Guilford Urban Farming Initiative
The Grove Farmers Market
Our mission, in part, is to normalize urban agriculture in Guilford County. We strive to be sustainable, organic, and collaborative, all for a better, more resilient community.
The Grove Farmers Markets comprises two strategic initiatives: it brings fresh, whole, affordable foods to local food deserts as it offers new commercial outlets for small farmers of color. These twin aims are designed 1) to make food deserts habitable for families who are denied convenient access to mainstream grocers and 2) to ensure that black and brown growers are able to retain their family farms by keeping them productive. The Grove Farmers Markets will also give the urban farmers we train outlets for their produce. Our direct-to-consumer seasonal produce will be priced to make healthy eating affordable and accessible to all citizens in Greensboro.The Grove Farmers Markets will offer Greensboro’s hungriest citizens fresh (and organic) nutritional supplements to the shelf stable items provided by food pantries.
Fresh Against Hunger
Greensboro, NC: Guilford Urban Farming Initiative [GUFI], a Guilford County nonprofit, has been asked to partner to facilitate the distribution of approximately 900,000 lbs. of fresh produce to over 100,000 people across North Carolina during December of 2020.
The Provide Fresh Against Hunger Program is a collaboration with GUFI, the State of North Carolina, The General Baptist State Convention and Gabor Farms who is coordinating the collection and packing of the freshly harvested produce from NC Black, Brown and disenfranchised farmers. This effort encompasses two strategic initiatives: it brings fresh, whole, nutritional produce to communities and it includes farmers of color. “This is a great opportunity for a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to partner with the faith-based and nonprofit community to serve vulnerable people in vulnerable places. Unfortunately, this pandemic reminds us that there are people in this great State that are invisible, and their voices cannot be heard from the valley of despair,” Dr. Anthony Davis, Chief Operating Officer at Livingstone College said.
St. Phillip Garden of Peace
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Community Farm
St. Phillip Garden of Peace & Community Farm is a collaboration with GUFI, St. Phillip AME Zion Church and many other collaborators in the community addressing the issue of food insecurity through community engagement, partnerships and sustainable practices. This urban farm aims to transform an underutilized lot to improve nutritional food access, health conditions, and environmental justice for the community. The farm will also educate about nutritional benefits and the impact on physical health and mental health and how to combat chronic diseases, all while creating an attractive, community gathering space.
Located in Warnersville, Greensboro’s first Heritage Community, St Phillip Garden of Peace will incorporate an edible landscape with a demonstration greenhouse, ADA-accessible raised beds, open in-ground vegetable plots, medicinal herbal gardens, a children’s garden, cut flowers area, a pollinator habitat, perennials such as blackberry and blueberry bushes, Witch Hazel and Serviceberry trees along with other fruit trees.
“Healthy eating is a step towards Living Your Best Life.” – Reverend Lisa Caldwell, Pastor St. Phillip AME Zion Church.
Guilford County Farm
This 806-acre property has been around since the early 1930’s. Of the 720 acres currently under the County Farm management; 600 acres are leased to local farmers growing crops and raising cattle and 120 acres are maintained by the county to support the community with nationally recognized hiking trails, greenhouses, vineyards, fishing ponds, and much more!
We are so honored that the Guilford County Farm and their wonderful team is helping us grow. Along with our amazing volunteers, we have been able to plant and nurture about 20,300 seedlings so far. We have already shared with approximately 12 nonprofits, churches and individuals to help spread the importance message of "growing the roots of resilience" throughout our community. Without the Guilford County Farm, this would still be just yet another conversation.
