A Bright Spot in the Heart of Lynchburg

Lynchburg Grows, the city’s urban farm, is clearly one of the region’s hidden treasures. One of the organization’s goals in this new year is to bring it out of hiding and make more people aware of its presence.

The nonprofit group is located next to City Stadium and operates out of an old rose nursery. Among other things, it promotes the principles of community agriculture and sustainable living.

Taking a view of the coming year, executive director Michael Van Ness said recently, “We’re hoping that, this year, we’ll cease to be such a hidden treasure of Lynchburg … We’re ready to open our doors and show the public what we’re about.”

City Council has helped in that regard. Last month, council approved a local conservation easement that will protect the organization’s 6.8-acre property from development in perpetuity. In presenting the proposal, officials noted that Lynchburg Grows is vital to the city’s long-term vision for the area around the stadium and Rutherford Street. Plans call for the development of a comprehensive park and recreation space in the area.

Part of that will be built on property formerly occupied by Allen-Morrison Corp., which officials feared was an environmental nightmare. The state Department of Environmental Quality has since determined that the property is not as bad off as initially believed. Demolition of the building should be completed by the end of the month.

Referring to the conservation easement, Councilman Randy Nelson reminded his colleagues that “we often talk about smart growth. This piece of property sits right next to one of the key recreational facilities in the city of Lynchburg … I think it makes very good sense to get this done and get it done as soon as possible.”

Van Ness said the group is pleased with council’s approval of the conservation easement and it looking forward to furthering its partnership with the city. He pointed out that its property “is right in the middle of about 40 acres of city-owned parkland, but that it is zoned for heavy industry. “By creating this conservation easement, we’re going to keep the property from being incompatibly developed and becoming a detriment to the city.”

In showing the public what it is all about, Lynchburg Grows hopes the new year will allow it to become financially self-sufficient. It can do that through the sale of its crops. Last year, the urban farm earned enough income through sales to the public to meet 33 percent of its expenses. This year, the group would like to push closer to 50 percent self-sufficiency.

“We really feel like we’re on track to wean ourselves off donations so other groups can access those dollars,” said Van Ness.

He added that the organization is expanding into renting out space for events and selling roses grown from plantings left behind by the old nursery that operated there.

Lynchburg Grows has turned its urban farmland into a real success story that deserves the support of residents from Lynchburg and surrounding counties. Van Ness put it this way: “We want as many people as possible to enjoy this unique resource we right here in the heart of Lynchburg.”