A three-acre plot of land in Ward 7, an area with some of the highest poverty and unemployment rates in the city, is being developed into Washington, D.C.'s largest-scale urban farm. Last Saturday, local nonprofit trade group, District of Columbia Building Industry Association organized a "Build Day" where over 1,000 volunteers from local agencies, companies, and organizations laid the foundation for a garden, nature trail, and plaza. The area, now called East Capitol Farm, was once the site of a housing complex seven or eight years ago before it was demolished, reported Washington City Paper. Now, the hope for the urban farm is to allow local residents to grow their own produce and sell it at farmer's markets. Some of the products will be shared by a food truck that will drive around Ward 7. The site will also be able to cultivate public art, a market place, nature discovery area, and education on gardening and aquaponics. Washington City Paper reported that the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) signed a three-year lease for the land as part of an urban agriculture program. The UDC plans on relying on the help of non-profits and community groups to make the farm a success. There are no plans yet as to what will be built on the site once the lease is up.
· Hundreds of Volunteers Turn Out to Help Build D.C.'s "Largest-Scale Urban Farm" [Washington City Paper]
· More than 1,000 volunteers transform lot into produce-bearing east capitol urban farm [D.C. Housing Authority]
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