Duke Farms Community Garden

Watching a neighborhood bloom is an exciting thing. The revitalization and rebirth of the Detroit Shoreway is one of the most exciting things blooming in Cleveland. In 2018, we added a little "green power" to the neighborhood in the form of a 6000-sq-ft. community garden, greenhouse and beekeeping. Our first year was a success: We built16 raised garden beds and invited neighbors to plant their own veggies, recycle food waste and take a look at what's growing in the greenhouse. 

What's different in 2019? We added 6 more beds and 40 grows bags in the adjoining parcel strictly for donating fresh produce to local food pantries. One of the most rewarding things we've done is used seeds from last year's produce to grow our own vegetable seedlings. 

We now consider ourselves leaders in neighborhood sustainability. 

Utilizing several parcels on Duke Avenue, Duke Farms hopes to continue making this a true neighborhood site. Neighbors are welcome to gather during the spring, summer and fall and plant fruits, vegetables and herbs or perhaps learn about indoor gardening through the Farm's greenhouse, a 600-sq.-ft. empty building. The site will also include a beehive for fresh honey. Watch us grow by following us on our Facebook page.

The tax deductibility of your contribution may be affected by goods or services received. Please contact your financial advisor with questions regarding your donation.

Week of Aug. 10, 2019: Purchase wood for new beds. Construct beds

Mid August 2019: Plant fall crops already growing in the farm's greenhouse. 

August - October 2019: Grown and harvest fall crops. 

Feb/March: 2020: Purchase grow lights and being growning seedlings for 2020 planting

May 2020: Begin planting to 2020 harvest.

Duke Farms is located in an area that has undergone a signifigant resurgence in the past 5 years. While this is certainly a plus for the area, it has also means the loss of many longstanding community members and an influx of residents who might feel like outsiders.

This community garden is the perfect way to put new and existing residents together in a communal area for a productive environmental project: Meet, greet, teach and learn how to garden and grow your own food. We proved this concept last year with the first year of community gardening and hosting several neighborhood get togethers. The first year broght us several expereinced gardeners who taught others the "tricks of the trade," It's neighbors teaching neighbors, growing your own food and sharing it with those on your street and in your community for true nieghborhood bonding. 

The farm is a rare opportunity to use and create green space in an urban area. And we're hoping to do good! This year we are partnering with area food banks to donate fresh produce. 

Here are five great ways Duke Farms will benefit the environment:

1. Reduce Carbon Emissions: 

By localizing produce, our urban farm will cut down on the significant amount of fossil fuel consumption necessary to transport, package, and sell food. Did you know the average meal travels more than 4,000 miles to get to your table? Urban agriculture helps consumers reduce their “foodprint” by providing an opportunity to purchase food that was grown right here in Cleveland

2. Community Building:

Gardens create more than healthy food. Duke Farms will bring people together with a common interest — food. The overall health of a community is benefited by increasing its capacity to create an environment that truly sustains its residents. Most urban farming projects require a high level of social organization, giving many individuals in the community a vested interest in its success.

3. Adult education:

We’re involving adults to teach about sustainable, local agriculture and how farming increase the health of our future food systems.

4. Green Space

Agriculture in cities provides green space. In the tightly-housed Detroit Shoreway community this is a huge bonus! Green space contributes to the health of city ecosystems in a variety of ways including reduced runoff from precipitation, providing a respite for community members and countering the “heat island effect” by fixing carbon through photosynthesis.

5. Bees!

Duke Farms will include a beehive for local honey and to help pollinate all those fruits and vegetables on the property. 

The tax deductibility of your contribution may be affected by goods or services received. Please contact your financial advisor with questions regarding your donation.