Garden to table farm

On the 5 lots purchased by YMEN at 1443 South Harding, the Garden to Table pipeline is developing a farm to serve as a hub for the 20 local community gardens which are on the pipeline. The campus like farm is composed of several elements positioned on site according to their best solar and wind orientation, the outdoor growing spaces and community gathering occupying the southern half of the site, the indoor growing spaces and community center occupying the northern half. 

On the south side:

-two large existing trees will provide the canopy layer for the food forest composed of

-fruit trees orchard and berry bushes

-four layers of native plants (herbaceous, root, ground cover and vine) to provide support for the orchard

-a rain garden located at the site’s lowest elevation to reduce rain water runoff and add diversity to the ecology

-an outdoor classroom that can also serve as a large preparation and meal sharing tabel

-and outdoor kitchen for community meal sharing

-a live hedge along the eastern border to protect the garden from the alley

-a ADA accessible path will connect the different part of the campus 

On the North side: 

-a hoop house tunnel to extend the growing season

-a lean-to South facing passive solar greenhouse with ground to air heating and cooling system and permeable flooring

-a three-compartment Knox Box composting station 

-an AgPod, 40 foot shipping container retrofitted for 24/7 year round Indoor Food Production (IFP) 

-a service yard

-a two story, 4000 sq ft community center including ADA accessible washrooms and offices, a large meeting room and catering kitchen, additional meeting space at the mezzanine level and second floor for hoteling the organizations that steward the 20 pipeline gardens.

Along Harding a continuous front yard will border the western edge of the site, from the community center to the adjacent playground inviting neighbors and gardeners to sit down, socialize and enjoy an array of native flowers and grass which will also act as a forefront to the buzz of activity.

The year round indoor growing container is waiting for the rest of the campus to develop.