Tucked away off Main Street in College Park, Georgia, not far from the train tracks that run through the city a few miles south of Atlanta, is a three-story Victorian home with a wraparound porch and narrow driveway. A few times a month an unassuming “free food” sign is posted out front.
The driveway leads to a backyard agricultural oasis of sorts, with 5 acres of tomatoes, sweet potatoes and other fruits and vegetables planted throughout. Near a large array of 32 solar panels are sunflowers as tall as most people. Hoop houses, large greenhouse-like tents, nurture more crops. Beehives are toward the back.
Here is the home of the Metro Atlanta Urban Farm, a living demonstration of sustainability that provides a bounty of free produce, community garden space and agricultural workshops for its neighbors.
College Park and East Point have numerous census tracts where more than 33% of the population lives at least a half mile from a supermarket, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. These tracts are more colloquially known as food deserts.
The Urban Farm received a federal grant of nearly $300,000 last year to boost its educational programs and help increase access to fresh foods in underserved areas and promote careers in agriculture.
“What the grant is doing is to help me keep my doors open,” said Bobby Wilson, the nonprofit farm’s CEO and co-founder in 2009 by Wilson and his wife Margarett.
Last week, Wilson and and his team set up a free food stand outside Atlanta Good Shepherd Community Church in Atlanta’s West End. The farm also has regular food giveaways on-site, attracting dozens of neighbors.
At this giveaway, two plastic tables laden with the farm’s apples, onions, and cabbages were offered to as many as 60 people who came by. They were also welcome to free meats, boxes of Clif energy bars, bagged chips and water. Recipients walked back to their cars or back down the block, carrying paper bags full of food.
One West End resident, Mia Reid, saw the stand from the Interstate 20 overpass by the church, then pulled in and loaded up a food bag. While there, she talked with Wilson about wanting to home grow food. Reid, who says she has dreams of starting her own farm, said she will visit the Metro Atlanta Urban Farm to start learning.
“Just being out in the community and him willing to take the time to speak with me even though he’s busy,” Reid said, “it just speaks volumes about who Mr. Bobby is, and I appreciate it.”
While the farm’s grant project is just kicking off, Wilson’s name and operation are well-known across the urban agriculture landscape. The USDA’s Urban Grower’s webpage features a picture of Wilson with USDA employees. Wilson was honored as a CNN Hero in 2022, and promotional posters from the honor are sprinkled across the farm.
Arthur L. Tripp Jr., director of Georgia’s Farm Service Agency, recalls hearing of “the infamous Bobby Wilson” back in Washington, D.C., where Tripp worked for U.S. Rep. David Scott, D-Atlanta, on agricultural policy issues.
“When we were discussing urban agriculture, the gentleman Bobby Wilson continued to come to the forefront because of his expertise and experience in the field,” Tripp said. Tripp says Wilson has a penchant for cultivating community by making visitors feel welcome.
Sharonte Williams, management and program analyst for the USDA’s Urban Agriculture and Innovation Office, visited the farm in June to check on the grant project, which started up this spring.
“I am looking forward to seeing what they will accomplish between now and the next year,” Williams said.
