Aug 14, 2015

This is the first year in production for the Civic Works’ Real Food Perlman Place farm in Northeast Baltimore. Just over 20 varieties of vegetables, 5 types of fruit, and several herbs and ornamental plants have transformed vacant lots into productive land. According to their website, Civic Works’ Real Food Farms provide pesticide-free fresh food to people in nearby communities, train people for jobs help the watershed and educate local youth.

: Alexander Harrell, production assistant, framed by popcorn plants. Civic Works’ Real Food Farm grows produce at their Perlman Place farm, located between North Avenue and Sinclair Lane. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Red silk emerges from an ear of popcorn. Civic Works’ Real Food Farm grows produce at their Perlman Place farm, located between North Avenue and Sinclair Lane. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Alexander Harrell, production assistant, makes notes on the morning harvest at the Civic Works’ Real Food Perlman Place farm. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: A morning harvest of eggplant floats in a water. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Alexander Harrell, production assistant, tosses a butternut squash to Calvin Atkins, (not pictured) production assistant, as they pick produce at the Civic Works’ Real Food Perlman Place farm. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Alexander Harrell, production assistant, picks zucchini at the Civic Works’ Real Food Perlman Place farm. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Devin Braxton, 18, Belair-Edison, a member of the Baltimore Conservation Leadership Corps (BCLC) Farm Crew cuts weeds in an area of Civic Works’ Real Food Perlman Place farm. Braxton is one of a dozen high school students working on and learning about various urban farms. The BCLC farm crew is one of three that provide work experience for teens over a six week summer period. Plans are to put this area into production when the currently farmed section in rested. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Alexander Harrell, production assistant, picks zucchini at the Civic Works’ Real Food Perlman Place farm. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Alexander Harrell, production assistant, prepares to move recently harvested produce. On left are habanero, jalapeno and Hungarian hot wax peppers, center, midnight lightning zucchini and, right, zephyr squash. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Calvin Atkins, East Baltimore, production assistant, picks peppers at the Civic Works’ Real Food Farm. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Alexander Harrell, production assistant, picks zucchini at the Civic Works’ Real Food Perlman Place farm. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Calvin Atkins, East Baltimore, production assistant, picks peppers at the Civic Works’ Real Food Farm Perlman Place farm. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Myeasha Taylor, Pearlman Place Farm Manager, harvests eggplant at the Civic Works’ Real Food Farm. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Pickles (cucumbers) harvested at the Civic Works’ Real Food Perlman Place farm, located between North Avenue and Sinclair Lane. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Left to right, Calvin Atkins, East Baltimore, production assistant, Myeasha Taylor, Pearlman Place Farm Manager, and Alexander Harrell, production assistant, harvests crops at the Civic Works’ Real Food Perlman Place farm. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: A bumble bee collects pollen from the tassel of a popcorn plant. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

The food is distributed through the Real Food Farms Mobile Farmers Market, their booth at the 32nd Street Farmers Market, CSA shares and some Baltimore restaurants.

Myeasha Taylor, Pearlman Place Farm Manager, and production assistants Alexander Harrell and Calvin Atkins are responsible for 1.5 acres of urban agriculture at the Civic Works’ Real Food Perlman Place Farm. Atkins lives nearby and his aunt lives down the street. He was hired for the project and says, “It showed me how to garden, a better way to escape…how to care about something else.”

Baltimore’s inner city farming

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