Photo: Mission of Mary Cooperative
Mission of Mary Cooperative in Dayton, Ohio, was developed by Catholic laypeople in the Twin Towers neighborhood where they faced two major issues: abandoned land and limited access to fresh, healthy produce. They decided to use the vacant church land they owned for urban gardens that would feed the community. In 2009, they planted a single garden. Today, they manage a network of six massive urban farming plots across four acres, growing over 75 different varieties of fruits and vegetables. Every year, the gardens yield an estimated 65,000 pounds of produce for community members. The organization also has a community-supported agriculture program to sell produce to local consumers, as well as rented community garden beds, educational offerings, and a Neighborhood Food Council. Mission of Mary also donates much of its food, or offers it on a sliding scale for families of all income levels.
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