More than 120,000 people in Jefferson County experience food insecurity, with limited access to fresh, locally grown produce, especially in the West End (Dare to Care, 2019). Urban growers in these communities often face barriers such as lack of infrastructure, tools, certifications, and technical support needed to scale production or meet food safety standards.

 In response, Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension Community Resource Development Program launched the Urban Growers Program in the summer of 2025. Designed to support both aspiring and experienced urban farmers, the program equips a 30-member cohort with the knowledge and resources needed to grow nutritious food right where it’s needed most.

The program is supported by a USDA grant led by Dr. Maheteme Gebremedhin, the vision of Program Leader Gill Finley, and local facilitation provided by Kelly Rawalt, Local Food Systems Coordinator. The curriculum includes four workshops throughout the summer, each pairing classroom instruction with hands-on field experience. 

The first workshop, held on May 17, 2025, focused on soil health and was a resounding success. Twenty-seven participants began the day with an educational session led by Jacob Brown, which included a tabletop soil health exercise, group discussion, and remarks from Program Leader Finley.

 Participants spent the rest of the morning at Parkland Community Garden, where cohort members were joined by four community gardeners for a live soil sampling demonstration. 

 Participants then practiced sampling from garden beds, producing labeled samples that were later submitted for free lab analysis benefiting the community gardeners. 

The session concluded with Dr. Alhagie Cham leading a composting demonstration using the garden’s compost tumbler.

One participant shared, “I really, really loved getting INTO the community! Being able to meet Miss Mary and work in her garden, educating her / ourselves on the process of soil testing, discussing composting, all things outdoors, and truly represented community in my opinion. Being able to see that when there is a desire, there is almost always a path forward. I cannot wait to see what else we will be able to accomplish in our time as a collective.”

To evaluate the workshop’s impact, participants completed a pre- and post-assessment. Results showed a significant increase in knowledge and confidence, particularly in key areas such as compost use, soil structure, drainage, and sustainable vegetable production. Every participant demonstrated improvement, with the greatest gains in soil management decision-making, identifying soil compaction, and applying knowledge to food production.

These results suggest that even a single workshop can significantly boost readiness for sustainable production among emerging urban growers, marking a strong start to KSU’s Urban Growers Program.”