In keeping with the spirit of my previous posting about Greensburg, KS, in this posting I am submitting the neighborhood where I live, Worthington Hills, as a set of business ideas from which to initiate the business start-up process. The rectangle in the picture below demarks Worthington Hills, which is 14 miles straight north of downtown Columbus, Ohio. This area comprises nearly a section of land (640 acres) and is home to over 1100 families according to the Worthington Hills Civic Association (WHCA). Also included within and near this footprint is the Worthington Hills Country Club which sports an 18-hole golf course with full-service clubhouse, tennis courts, fitness center, and swimming pool. In addition, there are two elementary schools -- Granby and Worthington Hills -- McCord Middle School, and Worthington Kilbourne High School in the area, all of which are well-regarded by parents. Roger Beck, whose innovative Home B.A.S.E. program was referenced in a previous posting entitled "Applying Skills and Innovation to Local Food Systems", is on the faculty at Worthington Kilbourne High School.

All homeowners are involved in non-food "urban agriculture" by growing shade trees, ornamentals, shrubbery, turfgrass, flowers, ground covers, and landscaping plants of all types. Of course, there is some food production in the neighborhood with fruit trees, vegetables and herbs wherein the harvest is consumed by the owner, but these instances are infrequent. In the main, input and operating costs for urban agriculture are high and the harvest is not used or is discarded as is the case with mowed lawns. The value for the customer is in avoidance of issues stemming from non-compliance to property and yard maintenance codes and personal aesthetics.

Proficiency in non-food urban agriculture is supported by the Worthington Hills Garden Club whose members are excellent resources for local gardeners regardless of experience and know-how.

In an appreciation for the value of local foods, the Worthington Hills Civic Association sponsors a CSA affiliation with The Wayward Seed Farm, a "bio-intensive, organic method farm specializing in heirloom vegetables" located in Marysville, OH about 25 miles west of Worthington Hills. Those who participate in the CSA are paying $900 / season (7 June - 22 November) for weekly deliveries of vegetables sufficient for a family of four.

The neighborhood is served by a locally-owned, independent grocery, the Worthington Hills Market. Included in their mission is a commitment to draw upon local suppliers of fresh food. Given their intentions and location, establishing a technology transfer agreement with Cheyney University to construct a large-scale hydroponics facility for herbs and fish production adjacent to the store would be a worthwhile consideration. Cheyney has experience in this technology application through a close collaboration with Michael Derro of Herban Farms, LLC. Such an operation would be a significant differentiator for the grocery.

Virginia Homes continues to build in the Oldstone Crossing community adjacent to Worthington Hills on the south. The soft housing market has slowed new construction leaving a majority of the lots unsold. This opens the possibility of negotiating the use of a lot or multiple lots for generating renewable energy, food production in a greenhouse, or showcasing a uniquely-constructed LEED-certified home complete with a renewable energy and greenhouse "packages".

Green Energy Ohio "is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting environmentally and economically sustainable energy policies and practices in Ohio. GEO promotes renewable energy (solar, wind, biomass & low-impact hydro) statewide by acting as a clearinghouse to inform Ohioans on sustainable energy." GEO's headquarters is located in the same Olentangy Valley Shopping Center complex as the Worthington Hills Market. Given their advocacy role on renewable energy, they would be a good ally in green business / local food initiatives within the Worthington Hills area. Barry Adler, owner of Rain Fresh Harvests which was showcased in an earlier posting entitled "Rain Fresh Harvests as a Template for Expanding Capacity of Local Food Production in Ohio?", is also the Operations Coordinator for GEO. Perhaps Barry's membership in the OLFSC and what we are about will encourage him to give us the benefit of his experience and insight.

But what is the potential for food production from urban agriculture? Quite a bit, it seems. Greensgrow in Philadelphia is an example. According to an article in the 20 May 2008 edition of the NY Times entitled, "Where Industry Once Hummed, Urban Garden Finds Success", business is good:

"Greensgrow, a one-acre plot of raised beds and greenhouses on the site of a former steel-galvanizing factory, is turning a profit by selling its own vegetables and herbs as well as a range of produce from local growers, and by running a nursery selling plants and seedlings.

The farm earned about $10,000 on revenue of $450,000 in 2007, and hopes to make a profit of 5 percent on $650,000 in revenue in this, its 10th year, so it can open another operation elsewhere in Philadelphia."

And this does not mean the manager is penniless as further evidenced in the same article:

"Although no one at Greensgrow is getting rich from the operation - after 10 years' work, Ms. Corboy is making an annual salary of $65,000 - there is a sense that their time has come."

Further support of the economic viability of local food production through urban agriculture is exemplified by the practical research conducted by Joe Kovack as part of the Ohio Integrated Pest Management program at OSU. Kurt Knebusch gives an overview of the results in his article "More Food Grown Near Home, Less Oil: Ohio State Tests Eco Plots for Small Farms Serving Cities". Dr. Kovack is closing in on his goal of grossing $90,000 / acre. This compares reasonably well with the results of Mary Corboy at Greensgrown, in which the $450,000 revenue included substantial sales of items NOT produced on their one-acre operation.

Can you see similar possibilities for your neighborhood? If so, please submit your idea for a local food system business!