CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — The conversations among the men cultivating the fields of a Cleveland urban farm are all positive as the sure-handed workers labor among the kale, corn, broccoli, collard greens, peppers, and other agricultural yields. There is a sense of excitement for the men, most of whom are volunteers, because they are not only seeing growth in the fields, but growth in themselves.
The Rid-All Farm is a success story in an area of Cleveland sadly referred to as the "Forgotten Triangle" because it has long seen a drain of residents whose absences were fueled by foreclosure of properties.
It was into this area in 2009 Randell McShepard, Damien Forshe, and Keymah Durden walked through the area but with a vision of turning it into a working farm and also to raise the standards of living of people. Standing in the middle of the successful farm, McShepard was philosophical. "Too many people in our communities are dying way too young because they're not eating healthy, so it became a mission for us to try to reclaim our communities, make our communities healthy, and teach people the importance of eating healthy food, and to give them access to healthy food," he said.
Thus, the idea of a farm to raise quality vegetables and fruits was born.
Ten years later, McShepard walked through the furrows of agriculture, pointing to the various vegetables growing in the soil. But it has not be an easy job for the six employees and many volunteers who work the farm.
They went to Cleveland City Hall and began the process of obtaining the foreclosed land. When the idea of such a venture began, McShepard and the two co-founders had to first cart away tons of trash tossed in the area by illegal dumpers. To their surprise, what they uncovered was Fort Avenue, an asphalted Cleveland street which was clogged under debris. Although the street was on maps of the city, the short street itself had disappeared from view. The farm and street are just a short distance from the intersection of East 82nd Street and Kinsman Avenue in an area which has been forgotten by many.
The founders of Rid-All, taking its name from an old company when one of the owners decided to venture into urban farming, has brought significant change to the old neighborhood. Lining the now-uncovered Fort Avenue where it intersects with East 82nd Street is a huge compost area where 50,000 pounds of waste from Cleveland area food banks is tossed with wood chips to make soil, later used in the growing process on the farm. Some of the soil under the name Black Gold is sold to gardeners.
Most of the vegetables are grown under the cover of greenhouses which allows the growing season of Northern Ohio to be lengthened.
Marc White, a former fashion designer who has worked for Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee, Wynton Marsalis, and the late Whitney Houston, is the operations manager of the farm which has grown from an initial 1.3 to 8 acres.
White is a farmer who speaks in philosophical terms. "The farm is a catalyst for healing," he said, standing among furrows of growing kale. "Our community needs healing; people need healing."
The Rid-All Farm has helped the healing of the community which is nestled against RTA Rapid Transit tracks and is a short piece away from the train tracks of a freight line. "We are re-energizing this area," said White. "It was once dead; now it's come back alive."
Aside from the produce in the ground and the orchard of thirty peach trees and raspberry bushes, there are two buildings which house fish tanks. Rid-All is also a fish farm. In the tanks are more than 40,000 Tilapia which will eventually be sold to restaurants and residents.
There are plans to add a restaurant on the land. Already, there are visitors. McShepard estimates about 5,000 people a year visit the farm for various community events. "We have even had weddings on our farm," smiled McShepard. He said visitors have also come from the White House, other cities, and a few other nations. The idea is to find our how the farm got started and see what keeps it going.
McShepard said half of its income comes from the money it generates in its sale of produce and fish. The other half comes from charitable contributions because of the community-minded projects of the farm. Schoolchildren often visit the farm to learn about where food originates and learn how to work in the fields. The farm has also played host to concerts and picnics.
Several U.S. military veterans volunteer on the farm. They work the fields, planting, cultivating, and bringing in the harvest. As several of them gathered under the spreading branches of trees, the veterans spoke openly about why they volunteer.
"The soil here is not only giving us life, but it's giving us an opportunity to share our interest and the good things that we receive from it," said Walt Collins, a combat veteran of the war in Vietnam. "More vets are coming here have invisible scars, have PTSD (post traumatic stress syndrome), or have considered suicide," said Collins.
As he spoke other veterans listened intently and nodded in agreement. "When you come to the grounds of Rid-All, it's a sense of peace that comes about you," added Lavel Henderson. "It;s a sense of tranquility."
Again, there were nods of approval by the other veterans, some of whom fought in the Persian Gulf wars or in Vietnam. "Veterans themselves are finding out they can tell their stories and they can also reconnect with the land again."
The aspect of what land can give has been a common theme. Not only have the founders of the farm made an impact in the lives of people by providing healthy foods or by giving people opportunities to work in the fields, but the farm is helping brick back a community.
The Rid-All Urban Farm moved into an area sadly referred to as the "Forgotten Triangle," but the farm is making a memorable impact on the community. The farm and its operators are fighting to make the area memorable and not forgotten anymore.
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