An urban farm is coming to Louisville's Hazelwood neighborhood and taking over the former Iroquois housing site.

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An urban farm is coming to Louisville's Hazelwood neighborhood and taking over the former Iroquois housing site.The goal is to improve access to fresh, locally grown food while helping to change the landscape of the neighborhood.Collaboration from KentuckyOne Health, the Food Literacy Project and the Metro Housing Authority are converting the roughly 8.7 acres into an urban farm.Their hope is to bring that community together.“Fresh food can be scarce so learning how to get your hands dirty and cooking with fresh vegetables is essential for health,” associate director Angelique Perez said.Fresh garlic is already sprouting from the empty lot near Hazelwood ElementaryIt'll soon be transformed into an urban farm where families and local hospitals can access to fresh, locally grown food.“Focused on underlying causes of poor health and working up stream so not just helping people who are sick, but helping people be well,” Alice Bridges, with KentuckyOne Health said.The concept is twofold, to provide fresh produce to local hospitals as well as the community while creating a new market for small area growers.“Something that's been called an agri-hood where you can convert land into something productive and useful, then you can connect the community to good food and each other,” Bridges said.Vacant since 2001, the housing authority demolished the Iroquois Housing Complex, which was plagued by high crime and poor living conditions.In that area, less than 8 percent of the food options near the site are considered healthy, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.“Essentially going to project manage this, we've picked crops that are easy to grow and in high demand at the hospital,” farm consultant Ivor Chodkowski said.KentuckyOne will purchase the food produced, giving longevity to the small farmer.“For farmers we need to access these markets, and figure out how it's good for both, an institution and farmers might be involved,” Chodkowski said.To educate and reconnect the community the farm will double as an outdoor classroom for students and families.“Allowing young people to get their hands in the dirt, plant vegetables, cultivate, harvest and cook so we'll work with families in community to engage them,” Perez said.In addition to the 8.7 acres for the urban garden, 7 acres adjacent to lot have been set aside for two small nonprofits -- Louisville Grows and Gate of Hope.The Hope Garden Project is also a community garden to provide therapy, food and jobs for refugees.