Spring at the Eco3 Urban Farm is a busy time of year. Each week brings more time spent on the farm and new tasks to help us launch into the growing season. The last few weeks, we have spent time on projects such as pruning our perennial fruit bushes, making progress on infrastructure improvements, and the always delightful task of weed management. The farm crew has been direct seeding our cold-hardy crops, such as greens and root vegetables, into prepared row beds located inside our second high tunnel and into raised beds outdoors. For more sensitive crops, such as lettuce and spinach, seeds were started indoors weeks ago to allow the crops to germinate and develop strong root systems. Now that the days are getting warmer, the farm crew has begun transplanting these growing seedlings into prepared row beds inside the high tunnel. All of these tasks will help us have a successful season of growing produce for our community.
The farm also had a walk-in cooler delivered recently, and it was all hands on deck to unload all of the panels from the delivery truck. A concrete pad still needs to be laid before assembling it, but we are getting closer to having a climate-controlled space to store our produce. This will help the produce stay fresh and delicious for longer before distributing it to the LNPK Grocery and other community partners.
In addition to preparing the Urban Farm for the growing season, the farm crew also assisted with Ecolibrium3’s Earth Week celebrations. The team helped out at the Lincoln Park Neighborhood cleanup and had a farm table setup during EcoFest. The farm table displayed some of our own farm-grown produce and an interactive activity demonstrating how the farm and LNPK grocery store will be working together. The farm team also hosted farm tours on Earth Day, where community members came to see the farm. Participants learned about the crops we are growing this season, the regenerative growing techniques and strategies that are used, and the summer programming we are doing, including the farm Saturday workshops that are happening throughout the season.
The growing season will continue to ramp up as the sun shines brighter and the plants grow big and strong. We would love for you to join us in making this community resource possible by attending one of our free workshops or volunteer events this Summer. Check out our Farm Events webpage to learn more and register. Our next workshop is “Garden Planning and Crop Selection”, and will take place on May 9th, 2026. This hands-on session will teach participants how to select the best seeds for our climate and how to map out their garden layout for maximum success, among other things. Whether you are a beginner or are looking for tips to improve your yield, all are welcome to join! Registration is required.
This farm work would not be possible without the help of our AmeriCorps members! Want to join the fun? We are currently seeking members to join our Food Corps team as Food Access Crew Members. The Food Corps is a direct-service program to increase access to local, healthy foods in our community through a variety of agricultural, natural resources management, and community engagement activities. As a Food Access Crew Member, you can expect to perform activities such as farming at the Eco3 Urban Farm, supporting community programming at the soon-to-open LNPK Grocery Store, performing invasive species management in community green spaces, and much more. Check out the available positions on our AmeriCorps Programs page to learn more.
