Neighborhood supported gardens

October 5, 9:30 AMDenver Urban Agriculture ExaminerCat Stone

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Heirloom gardener at work

A bag of pre-washed, pre-cut lettuce from who knows where is oh so unattractive when compared to the beauty of a bag of personally picked and thoughtfully mixed local (like real local!) lettuces, arugula and parsley from a farm like Heirloom Gardens. Actually Heirloom is not one farm, it is in many (six this year) "farms" all around Northwest Denver. There are organic farm pieces (gardens) in people’s yards all in and around where you live. It’s true.

Now take those beautiful freshly picked greens and toss them with some red wine vinegar, a pinch of salt and some extra virgin olive oil and say a little prayer of thanks as the first forkfull enters your mouth. It’s beautiful and delicious and nutritious and people who care about food (and who also want to learn about urban farming) volunteered to pick it for you.Talk about packing positive energy into your body!

Local Northwest Denver farmer, Sundari Kraft is the mother of Heirloom Gardens. She will tell you that her business grew out of her love of good food and her love of gardening. Only a year ago, an expansion in her personal garden led to so much food production that she ended up selling vegetables. Then one thought led to another, and…

Sundari ‘s project follows the model of Kipp Nash’s urban operation in Boulder, Community Roots Urban Garden. Nash took the concept of community supported agriculture (CSA) in which consumers support a particular farm by buying shares in it in exchange for a weekly allotment of produce and tweaked it into what he calls Neighborhood Supported Agriculture or NSA. NSA operates on the same concept as CSA, but all the farmland -- and its shareholders -- are based in a single neighborhood where the “farm” is spread all around on different neighbors’ properties.

In addition to Heirloom’s NSA activities this year they also distributed their organic vegetables and herbs through two local farmers markets (through October at Highlands Farmers Market.)
Sundari’s biggest first season surprise has been the level of enthusiasm with which the project has been embraced by the community. Food brings people together, and growing food seems to bring neighborhoods together too!

Visit Heirloom Garden’s website at www.eatwhereUlive.com for updates as the 2010 growing season develops.