Urban farming is often heralded as a practical solution to food deserts, providing fresh produce to communities where unjust urban planning and policy have limited access to nutritious options. But urban farms can also sow seeds that grow far beyond the garden beds.

In Baltimore’s Curtis Bay neighborhood, Filbert Street Garden is showing the power of community-led transformation. Once an overgrown lot, it has evolved into a vibrant community hub, thanks to the dedication of Black farmers like Brittany Coverdale, whose passion for racial and environmental justice led her to the garden coordinator role at Filbert Street Garden.

Raised by her grandmother, who instilled in her a deep connection to the earth, Coverdale recognized that traditional agricultural programs often lacked the cultural relevance needed to engage communities of color.

By engaging directly with community members, she ensures that the garden grows not just food but also relationships and cultural understanding. When the local Latino population began to increase, Coverdale didn’t impose a pre-set agenda; she asked residents what they wanted to see in the garden. This responsiveness has made the garden a reflection of the community’s diverse heritage, cultivating crops that are meaningful to its people.

Our cities are facing crises of inequality, disconnection and shifting cultural identity. Urban farms have become rare “third places” where ancestral knowledge is reclaimed, where neighbors build powerful networks and where the land serves as a living classroom. The significance of these farms is not measured by the pounds of produce harvested but by the lives they touch and the communities they transform.

In Northeast Baltimore, the 10-acre initiative BLISS Meadows – or Baltimore Living In Sustainable Simplicity — has turned a vacant property into a space for healing generational wounds. Founded by Atiya Wells, a pediatric nurse who noticed a lack of representation in nature-based programs, BLISS Meadows serves as a bridge reconnecting Black families to the natural world. Wells understands that historical traumas have alienated communities of color from land-based practices, and she seeks to change that narrative. By creating a green space within walking distance for many residents, she makes nature accessible and relatable. BLISS Meadows offers educational programs, summer camps and spaces for indigenous rituals, all aimed at fostering a sense of belonging and stewardship.

The impact is palpable. Neighbors who once didn’t know each other now collaborate and support one another, strengthening the community network. Social events like the Mother’s Day Tea Party help rebuild trust and solidarity among residents who have shared the same streets for years but lacked opportunities for meaningful connection.

In Farring-BayBrook Park, the Black Butterfly Teaching Farm operates under the ethos that farming is an act of social justice. Supported by the Farm Alliance of Baltimore, the farm serves as a living classroom where sustainable agriculture meets community activism.

The commercial and teaching farm hosts a training program and is developing a business incubator model. The team acknowledges the skilled ancestral farmers who were denied ownership and control over their work, and emphasizes the need to humanize farming.

“Because we are so removed from food production, people forget that it is a highly skilled profession,” says Denzel Mitchell, executive director of the Farm Alliance of Baltimore.

By existing visibly within the community, the Black Butterfly Teaching Farm invites residents to witness and participate in training opportunities focused on ethical and sustainable urban agriculture practices. That’s especially significant in Black communities where historical traumas have stigmatized farming.

What unites these urban farms is their intentional presence within the neighborhoods they serve. They eliminate barriers to access, making it possible for residents to engage with nature and agriculture without leaving their communities. This proximity is crucial in cities where green spaces are often scarce and inaccessible to those who need them most.

That’s the beauty of urban agriculture: it’s happening where you live. This immediacy allows for spontaneous interactions, knowledge sharing and the gradual rebuilding of trust between residents and the land. It transforms passive green spaces into active sites of community engagement, cultural expression and collective resilience.

It’s time we broaden our understanding of what urban farms can offer. While addressing food insecurity is undeniably important, these spaces’ cultural and social dimensions are equally vital. They serve as platforms for cultural preservation, environmental education and community organization. They help residents reconnect with traditions, develop new skills and foster relationships that strengthen the social fabric.

By recognizing and supporting these spaces, we invest in a future where communities are not just surviving but thriving — culturally, socially and environmentally.