Fresh and local will soon be more than a slogan thanks to an innovative project to bring an urban hydroponic farm to almost an acre of land behind the Enoch Davis Community Center in South St. Pete at 1664 12th St. S.
The University of South Florida St. Petersburg (USFSP) and the St. Petersburg Youth Farm at Enoch Davis are collaborating on the Fresh ‘N Local Greenhouse project, which aims to address food insecurity in South St. Pete.
It will also serve as a social enterprise, teaching local high school students in the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) valuable job and life skills.
“This is a youth-led initiative with decisions made with input from the students,” says Carla Bristol, the collaboration manager of the Youth Farm. She is spearheading the Fresh ‘N Local Greenhouse project with Winnie Mulamba, a USFSP sustainability planner.
Fresh ‘N Local Greenhouse” got a huge kick-start recently with news that USFSP was awarded a $25,000 Ford Motor Company 2020 College Community Challenge grant to take the idea to the next level.
USFSP was one of seven universities in the country whose proposal was accepted for funding. Since 2008, Ford has been underwriting outstanding student-driven projects that address community needs, improve quality of life, and promote sustainability.
Read the complete article at www.83degreesmedia.com.
