Every Saturday this summer, from 10 am to 3 pm, visitors to the Eco3 Urban Farm  come to learn how to compost food waste, grow home gardens, and harvest wild berries. These fun, educational, family forward activities are part of a summer event series called Saturdays at the Farm, and they are all connected under one topic: food systems.

In a food system food needs to be grown, processed, transported, distributed, prepared, consumed, and disposed. Greenhouse gasses (that trap the sun's heat and contribute to climate change) are created in each of these steps. Nearly one-third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are linked to our food system!   

The Farm is just one aspect of food systems work at Ecolibrium3, a nonprofit based in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. For example, residents of Lincoln Park have been advocating for a neighborhood grocery store for many years, and now Ecolibrium3 is taking steps toward establishing a small grocery store in the neighborhood. Ecolibrium3 is also planning a community kitchen space where food preparation classes could take place, other organizations or food entrepreneurs could prepare food, and people could gather to share meals. The Eco3 Urban Farm is the first of these food systems projects.   

The Farm is located at Lake Superior College. Lake Superior College (LSC) leases the site to Ecolibrium3. While Ecolibrium3 runs farm operations and programs, LSC students have access to this functioning, sustainable growing environment for learning opportunities. In addition to growing produce, Ecolibrium3 hosts educational events and programs.   

The Farm is also a USDA People’s Garden,  part of a nation-wide effort to develop more diverse and resilient local food systems and empower communities to address issues like nutrition access and climate change. Food systems are an important part of environmental sustainability. In fact, 12% of Duluth’s greenhouse gas emissions were related to food and agriculture in 2020, according to the Duluth Citizens’ Climate Action Plan (DCCAP). The DCCAP is a guide for helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Duluth, including making our food systems more sustainable. It also helps guide the work at the Eco3 Urban Farm, especially community events like Saturdays at the Farm.  

Saturdays at the Farm focuses on simple actions to make our food systems more sustainable and climate-friendly. Every week, volunteers and community members pick berries and vegetables to take home; getting food from local farms can be better for the environment than buying food that was grown far away. The Farm also composts food waste; composting helps make our soil healthier, and it keeps trash out of the landfill.

Staff are also working on designs to make sure people of different ages, backgrounds, cultures, and abilities can enjoy the Farm. For example, building raised garden beds makes it easier for older adults to tend to plants. Updating the pathways around the Farm allows wheelchair users to move around easily. This makes the Farm a better place for everyone, and also means the Farm will be more prepared to support the community in case of extreme weather or other climate emergencies. In this way, the climate action goals are helping guide work at the Eco3 Urban Farm.   

In addition to Saturdays at the Farm, volunteers and community members have many other reasons to visit. University extension classes have been held at the Farm. Other nonprofit organizations also partner with the Farm to volunteer, learn, collaborate on activities, and use the growing space. Local schools have also visited: in May, Lincoln Park Middle School brought the seventh grade students for a Farm to School field trip. With all these events, the Eco3 Urban Farm provides food, fun and learning for the community.   Volunteering at the Farm is a great way to enjoy fresh air, meet new friends, and learn something new! You are invited to join the fun throughout the summer.

Every Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm, the Farm is open to visitors of all ages. From 1 to 2 pm, there are even family-forward activities provided free of charge. To join the fun, you do not need to register or have any experience. Simply come to the Eco3 Urban Farm any Saturday. Bring sun protection, water and lunch or a snack, and wear closed-toed shoes. The ground is uneven in spots, so please also bring a mobility aid, like a walking stick, if needed. This program runs all summer long, until September 30.

To learn more, visit Ecolibrium3.org/farm/. Updates on classes and activities are also posted to Ecolibrium3’s Instagram and Facebook pages. You can follow those by searching for @ecolibrium3.    Saturdays at the Farm provides fun, connection, and learning for all ages. Getting involved in local food systems is a great way to make Duluth a climate-friendly community. It is an important part of creating more sustainable food systems in our community. We hope to see you there!   

Teresa Bertossi is the Director of Community Food Systems for Ecolibrium3, helping to coordinate and manage the organization’s resilient food systems work. Teresa previously worked as an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth and has over 13 years of experience in higher education teaching environment and sustainability, geography, food systems, justice, and ecological economics courses. She also formerly served as Director of Community Outreach, Education, and Research at the UMD Land Lab and Sustainable Agriculture Project. She has experience outside of academia in sustainable agriculture, community food systems, endangered species management, and water quality. With family roots in generational poverty, she is especially excited about her work with Ecolibrium3’s poverty alleviation and community resilience efforts.