Urban Harvest STL

Urban Harvest STL builds community around inclusive and resilient local food systems. Comprised of two preschool gardens, a rooftop garden, a community garden, a market garden, and a new demonstration farm, UHSTL’s 6 farms grow produce in a variety of ways that are accessible and replicable to a range of urban communities. In 2023, we grew 6,517 pounds of fresh produce, valued at $24,644.34, across 5 urban farms and distributed 83% of it to low income communities with low access to a grocery store. 

Each of our farms operates in partnership with another local organization as building community must involve a variety of stakeholders. For Give STL Day, Urban Harvest STL is spotlighting our partnership with Fresh Starts Community Garden. In 2016, we partnered with Miss Rosie Willis to manage 22 beds at Fresh Starts. This garden, located in the JeffVanderLou neighborhood, nourishes the local community and resident gardeners with fresh organic produce and social connectedness. To keep Fresh Starts productive and accessible, our farmers and volunteers build and repair needed garden structures like raised beds, acquire and maintain needed garden tools, and provide general garden maintenance, like mowing and pruning. We also provide mulch, compost, soil, soil amendments, seeds, and plants for use by the whole garden.

With your gift on Give STL Day, you will help to reduce the barriers that make urban gardening inaccessible to many people while helping to provide an inviting and vibrant space that attracts community to the JeffVanderLou neighborhood. By expanding access to community gardens, you help to provide holistic health benefits to low income and low access communities.