East Capitol Urban Farm April Update

By Dr. Dwane Jones, director, Center for Sustainable Development

Dear Friends & Partners of East Capitol Urban Farm,

I want to personally thank you, the Ward 7 community and our long list of partners for your continued support of East Capitol Urban Farm (ECUF), located at 5901 East Capitol Street SE, WDC. ECUF is a unique urban space that includes opportunities for education, access, and community engagement for residents of Ward 7. It consists of community gardening beds, walking trails, a kids play area, an aquaponics facility, public art spaces (mural + sculpture) and a community plaza.  

We have scheduled a re-opening day for East Capitol Urban Farm for the Spring 2016 season. The event will take place at the farm on Saturday, May 21, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. There will be free food, a farmer’s market, health screenings, information about programs & soil testing. Additionally, a ribbon cutting for the UDC Urban Food Hubs Education Vehicle (aka Education Food Truck) and an aquaponics system (growing of fish + produce in the same space), both funded by Sustainable DC and District Department of the Environment, is planned.

In addition to the grand re-opening, here is a short list of many more noteworthy updates and upcoming event:

• 33 garden plot applications have been assigned (excluding community schools). Garden plots are FREE for residents of Ward 7. Please contact Harris Trobman at harris.trobman@udc.edu or (202) 274-6682 for inquiries or to request a garden plot or volunteer application.
• 35 volunteers (up from 22 in December) have committed to and completed the processes required to help operate East Capitol Urban Farm.
• UDC’s Institute of Gerontology has also been assigned gardening space in an effort to launch educational programs targeted towards the elderly (contact: claudia.john@udc.edu or (202) 274-6659 for additional information).
• An East Capitol Site Improvement Day is scheduled for Friday, April 22, 2016 (Earth Day!) from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Volunteer assistance is requested.
• Engaged middle + high school and UDC students in learning about Urban Agriculture and Green Infrastructure (using ECUF as an outdoor classroom).
• UDC shared updates at two recent ANC meetings (7C + 7E).
• Begun preparing the site for the Art Sculpture.

Although the lease on this site is temporary, the scope of the project continues to expand. We welcome financial donations in any amount to help with the ongoing expenses and expansion of the project. Please make any donations payable to: UDC Foundation, 4340 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC. If donating by check, please add, “CAUSES Master Initiative- East Capitol” on the memo line.

I am very encouraged by the overwhelming support from partners and the community. UDC and its partners look forward to continuing to improve the quality of life and economic prosperity of people and communities in the District of Columbia, the nation, and the world. “Healthy Cities-Healthy People.”

On Behalf of UDC CAUSES, the Center for Sustainable Development + Partners,

Dwane Jones, Ph.D.

Director of the Center for Sustainable Development (UDC)