This report accompanies a Growing Places Indy submission in the September print edition, focusing on how volunteers make the summer programs succeed.
By Laura Henderson / Collective operations steward, Growing Places Indy
Matthew Jose has retired from farming. Matthew was a crucial part of getting farmers signed on and being there to help run the Indy Winter Farmers Market in 2008. During long hours at the market and driving around Central Indiana to visit farms, Matthew shared with me his vision for urban agriculture training to support the next generation of farmers, who would come from cities, and who would feed the city from the inside.
His vision hooked me. I didn’t know much about growing food then, but I had become active in the Slow Food Movement. I was eager to learn, and learning as I went – starting a garden at R-Bistro with Tyler, and converting our own yard into a thriving garden. When the opportunity was presented to start a garden in White River State Park, I knew it would take Matthew to make it happen.
Those turned out to be the seeds for the Slow Food Garden in White River State Park in 2010, and Growing Places Indy as an organization. Matthew brought the knowledge, skills and experience with urban farming that created the garden itself. He also brought many of the connections and relationships with regional farmers and restaurateurs that helped to form a network for urban farming apprenticeship.
After the summer of 2010, Matthew left GPI to focus on Big City Farms and later Mad Farmers Collective – growing so much food that has fed so many people and been an anchor to farmers markets in Indianapolis, including the Winter Market. Without all of Matthew’s contributions, Growing Places Indy would never have been all that it grew to be, and I believe the same could be said for urban agriculture and local food as a movement of sorts in Indianapolis.
Thank you Matthew. The seeds you planted and shared will continue to grow forward. We wish you all the best.
