Big Tex Urban Farms recently enlisted the help of high schoolers to develop presentations for fairgoers to help share information about urban farm systems.
Students from CityLab High School in Dallas ISD visited the 80-by-80-foot area in Fair Park, where 100 raised planting beds had grown 30,317 heads of greens as of late August.
“When they come in here, they’re seeing something growing, or they’re experiencing horticulture for the very first time,” said Drew Demler, director of horticulture at the State Fair of Texas, according to NBC 5 DFW. “As [an] … urban society, we’ve kind of lost touch with nature a little bit. We hope to kind of rekindle that.”
Big Tex Urban Farms began in 2016 and has been delivering fresh produce to local organizations and community groups ever since.
For some, the connection between urban farming and fair season might appear murky at first. However, the State Fair of Texas is an extravaganza of culinary delights, as previously reported in The Dallas Express.
Food vendors have been serving up many food options, including chili potstickers, a half-pound corndog, fried s’mores, and deep-fried candy pecan bacon bread pudding.
“Everyone needs to eat,” explained Demler. “It’s helpful to know where your food is coming from.”
Urban farming carries an important advantage in terms of sustainability, as it not only ensures city residents with a supply of fresh produce but cuts the distance between the farm and the dining table.
“It’s a lot more reliable than maybe traditional farming,” explained one of the interns, CityLab High School senior Charity Berhe, per NBC 5. “Especially with climate change and soil erosion, there’s a lot of issues with, like, the environment right now. So seasons could become more drastic, but the greenhouse will always be the same.”
This is not the only urban farming project in Dallas, however.
As previously covered by The Dallas Express, the Meadows Foundation has transformed a 1-acre former dog park in the heart of the Wilson Historic District into Liberty Street Garden. Survivors of human trafficking grow organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs to sell to local restaurants, farmers markets, and the community on their road to recovery.
CityLab High School, along with many of the other campuses in Dallas ISD, has been struggling with student achievement outcomes. During the 2021-2022 school year, only 41% of district students scored at grade level on their STAAR exams. Additionally, nearly 20% of its graduating Class of 2022 did not earn a diploma in four years despite the hard work of Dallas ISD’s dedicated educators.
