The Walker-Jones Farm is an organic Mecca in an inner-city neighborhood at the heart of the Nation’s Capital, an easy walk from the U.S. Capitol and the DC Convention Center. An integral part of the Walker Jones Education Campus The Farm is a quiet yet busy sanctuary alongside a DC public school, recreational center and library. Tenley Circle Press brought copies of We Grew It—Let’s Eat It for the School and Library on one of DC’s famous midsummer sultry days when the City was wilting in 90+degrees and 90+percent humidity, yet we felt totally refreshed by the Farm’s flourishing community garden run by dedicated faculty members under the leadership of Frances Evangelista, community outreach and development director.
The Farm is home to a rich variety of vegetables—tall tomato plants with fruit that can be picked and eaten on-site; lush zucchini, basil, and cucumbers; and ripening watermelon and pepper plants. Under the dedicated care of volunteers from local school Environmental Clubs, the corn stalks were bounding back after being hit hard by a recent storm. Otherwise everything was in beautiful condition, with hardly a weed or pest in site. Compost-rich soil was in evidence in every bed.
Come within a block radius of the garden, and you can definitely smell the basil. The students grow other herbs, too –spearmint, peppermint, and santolina – all with neat stone signs to identify them.
Fruit also flourishes in the Farm, as is evidenced by strawberry plants and watermelon and cantaloupes tucked beneath large, wrinkly leaves. Long rows of brilliantly colored zinnias and tall sunflowers at the center of the Farm are going strong as well.
There’s Farm has a perimeter fence, but its gate remains unlocked day or night. The faculty acknowledges that some folks taking produce from the garden to feed their families wholesome natural crops do not disturb the garden in any way. There are no plans to lock the garden or monitor it.
Midway along the 1100 block of New Jersey Avenue NW is perhaps the Farm’s – and neighborhood’s – most surprising feature: two yellow boxes surrounded by a low black fence. Inside the hives buzz Italian and Chinese bees. While the fence keeps younger children away, the bees keep to themselves making honey from nectar and pollen obtained from the Farm’s flower garden.
Additional projects are underway. The beginnings of a monarch butterfly garden is visible just outside of the main plot. Along New Jersey Avenue saplings supplied by the Casey Tree Initiative will replace dead or dying city street trees that failed due to insufficient watering or fertilization. Willow branch gates and benches are being built by adult volunteers for use within the garden.
Farm produce is sold at a weekend Farmer’s Market, and a small plot, tended by senior citizens, provides fresh vegetables for residents of a nearby retirement community. Community members of all ages are encouraged to enjoy the pleasures of working and volunteering. The Farm’s blog wjfarm.wordpress.com/ provides regular updates.
Nationwide the organic movement is going strong, and local farming is on the rise, even in the midst of large cities. DC’s Walker Jones Farm is a jewel in the movement!