By Blake Jackson
Lincoln University of Missouri (LU) has joined forces with GRO Health Center (GRO) to convert vacant properties in North St. Louis into productive agricultural spaces, food businesses and community gathering places.
Through LU’s Innovative Small Farmers Outreach Program (ISFOP), the partnership provides an 11-session educational series to help residents develop sustainable agricultural projects and entrepreneurial opportunities.
“We want participants to develop projects that reflect both their own ideas and the practical needs of the community,” said Nashad Carrington, a GRO representative working directly with ISFOP on the initiative.
Launched this fall, the program covers essential topics such as soil health, crop selection, farm and garden planning, business development, and market readiness.
LU Extension professionals and small-farm specialists guide participants through the process of evaluating opportunities, planning projects, and building practical skills for successful agricultural operations.
“Our team will help participants develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to establish and maintain sustainable agricultural operations,” said Julia Thompson, an ISFOP area educator involved in the initiative. “Our goal is to help residents move beyond identifying opportunities and toward developing successful agricultural enterprises.”
The collaboration supports the GRO District, a community development initiative focused on revitalizing the historic Hodiamont Tracks corridor in Lewis Place and surrounding North of Delmar neighborhoods.
Decades of disinvestment, limited access to fresh food and declining business activity have left properties vacant in the area since the mid-1970s.
GRO aims to transform these underused spaces into opportunities for food production, entrepreneurship, and neighborhood improvement. The initiative also seeks to expand access to land stewardship, employment, and business ownership.
“The long-term goal is for residents to gain more than temporary access to programs,” Carrington said. “We want them to have lasting pathways to land stewardship, business ownership, employment, healthy food and community leadership.”
The partnership developed through collaboration between Mark Lucas, Ph.D., and the ISFOP team, alongside GRO founder and Director of Development E'Lisa Moss.
As a Lincoln University alumna, Moss emphasized the importance of connecting the project with the university’s commitment to supporting small agricultural producers and historically underserved communities.
Both organizations contribute complementary expertise, combining agricultural education with community-based development. Their shared approach emphasizes practical training, local participation, and sustainable project planning.
“Our overall objective is to connect education with action, equipping participants with the resources, confidence and technical support necessary to turn vacant land into productive agricultural spaces,” Thompson said.
Beyond agricultural production, the initiative aims to encourage local investment, create income opportunities, improve access to healthy food, and engage younger generations in agriculture.
By connecting growers, food entrepreneurs, institutions and consumers across the St. Louis region, LU and GRO hope to establish a lasting foundation for economic growth and neighborhood revitalization.
Photo Credit: lincoln-university-missouri
Categories: Missouri, Education, General