In 2014, I designed, planned, and coordinated a team of volunteers from the CrossFit Somerville community to create an Urban Agriculture project.  Following the Mayor’s Urban Agriculture Initiative in Somerville, MA, we built a system including vegetable and flower gardens, a chicken coop with 6 egg-laying hens, and a bee-hive on the roof of the building.

Furthermore, we attempted to build aspects of permaculture design and sustainability into our project.  We collect rain water from the roof and use a solar pump to water the gardens, and all garden refuse is composted along with the waste and pine shavings from the chicken coop.

Finally, the project is designed to bring together the community of CrossFit Somerville in a project that could not be undertaken alone.  Volunteers were challenged to learn new skills and try new tasks, meet new people, and rewarded with fresh vegetables and eggs.