ECO City Farms

ECO City Farms is an urban teaching and learning farm in Prince George's County that grows great food, farms and farmers in ways that protect, restore and sustain the natural environment and the health of local communities. Working with area children, youth and adults, ECO educates and trains the next generation of urban farmers, eaters and environmental activists. We envision a just, vigorous and sustainable food system in the Chesapeake foodshed with ample fertile soil, quality environments, ecological and cultural diversity, sustainable incomes for farmers and food workers, and access to nutritious, healthy food for all. ECO is a place-based institution with farms that are deeply rooted in two working-class Port Towns communities. We work to address historic injustices while advancing inter-generational and multi-cultural collaboration and respect for all people, species and the environment we share. We increase access to fresh healthy affordable food, and restore the dignity of farmwork and the land itself in a society where manual labor is often stigmatized, green space is often undervalued, eating over-processed food with minimal nutritional value is often the norm, and unhealthy environmental conditions too often prevail. ECO operates two farms - the Edmonston Farm and the Bladensburg Farm. At both we produce sustainably-grown vegetables and healthy soil through intensive urban farming replicating a healthy ecosystem. Our work is focused on providing sustainably grown food, nutrition education, farm training and advocacy for food justice to those in our immediate Port Towns communities of Prince George's County, Md. Our Farm Apprenticeships offer hands-on involvement in our farm and composting operation, giving people a genuine understanding of, and stake in, our work and its success. We hold weekly volunteer hours on Saturdays from March to November and partner with area groups such as the Port Towns Youth Council to engage summer youth apprentices. We teach an Urban Agriculture courses at the farm with Prince George's Community College. Prince George's County residents can take advantage of our winter and summer CSA programs, and our food is also sold year round at the Riverdale Park Farmers Market.