Urban Community Agri-Nomics (UCAN)

Due to the substantial increase in requests for youth engagement and programming Ucan increased its offering of program services and training. We expanded our apiary from two beehive to seven. This expansion included the need not only to purchase bees, construct hives but also to purchase protective clothing for youth and adults. Not only did the increase in demand for youth services necessitate the addition of more garden beds but also the addition of a large greenhouse for production of plants and an exposure to diversity of vegetables. More fruit trees were added to the orchard and pollinators and native fruit trees were planted throughout the forest to add non-traditional education and training services. One of the biggest additions was the construction and subsequent teaching of high tunnel agriculture.

Knowledgeable contractors and staff are an integral part of our ability to provide quality services; researched, best practice techniques. Having staff is an expensive luxury. Two full time and three part-time employees paid a living wage (although still below market value) is costly when one factor in local, state and federal taxes and mandates. The need for skilled contractor in the construction of facilities/buildings, environmental management and delivery of services is unquestionable. It is only because of grants and donations that we are able to afford this much needed support. Capacity building grant funding and unrestricted donations made this possible.

Our infrastructure rebuilding/repurposing initiatives continues with the addition of more walking trails for programming and healthy environments that provide access to open green spaces. Trail maintenance is ongoing. With the completion of the millhouse we are now able to provide training in food preparation and preservation. Having hvac, an equipped kitchen, bathroom and meeting spaces, the catawba trail farm is now able to host and serve year-round. We are well on our way in repurposing an old corn crib into an intergeneration house; a place for the generations to learn to value each other and engage in oral history, the art of storytelling and traditionally interactive skill building. Since all of our Community garden beds are utilized by local residents Ucan invested in the construction of a 32'x71' high tunnel thereby allowing us to introduce another agriculture method, to have fresh produce to donate to those facing food insecurity and to create more self-sustaining support of the organization.