Granata Farms Summer 2011

On Saturday, March 30^th, the Sustainability Park at 25th and Arapahoe was host to a fundraiser event for the Urban Farmers Collaborative. Food trucks, live music, tents with sustainable products (and advisers) and lots of interested people filled the site from 11:00-7:00.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Urban-Farmers-Collaborative-at-Sustainability-Park/225747270803808

First Annual Sustainability Park Fundraiser

I was there, but not there to eat and play as it was a work day at Elaine Granata's urban farm. We worked on the new espaliers since she recently planted 3 pear trees and 3 apple trees. We also put down the rest of the filter fabric and crusher fines in the pathways.  The raspberries are greening and there is work to do in these beds to improve the trellises....maybe next week once my back stops hurting!

View from berry beds looking North

If you are one of the dozens of volunteers who helped WiD Outreach build the 33 raised cedar beds last Spring 2011, then you remember this urban farm. Elaine Granata is on the Board of organic farmers and she has three urban farm sites. She practices all organic methods and sells produce to her CSA shareholders, restaurants and small grocery stores around the metro area. (CSA refers to a model of farming in which farmers sell harvest shares (vegetables, flowers, meat, etc.) directly to people in the local community.)

WiD Volunteer Build Days

Elaine's urban farm Downtown is on a DHA (Denver Housing Authority) owned site and has become a temporary home to several Humanitarian Housing structures on display. Green Leaf, Produce Denver and Feed Denver are also on site. Stop by and check it all out!

Written by Kathy Ford, WiD Outreach