Big City Farms expands to meet growing demand

The growing interest in urban farming is becoming more and more apparent in Indianapolis, perhaps no more obvious than the recent growth of Big City Farms. The farm, based in Cottage Home and Holy Cross, has converted eight vacant lots into thriving vegetable gardens and is planning for the 2010 growing season.

Cottage Home resident Tyler Henderson has recently left a consulting position with the Indianapolis-based Study Abroad Foundation to work with Big City Farms owner Matthew Jose.

Henderson said the farm is planning to increase its community-supported agriculture memberships for the 2010 season by about 25 percent and hopes to recruit CSA members from as close as possible to the farm itself in order to minimize its carbon footprint.

The CSA model requires members to provide an upfront investment in the farm in exchange for a weekly pickup of the week’s harvest, which will occur again this year in Cottage Home. The goal of the Big City Farms CSA is to give members a closer relationship with the farmers who grow their food and an encouragement to adjust to a diet that is more seasonal in nature.

In addition to the CSA, Big City Farms sells produce to R Bistro and Goose the Market and is currently seeking interest from other local restaurants and shops interested in using local produce. For an application to Indianapolis’ only urban CSA, please email Matthew Jose at growyerown@gmail.com. Memberships are expected to sell out quickly, so those with interest should make contact soon, Henderson said.