There will soon be a new addition to the Bertie Backus Food Hub housed at UDC’s Backus campus (the large hoop houses visible on the Galloway Street NE side of the campus). At ANC 5A’s recent meeting, Acting Director of UDC CAUSES Dr. Kamran Zendehdel shared that UDC is teaming up with Pepco to house an “Ag. Pod” at the food hub. This food production system will be used to grow vegetables and herbs year round to supply food in food desert areas around the city. The team is working on an entrepreneurial training model to train interested residents in Wards 5, 7, and 8. Currently, the Backus food hub contains a hydroponics system, aquaponics system, native plant nursery, compost, and community garden. Buildout of a community incubator commercial kitchen that will be accessible at low cost is also in progress.

View UDC’s presentation here.

UDC is requesting input on two surveys related to the Ag. Pod project.

(1) A community survey to introduce the project and capture people’s interest: 
https://udc.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6MyQ2BqV0l2uWVL

(2) A community survey to help the team select the best wrap design for the project: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B9N696S

UDC is requesting input on both surveys by December 4, 2020.

The Ag. Pod measures 50 feet by 10 feet. For comparison, the aquaponic system is 30 feet by 84 feet. The goal is to install the pod in December or early January.