this stuff up… A guy who is terrified of peaches and freaks out when Maury Povich brings out peaches onto the stage. What’s next? Tomatoes? Eggplant? Or the dreaded Broccoli?

August 1st through the 8th is National Farmers Market week. The USDA has just released the new number of farmers markets in the U.S. and it’s grown to 6,132 – up 16% over last year’s number of 5,274! Farmers markets are part of building a local food economy. Click for more information on National Farmers Market week. Click for the USDA’s official proclamation.

To view part 2 and 3 videos of building a local food economy