At the North Richmond Farm, every seed planted and every vegetable harvested is part of a larger vision: creating a local food system where fresh, healthy, sustainably grown food is accessible to everyone in our community.
As the farm continues to grow, Urban Tilth has developed a new U-Pick Area: a dedicated space on the farm where community members can visit Monday – Friday from 10 AM – 4 PM, harvest fresh produce, connect with the land, and help care for this shared community resource.
Over the years, as more community members have visited and volunteered at the farm, we have heard an important question:
“If this is a community farm, why can’t people pick everything growing here?”
The answer is rooted in making sure the food grown at the farm reaches as many people as possible.
Each week, produce grown at the North Richmond Farm supplies five Free Farm Stands across Richmond. These farm stands provide fresh, healthy food to low-income residents and families who struggle to afford nutritious groceries, including many who may not have the transportation, time, or ability to visit the farm themselves.
Our harvests also support our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, through which hundreds of families receive boxes of fresh, locally grown produce; most at no cost or at a reduced cost.
Because these harvests are carefully planned to meet community demand, produce that is picked unexpectedly can reduce the amount of food available for CSA members and Free Farm Stand distributions.
The creation of a dedicated U-Pick Area offers a balanced solution that supports both community access and food security. It allows neighbors to harvest fresh produce directly from the farm while ensuring that the crops designated for our Free Farm Stands and CSA program remain available to sustain these vital community food programs.
A Community Space, Built by the Community
Launching this August, the U-Pick Area will begin with a series of Tending Together community workdays held on the first and third Fridays of each month through November.
These hands-on gatherings are about more than preparing beds and planting food. Community members will help shape the space from the ground up while learning sustainable and regenerative growing practices alongside Urban Tilth farm educators. Participants will explore topics like starting seeds, irrigation, soil health, seasonal planning, and proper harvesting techniques, all while building a relationship with the land and with one another.
The Tending Together days also give neighbors the opportunity to develop a sense of belonging in the space. As they help prepare beds, plant crops, and care for the garden, they’ll learn the practices that keep the farm thriving while helping establish a new community resource that everyone can enjoy.
As the space grows, the U-Pick Area will become a self-serve community resource during the farm’s regular operating hours 10 AM – 4 PM. Visitors will be able to harvest produce while following simple multilingual guidelines that help care for the space and allow Urban Tilth to track harvests, ensuring the garden continues to thrive for everyone.
Join Us in Growing the New U-Pick Area
The new U-Pick Area is currently taking shape in the North Richmond Farm, where new growing beds are being built and prepared for planting. While the space will continue to evolve over the coming months, its purpose is already clear: to create a welcoming place where neighbors don’t just receive healthy food; they help grow it.
The U-Pick Area is not just about growing more food. It’s about growing stronger relationships between people and the land, creating opportunities for neighbors to learn together, and building a food system where everyone has a role in cultivating a healthier, more connected community.
Community members are invited to join Tending Together days to help prepare beds, improve soil, plant crops, and steward this shared resource for years to come. The first and third Fridays of each month from 10:00:00 AM to 12:00:00 PM at the North Richmond Farm are the best opportunity to get involved, learn alongside Urban Tilth staff, and help shape the future of this exciting new space.
Come Visit the U-Pick Area!
1. Drop in Monday – Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM
2. Attend Tending Together every First and Third Friday of the month
Stop by North Richmond Farm for drop-in hours or a Tending Together event to harvest something fresh and spend time on the land.
Help This Community Space Keep Growing
Your gift helps us grow and share fresh food through the U-Pick Area, Free Farm Stands, and other community programs.