We previously wrote about the Urban Food Hub Project at the Backus Campus of UDC-CC. On May 3, 2016, UDC’s College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Science (CAUSES) will be hosting a neighborhood meeting to share more about the project.
Tag Archives: UDC-CC (Backus)
UDC Backus Urban Food Hub Project
An Urban Food Hub is growing in the neighborhood. If you have walked past UDC-CC’s Backus campus in the past few weeks, you have probably seen greenhouses being constructed on the old tennis courts next to the parking lot on Galloway Street NE.
Greenhouse construction for UDC Urban Food Hub at UDC-CC Backus, Galloway Street NE
The campus is one of a few citywide locations for UDC’s Urban Food Hub project. The project is a concept developed by the university’s College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES).
CAUSES Urban Agriculture and Gardening Education Director Mchezaji “Che” Axum and Center for Sustainable Development Green Infrastructure Specialist Harris Trobman were kind enough to provide some information about the project:
The project is part of [UDC’s] ongoing food hub solutions. We will have a food hub in every Ward of DC. The project at Backus will have [an] aquaponics facility, hydroponics facility, and a native plant nursery. It will also have an incubator kitchen which is currently being designed. The entire project aims to increase economic opportunities around food hub components. The greenhouse facilities will be used for training and then will be leased by an entrepreneur.
They expect construction to be done in the next 60 days.
Sounds like a pretty neat addition to the neighborhood. Read more about the Urban Food Hubs concept here: Urban Food Hubs (pdf)
Orchard at Backus
Neighbor and I were talking about how nice it might be to have an orchard in the neighborhood. A lot of homes have backyards and walking around the neighborhood, one can spot the occasional pear, lemon, or fig tree. We thought a plot of land on the Backus campus of UDC-CC a plausible location. This picture is looking at the Galloway Street side, next to the campus parking lot. What do you think?
UDC-CC (Backus campus)
Farmers Market for Backus?
At the ANC 5A meeting on May 22, 2013, Dr. Calvin Lewis, research associate, principal investigator, and farmers market coordinator at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), presented on UDC’s proposal to operate a farmers market at its Backus community college campus on South Dakota Avenue NE.
They propose to operate the market in the large parking lot on Galloway Street NE just off South Dakota Avenue. However, that land is zoned R-2 for residential uses. Dr. Lewis stated he was told by DCRA that the application for a farmers market likely would not be approved because a farmers market is considered a commercial use.
The commissioners at the ANC meeting told Dr. Lewis he can likely apply for an exception to the permitted use. Frank Wilds, commissioner for the ANC SMD in which the campus resides (ANC 5A08), is supportive of a market there, but he was told he needs to present the concept to residents of his SMD before the ANC will consider whether to support UDC’s application for a farmers market at Backus.
UDC currently operates a farmers market during summer months at its main campus on Connecticut Avenue NW. That market was first operated under a grant received from the Department of Agriculture, according to Dr. Lewis.
He said his team at UDC thought it would be a good idea to bring a market to the Backus campus since the surrounding neighborhood is home to a large number of senior citizens who would benefit from being able to walk a short distance to get fresh produce. He said several UDC students walked around the neighborhood to ask residents if they would like and support a farmers market at Backus and that the response was overwhelmingly positive.
I caught up with another staff member at the meeting who said they have the same vision to incorporate chef tastings and demonstrations that they presently have at the UDC market.
Dr. Lewis will be at the Lamond Riggs Citizens Association general body meeting on Monday, June 3, 2013, to share information with residents about this proposal. The meeting will run from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 