Urban Farming In North Canton?

Well, very uncharacteristically, I was following up on yesterday's blog and researching chicken laws in North Canton.  I came across a few bits and pieces, like no roosters and no more than 6 hens, but I'm going to have to call and get the whole run-down before I even start thinking about them too much more.  However, while searching for NC chicken laws online, I DID find an interesting article about Urban Farming on the North Canton website, Patch.  It was dated last summer, which means that it may or may not be still in progress, but I thought it was an interesting article to share.

Urban Farming Coming to a North Canton Neighborhood Near You

A new initiative would provide fresh fruits and veggies, gardening education and, perhaps, a farmers market to North Canton.

Posted by John Deike , June 27, 2013 at 01:33 AM

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The urban farming initiative aims to grow a wide variety of fruit and vegetables in a Hoover District parking lot. Photo credit: John Deike

If all goes as planned, North Canton will have an urban farm by next spring.

Jim Sewell, a local resident and CEO of the Northside Locavore Project, introduced the organic initiative in front of the North Canton Planning Commission in March, which voted 5-0 in favor of the plan. 

Now, it's just up to City Council to approve the necessary zoning change to allow for the community grow operation.

“What we want to do is bring green space in, local food, educational opportunities to the community, and, hopefully, grow it into some kind of an organization that will bring a market to town,” said Sewell at Monday night’s Council meeting.

If approved, the zoning change would go into effect in October.

The urban farm would come in the form of raised garden beds that would be placed across one acre of asphalt in a Hoover District parking lot, said Sewell.  

The plan is to set up the beds by fall and start growing crops, like radishes, fruits and kale, by next spring.

Sewell pledged his non-profit group would only use natural methods to grow the food.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for North Canton to be educated to raise gardens and urban farming, so I appreciate the efforts and (I’m) looking forward to it happening,” said Ward 1 councilman Doug Foltz.