In 2018, work moved outside. A vineyard was established that spring, becoming one of seven scattered throughout the state included in research trials conducted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Researchers selected nine grape cultivars for evaluation. Master Gardeners are responsible for maintaining the vineyard and collect data on vine vigor, yield, and sugar content. This information is provided to the regional viticulture program specialist to identify those cultivars most suitable for homeowner use.

Rarely watered and never fertilized, the Dallas County vineyard has produced over 2,300 pounds of grapes to date. These high-quality grapes have been used for fresh eating, making wine, and as the main ingredient in Urban County Farm’s 2021 Texas State Fair award-winning jam and jelly.

2018 also saw the initial planting of what would become the orchard. The orchard now includes numerous fig, plum, peach, apricot, and nectarine trees as well as raspberry and blackberry bushes. Even apples are growing there.

The Master Gardener class of 2019 installed a series of public demonstration gardens that spring. Groupings of native and adapted plants, herbs, pollinators, and a food forest have matured nicely and are now PlantTAGG enabled. These gardens have been recognized as certified wildlife habitat and are registered as an official Monarch Waystation. A rose garden and vegetable demonstration beds are also on display. When visitors tour these gardens, they see examples of beautiful, easily cared-for landscapes that conserve and protect natural resources, all achieved following basic Earth-Kind principles.

The veggie farm saw its first harvest in 2019. At that time, the farm consisted of 80 donated “groboxes,” 46 x 40 inch portable raised beds created out of products normally used for packaging and shipping. The farm has expanded every year since, making use of all manner of containers that allow crops to be grown atop an old asphalt parking lot.

January 2020 saw the addition of 83 cattle feed supplement tubs. Interns built twelve 4 x 12 foot raised wooden beds as a class project later that year. The veggie farm received another boost this past March when 5 new and very large wooden raised beds were added. These beds, made possible with financial support from the Ecolab Foundation in the form of a $5,385 grant, provide another 888 square feet of growing space.

The veggie farm has yielded almost 9,000 pounds of produce since its inception, all distributed to kitchens that help keep Dallas County’s homeless and underprivileged population fed. Master Gardeners at Urban County Farm work in conjunction with other civically-minded growers in the area, coordinating crops in an effort to supply kitchens with the widest variety of produce possible.

Once harvested, the produce is sent to Big Tex Urban Farm in Dallas for distribution to kitchens located in Fair Park and south Dallas neighborhoods, impoverished sections of the city known for their large homeless population and a lack of access to fresh, healthy food in general. These kitchens include: the Austin Street Shelter, the Jubilee Park Community Center, Cornerstone Baptist Church, and the Baylor Scott & White Health and Wellness Center at the Juanita J. Craft Recreation Center. Our gardeners take great pride in knowing that food harvested on one day will be on someone’s plate the next.

Urban County Farm’s apiary was established early last summer when two Flow-type hives were stocked with bees mail ordered from Georgia. A third live hive was rescued and added shortly thereafter. Yet another rescued hive, our fourth, arrived just a few weeks ago. All of our bees work very hard to keep the farm and vineyard producing in their own special way.

Bee Team members have learned quite a lot in a short amount of time and have already seen a great deal of success. They were able to harvest the first batches of honey much earlier than anticipated and in larger quantities than expected. The honey was awarded a second place ribbon in the Texas State Fair’s 2021 Black Jar honey competition.

Recently, team leaders at Urban County Farm have been partnering with Dallas County’s Juvenile Department to provide opportunities for area youth to earn required community service hours. Our young helpers have done a great job spreading mulch, filling raised beds, and potting young tomato plants.

Urban County Farm remains a work in progress. This year we had to ramp up our propagation efforts in order to keep pace with our expanding veggie farm. We have started making improvements to our irrigation system. We plan on landscaping the apiary, redesigning our Earth-Kind demonstration bed, and adding new ornamental beds around the barn. We will be looking for ways to increase the orchard’s output and comparing the effects of synthetic and organic fertilizers on Early Girl tomatoes. We anticipate having our largest harvests yet in the vineyard and veggie farm.

As we head into the 2022 growing season, we would like to recognize Dr. Theresa Daniel for her vision; Jeff Raska for his leadership; and all our volunteers for their time, effort, and hard work. Thanks go to the Ecolab Foundation, Dallas Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, John and Cynthia Bowland, and the Dallas Branch of the American Conservation Coalition for their financial support and also to numerous other benefactors for various nonmonetary donations. It takes a village.