"All life is Inter-Related…Whatever affects one directly… Affects us all indirectly" — MLK (1963)
Volunteering Since 2009
Over 14 Years of Experience
Promoting Urban Economic Development
Mission, Vision & History
Mission: Creating Affordable Housing & Creating Economic Development
To create affordable home ownership and increase the supply of locally grown vegetables for Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) families by using Urban Agriculture as an engine for Economic Development that promotes education and employment opportunities for residents in under-served communities throughout the United States.
Vision: Closed-loop Urban Agricultural Supply Chain Network
To create an Urban Agricultural closed-loop supply chain network that provides locally grown fresh, healthy, affordable produce and healthy grab-and-go semi-prepared meals for cook-at-home options and other locally sourced healthier food alternatives to reduce hunger and improve the health and wellness of residents living in under-served communities throughout Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and across the country.
History:
The Douglas Foundation International (TDFI) was established in 2007 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization by a group of American diplomats assigned to the United States Embassy and expatriates living and working in South Africa. The organization was created to provide long- and short-term educational opportunities to needy South African students, encourage youth development, and promote economic growth. In 2008 the organization was honored at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., with the Avis Bohlen Award. This award honors the accomplishments of diplomats whose relations with the American and foreign communities overseas have done the most to advance the interests of the United States.
Since 2015, The Douglas Foundation (TDFI) has been developing urban community gardens in Bronzeville, a historically Black neighborhood on the Near Eastside in Columbus, Ohio, in collaboration with Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT) and The Ohio State University, Franklin County Extension program. This collaboration has joined in the fight to improve health and wellness, end hunger, and eliminate food deserts and food insecurity for families in this historical community of Bronzeville.
In 2022, the organization led the efforts of establishing the Berrytown Community Land Trust, located in a historic Black community in eastern Jefferson County, founded in 1874 by Alfred Berry, a formerly enslaved Kentuckian. This 501(c)(3) organization's mission is to acquire, own, lease, and manage land, houses, and commercial real estate and to construct and rehabilitate affordable homes for ownership and rentals for low to moderate-income families and to increase the supply of affordable fresh vegetables.
In collaboration with the Berrytown CLT, The Douglas Foundation has negotiated with the City of Louisville to acquire 2 acres to construct The Berrytown Center for Urban Farming, which will be located in the Berrytown community and will serve as an urban farm to increase the supply of locally grown vegetables for Berrytown residents and neighboring communities throughout Metro East in Louisville, Kentucky.
Our Urban Agricultural Projects
Center for Urban Farming
Will feature a 12'x24' Smart Greenhouse that is entirely automated, run by algorithms that ensure optimal conditions for plant growth by adjusting inputs like roof ventilation, artificial lighting, and heating, that will grow starter vegetable plants year-round to serve as a closed-loop-supply-chain for Urban Farming operations.
Our innovative greenhouse systems are designed to maintain a perfect microclimate temperature and use an advanced irrigation system to promote water conservation and a hybrid off-the-grid power system using solar and wind energy to produce electricity, thereby reducing the carbon footprint and saving on electricity bills.
Farming Production Facility
Our second High Tunnel is a hydroponic system incorporating all the same technologies as our semi-autonomous system but without using soil.
Plants are grown in a water-rich solution containing all the necessary nutrients for growth, producing higher crop yields in smaller spaces. Hydroponic Microfarming will be used to grow plants that require more light than other crops, such as lettuce and herbs.
This system will produce more food per square foot than any other farming technique, with many benefits, including increased output, decreased cost, and faster growing times.
Microfarm Training Academy
A free one-year educational and training academy to include online and in-classroom sessions and hands-on training in Microfarming and commercial horticulture will be established at our Center for Urban Farming facilities.
This permanent educational and training academy will support new and beginning urban farmers in the Microfarming production model. This model supports this training using the Semi-automated High-Tec and Hydroponic High Tunnel systems.
We aim to provide beginning farmers with a comprehensive classroom curriculum, including high tunnel management, soil preparation, composting, seeding techniques, irrigation strategies, pest surveillance, mediation, and record-keeping strategies.
The workshop curriculum will include acceptable farming methods and safe food handling practices, small business development and management, and cooperative administration and practices.
Upon completing this one-year training program, graduates will possess the knowledge, skills, and tools to make informed decisions in operating their Microfarm businesses. Graduates can also apply for the Micro-Farm Project and the Micro Lending Program.
Microfarm Project
Our Microfarm project seeks to establish an entry-level commercial farming system for beginning new urban and small farms in specialty crop production. We will achieve this by working closely with communities to assess their readiness and identify assets and social capital necessary to operate the production system and recruit beginning farmers. It also provides a 24-month small business farming training program.
To facilitate training and farm start-up, the project has developed a standard-sized urban Microfarm system of 6,000 – 8,000 square feet of growing area, half of which is contained under a passive solar high tunnel for extended season production.
Our complete Microfarm kit, ready to operate, costs between $35,000-$50,000, depending on site needs. Based on our field and market data projections, these farms have the potential to create more than $40,000.00 a year net income for Micro Farmers that operate them.
The key to Microfarmer's success lies in their participation in an aggregation and marketing cooperative, which provides cooperative members with annual crop plans and a guaranteed market if they follow them.
What is a Microfarm System
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Our Microfarm projects are based on the successful production systems used in Mansfield and Marion, Ohio. These systems have successfully trained new and beginning urban farmers to become commercial producers, helping them to create small farm businesses in their communities and facilitating market collaboration through a farmer-owned aggregation and marketing cooperative.
Farmers’ Cooperative
Micro Lending Program
The cooperative will be central in securing purchasers' and Buyers' contracts and orders, creating a seasonal system-wide crop plan for the Microfarm network, aggregating and distributing crop output selling vegetables year-round to local restaurants, institutions, and consumers. By crop-planning and marketing produce collectively, the cooperative mission is to improve the economic viability of urban Microfarmers and increase the supply of locally grown, high-quality vegetables.
Will seek a Grant from USDA or partner with a local lending institution to fund and manage a no or low-interest $25,000.00 line of credit for three years.
This line of credit will be targeted at the Growers accepted into the Microfarm program and will be used to purchase farming start-up kits, cover overhead, purchase inventory and supplies, pay for equipment repair and upgrade and cover payroll expenses.
Upon completing the Microfarm training program, funds will be converted into a small business unsecured line of credit - terms TBA
Neighborhood Farmers Market & Café
To increase the flow and access to locally grown fresh and healthy food products for Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) families, we will collaborate with local partners to establish a brick-and-mortar grocery store and Café.
The plans for the Market include offering customers access to fresh produce, dairy, and meats. A café will be added to serve coffee, soups, sandwiches, and branded healthy grab-and-go semi-prepared meals for cook-at-home options.
Through this relationship, the Farmers’ Cooperative, with its network of local Microfarmers and its food distribution and closed-loop green supply chain system, will play a central role in supplying the Market with a substantial portion of their fresh seasonal produce as well as branded healthy grab-and-go semi-prepared meals, for cook-at-home options.
Youth Summer Kamp
In collaboration with local churches and the 4-H chapter, a Summer Kamp for 3rd to 5th-graders and middle students will be established, featuring a 4-H Youth Workforce Development model, to identify their life purpose and future career pathway.
Our Urban Agriculture Youth Summer Kamp seeks to create an 8-week camp. The camp will be held at our Urban Farming Operation Center, consisting of a full-scale, fully equipped Greenhouse and Semi-automated High-Tec and Hydroponic High Tunnel systems. The Kamp’s will all carry a one-million-dollar Liability insurance policy to give parents peace of mind and to ensure a safe environment for all students, camp workers, and Volunteers.
To encourage students to consider attending a college or University to pursue a career in Agriculture, Food Production, Logistics, and Transportation, the Douglas Foundation will establish a scholarship fund to be awarded each year to qualified students. Funding for these scholarships will come from a percentage of the crop sales from the Farmers’ Cooperative and Neighborhood Farmers Market & Cafés.
For additional information on our programming or if you would like to join our Urban Agriculture closed-loop supply network, please feel free to contact us.