Oasis Urban Farm at Jubilee Community Church What was once a half-acre of vacant land behind Jubilee Community Church in North St. Louis now sits a hub of local, organic food production, community collaboration and native habitat. The project, Jubilee Oasis Farm, was established in 2018 and is led by Jubilee Community Church and its volunteers. A 150,000-gallon cistern, funded through the St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District’s Project Clear Program, captures rainfall from the church’s rubber roof to irrigate the urban farm and orchard, and keeps rainwater out of the city’s combined sewer system—reducing overflow into the Mississippi River. In partnership with St. Louis businesses, Custom Foodscaping and Good Life Growing, The Nature Conservancy funded the farm’s design, installation, soil, tools, plants and trees. In its first few years the farm has produced, blackberries, bush cherries, tree cherries, pawpaws, jujubes, serviceberries, figs and more. Pastor Andy Krumsieg says they are excited to be able to grow whatever foods and plants they want each year and is just as excited to see the partnerships grow as well. Jubilee Oasis Farm is a demonstration that can be replicated in neighborhoods throughout St. Louis or around the state. It shows what’s possible when there is collaboration across different sectors, across different areas of expertise – when all partners are able to be at the table. The Nature Conservancy has been a collaborator and funding partner of this project from the start. We felt it was important to support this project and the community-driven transformation it could inspire. Updates from 2023: Leadership at Jubilee Community Church summarized 2023 as an average growing year for the project. While they were faced with some challenges, they also had some great successes to report. The need for volunteers to help maintain the garden is always there, but this year the farmer who helps maintain a portion of the property was away on National Guard duty and the group felt the void. Plans to help build the volunteer program for 2024 are underway. On a positive note, they were able to grow and sell hundreds of beets, figs and jujubes to City Greens Market in The Grove. The produce was superb, and the beets were described as “big and sweet”. The market has already confirmed they would like to continue the partnership this coming growing season. It also proved to be a good season for the garden’s blackberries and bush cherries. The 10 pawpaw trees are maturing as well and are almost over 6’ tall now. They will soon be producing fruit that the group will sell and share with their community. Beyond the food the garden is producing, they are also providing food and habitat for wildlife and pollinators. The farm was designed with a natural fence berm of wildflowers that surrounds the property. This past year the wildflowers were able to really mature and should be even better next year. The group is hoping this habitat will make it possible to incorporate a beehive and start honey production in the future. Learn more about TNC’s partnership with Oasis Urban Farm. Listen to Growing an Oasis in North St. Louis. An episode of It’s in Our Nature.
Photos top to bottom: Underground cistern © Jubilee Community Church; Blackberries © Doyle Murphy /TNC; Volunteers in the garden © Doyle Murphy /TNC
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