Urban farm aims to start harvesting in late spring and early summer

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) — Thousands of Shreveporters live in food deserts.

They lack easy access to a supermarket or large grocery store and, thus, affordable and nutritious food.

Now Shreveport Green is managing an urban farm, the largest in North Louisiana, to provide access to healthy food for residents of the city’s Choice Neighborhood apartments.

Volunteers of America, the lead agency, describes the Choice Neighborhood Initiative is a collaborative effort to revitalize the city’s Allendale, Ledbetter Heights and West Edge neighborhoods and create a safe, thriving and mixed-income community.

On Wednesday, Shreveport urban farm members and members of several 4-H clubs got together to work on the two-acre urban farm bounded by Sprague Street on the south, Mary Street on the west and Travis Street on the north.

The farm also helps teach people in the community how to farm and pick healthier food choices.

They will plant produce like spaghetti squash, cucumbers and tomatoes. The goal is start harvesting in late spring and early summer.

Members of Caddo 4-H Clubs worked hard during their spring break to get the urban farm up and running and ready for harvest one rack, one shovel at a time.

“Basically, farming and growing trees and helping the community,” Landon Jackson said.

“We move dirt around and we put wood chips on cardboard boxes to cover up muddy spots,” Serenity Shanks explained.

And for some it’s more than just about getting their hands dirty.

“It’s very important to see other people walk by and say like ‘Oh, those 4-H members did that’ and they can discover if they want to do it,” L’pirkle Adley said.

“Today is important because we have to learn how to experience the world in each different way,” Makiya Bryant said.

“They have the opportunity to meet each other and learn how to get involved,” Sherri Teer said.

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