San Antonio urban farm plots kitchen classroom for nutrition programs
An urban farm will soon start construction on a community kitchen classroom to create a programs for Eastside residents.
Greenies Urban Farm will begin construction on an open-air, 1,570-square-feet kitchen classroom in October, says Nelda Speller, county extension director for the Bexar County Agrilife Extension office.
The $1.2 million publicly funded project will be equipped with commercial appliances, IT appropriate equipment, an island counter, seating, and cooling equipment, Speller says.
“The outdoor classroom will support a hands-on approach to learning for both adults and youth ranging from nutrition, health, and wellness education to industry and residential gardening,” Speller says.
Greenies Urban Farm was project was created in collaboration with the AgriLife Extension Office, Bexar County and county commissioners court in October 2019. It sits on on 10 acres of property acquired by Bexar County in 2016 that was previously owned by the Union Pacific Railroad.
Already the Greenies Urban Farm has produced harvests of broccoli, as well as cabbage, kale and spinach for the San Antonio Food Bank. Since breaking ground in 2020, Speller says the farm has produced 10,000 pounds of produce. AgriLife agents are gearing up for a late summer ground planting and early fall harvest.
The county will also build a a 300-person event center and an office building in subsequent phases of construction. In total, the complete project will cost $2.1 million.
