SitemapThe Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp.’s Iron Roots Urban Farm is earning clientele for its organically raised produce, including flowers that are edible.
“We’re not certified as organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but we’re known for using all organic practices,” said Jodi A. Vencik, lead urban farmer at Iron Roots.
Located on 1.7 acres at 822 Billingsgate Ave. in Youngstown’s Idora Neighborhood, Iron Roots has four greenhouses and a demonstration kitchen where cooking classes and other activities take place.
“All of our plants are started from seeds in the kitchen,” said Vencik, a graduate of Ohio State University’s Agriculture Technical Institute in Wooster. A YNDC employee, Vencik was raised in North Lima and comes from a long line of farming families.
Iron Roots has been conducting plant sales on Saturdays since April 30. The final plant sales for the season are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and June 25. Cash, checks, debit cards and Ohio electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards are accepted.
And, only at the Idora Farmers Market, 2600 Glenwood Ave., which operates from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays through Oct. 4, there is a double-up EBT program whereby customers who use their EBT cards for up to $20 worth of merchandise qualify for $40 worth of tokens to spend on fresh produce, fruits, jams and jellies and baked goods at the market.
Vencik noted that items available at the farmers market vary from season to season.
At the Iron Roots plant sales, plants available include a variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers; tomatoes, including heirloom tomatoes; and strawberries, and four different blueberry plants that bear fruit at different times of the season.
Vencik said Iron Roots also is becoming known for its colorful mixes of carrots, beets and lettuce.
The carrots are orange, red, yellow and white; the beets are blond, magenta and burgundy, deep purple, pink and purple, and orange and purple combined that look like they are tie-dyed. The lettuce blend contains six different types of leafs, Vencik said.
“Our primary purpose is to educate and train the community about why they should grow their own produce and/or purchase locally grown food. The taste is incomparable, it is healthy, and it saves money,” Vencik said.
Also, she said, gardening is good exercise and purchasing from a local farmer supports the local economy.
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