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Mineral Springs

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Mineral Springs Avenue Urban Agriculture Demonstration Site

This strategy is transforming a formerly blighted block into a significant scale urban agriculture site for residents of the south side. The site incorporates planting beds, rain gardens, a small orchid and future expansion space and was designed using permaculture principles. The demonstration site models best practices in growing food in urban conditions. The raised beds and heavy layer of wood chips mitigate the effects of possible soil contaminants reaching the crops.

The purpose of the rain garden is to mitigate the effects of excessive stormwater and runoff. The City of Youngstown is plagued by combined sewer overflows during excessive rain events. This problem results in the drainage of raw sewage into waterways. The challenge of vacant land in the city serves as an opportunity to mitigate the impact of stormwater runoff and thus combined sewer issues.

Five blighted structures covering seven vacant lots have been removed to provide a site for the project and will be expanded to fourteen lots, as the remaining five vacant structures are deconstructed. An urban 4-H group, the Idora Wildcats, was developed and provides an opportunity for urban minority youth to learn the skills, teamwork, and responsibility associated with successful food production and beekeeping. The site will serve as a social connector and resource for access to fresh healthy food.