Did you know there’s a farm located right in the heart of downtown Raleigh? 🥬 Well, okay, if we’re being really specific, it’s at the corner of Blount and Franklin streets on the edge of Historic Oakwood and Mordecai, a.k.a. the Person Street Business District.
Founded in 2011, the Raleigh City Farm is a nonprofit organization comprising 1.3 acres + producing seasonal produce throughout the year, including lettuce, herbs, greens, okra, squash, carrots, and flowers. If you’re really looking to #shoplocalraleigh, veggies are sold spring, summer and fall at the weekly farmstand. Save the date: the farmstand reopens in April.
Map courtesy of Raleigh City Farm
The mission of Raleigh City Farm is to reconnect city dwellers with local and sustainable agriculture, and educate visitors about farming practices. Here are just a few of the ways you can get involved —
• Volunteer to support mulching, planting, and harvesting of rows throughout the year • Attend weekly Wine + Weed events, each Wednesday April–October • Join the Cultivator Club (and receive complimentary farmstand items with contributions of $30+)
Among the farm’s sustainability practices are a commitment to regenerative agriculture — such as using compost and wood chips from other local organizations — as well as non-tilling, zero-pesticide use, and nurturing pollinator populations. 🐝 In addition, the farmshare program provides unsold food to local nonprofits like the Interfaith Food Shuttle and A Place at the Table.
Want to take an in-person or virtual tour? The farm supports 11 different agricultural zones, including a food forest, hydroponic greenhouse, rainwater cisterns and gardens, the farm stage pavilion for events, and an apiary.
Use the links below to share this info with the green-thumb folks in your life — or anyone who just loves to know what’s going on in our city.
NEWS NOTES
Weather ○56º | Mostly sunny | 10%chance of rain 🌤️
Development ○ DC-based developer Hoffman & Associates closed on a $70.6 million construction loan to begin the first phase of Seaboard Station – which is slated for completion by the end of 2022. The first phase is located at the corner of Seaboard and Halifax streets and will feature up to seven stories with30,000 square feet of retail space + 300 apartments. 🏗️ (Triangle Business Journal) ○ Beginning August 2022, the Town of Morrisville is planning to completely renovate its current town center into a six-acre, multi-purpose downtown area. The downtown corridor project is estimated to cost around $57.4 million across several phases, with additions planned to includeoffice, retail, and residential spaces + increased parkingandimproved road infrastructure. (CaryCitizen)
Biz ○ The Small Business Association (SBA) has resumed the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), which provides incentives for local businesses to retain workers during the pandemic. The City of Raleigh is hosting an informational webinar today at 10:30 a.m. to provide more details about the application process and loan forgiveness details. Register online here. 🏦 ○ For even more coverage on PPP loans, you can read our previous articles on the RALtoday website here + here. 🏦
Dish ○ “Pimento cheese belongs to all of us.” So begins the entry for NC’s best sandwich in this year’s list from Food & Wine magazine. Taking the gold in our state are Lexington’s Conrad & Hinkle + Kernersville’s Musten & Crutchfield, which have both been sandwichingfor nearly a century. 🥪
Cause ○ DYKit takes four steps to save lives in the fight against COVID-19? If you’ve recovered from the virus, turn a positive into a *positive* by donatingConvalescent Plasma. Schedule a donation appointment at The Blood Connection here. 🩸 Ⓟ
Read ○ Triangle-based author Wesley Hyatt recently published his 10th book — Betty White on TV: From Video Vanguard to Golden Girl — which tells the story of the actress’s 80-year career on television. Did you know? Betty celebrates her 99th birthday on Sunday, Jan. 19.
Edu ○ Tomorrow, Jan. 14 at 9:30 a.m., Wake County Public Schools will host a virtual info fair to introduce local magnet and curriculum enhancement programs. This fair is specifically for middle school students. Register online here. 🎒
TryThis ○ Skip the fridge. Some fruits & veggies last longer on the counter. Find out which ones in the Hungry Harvest Produce Storage Guide. Ⓟ
ForParents ○ Now is the best time to start looking for your ideal summer camps — several popular options around the Triangle are now registering + slots tend to fill up quickly. 🛶 (Triangle on the Cheap)
TheBuy ○ Hey, meat lovers: Meet your new favorite delivery. With ButcherBox, you can spend less time searching for high-quality meat and more time cooking meals at home in the New Year. Bonus: Sign up and get up to 10 lbs of meatfor free. 🥩 Ⓟ
Click the button below for local resources regarding the coronavirus. ⬇️
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#MUSTDO
Learn ○Lunchtime Discovery: The View From Mount Mitchell | Wed., Jan. 13 | 12–1 p.m. | Virtual | Free | APublic Affairs Officer in the US Fish and Wildlife Service Gary Peeples will discuss his research on the rare + endangered species of wildlife found in NC’s Appalachia region.
ForKids ○ History Corner: North Carolina Legends and Folktales | Wed., Jan. 13 | 1–2 p.m. | Virtual | Free | An instructor at the NC Museum of History will read NC folklore stories and teach about notable NC storytellers. 📚
Outdoors ○ Wine & Weeds | Wed., Jan. 13 | 4–6 p.m. | 1321 Athens Dr. | Free | A weekly event where volunteers can drink a complimentary glass of wine while weeding the gardens at the Well Fed Community Garden. 🍷
PlanAhead ○ Preserving the Past: Discussion with Joe McGill, the Slave Dwelling Project | Thu., Jan. 21 | 8 p.m. | Virtual | Free | The City of Raleigh Museum director Ernest Dollar will be speaking with the director of the Slave Dwelling Project Joe McGill about the importance of preserving the historical homes of once enslaved people + its impact on American history.
Disclaimer: It is up to readers’ discretion to determine whether they feel comfortable participating in any mentioned events based on COVID-19 protocols and precautions. If you have questions, please contact the event’s organizers directly.
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#RALcurrent: What we’re watching — Carly is catching up on Monday night’s episode of The Bachelor + Erin is finishing the Karate Kid reboot series Cobra Kai.
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