Nicquel Terry

@NTerryAPP

ASBURY PARK – Interfaith Neighbors is partnering with the Asbury Park Press to plant seeds for the future in this community.

The local nonprofit group is partnering with the Press to build the city's first urban farm, which organizers say will boost economic activity on the west side.

The farm site, slated for a vacant lot on Atkins Avenue adjacent to the Springwood Center, will be an expansion of the Kula Cafe, located inside the center.

The Asbury Park Press and Interfaith Neighbors will construct the Kula Urban Farm on Make a Difference Day, Oct. 25, the largest national day of community service founded by the Gannett Corporation in 1992.

But the organizations aren't doing this alone.

They are seeking about 100 volunteers to help create the urban farm. Some of those volunteers will be Asbury Park Press employees. The Press also plans to enlist the support of its community partners in APP Connections, a coalition of the Asbury Park Press and Shore area organizations aimed at supporting Asbury Park students and youths.

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The groups also are planning to host the first annual Asbury Park Harvest Festival on Make a Difference Day to celebrate the new farm and harvest season with food and activities.

"This project just seems to offer the opportunity to really make a difference on the west side of Asbury Park," said Kathi Abatemarco, human resources director of the Asbury Park Press. "The concept of an urban farm on Atkins Avenue is just incredible."

The farm site is set to have 15 raised planting beds that will start off growing leafy greens. Interfaith also is building a greenhouse on the lot that can function year-round.

Roger Boyce, director of Interfaith Neighbors' Business Development Center, said at least three of those planting beds in the front of the lot will be dedicated to educating local students and community members on gardening.

The other beds and the greenhouse are for training the Kula Cafe participants. The cafe opened in 2013 as a food industry job training program for young adults from Asbury Park who work as chefs and servers. Those participants will now learn the basic skills of gardening and maintain the farm site.

"The more skills and knowledge you have, the higher the probability you have of being employed," Boyce said. "The idea is when people have economic opportunity they seek that rather than seek other activities that aren't as helpful."

Ultimately, Interfaith Neighbors will grow other vegetables and profit off the garden through a wholesale operation where they sell to local restaurants, Boyce said. Kula Cafe will also sell the produce to its customers.

Boyce described Asbury Park as a "food desert" since most residents have to travel to other towns, sometimes in cabs and public transportation, to find fresh produce. Once the farm is 100 percent operational next year, Boyce said he hopes to be the go-to place for those residents.

"Eventually we are going to grow what the local market requires," Boyce said.

Nicquel Terry: 732-643-4023; nterry@app.com

How you can help

Interfaith Neighbors and the Asbury Park Press are seeking the following for Make a Difference Day on Oct. 25:

• Volunteers

• Carpenters

• Wood

• Soil

• Garden tools (rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows)

If you would like to donate items or volunteer, email Asbury Park Press Regional Engagement Editor Alesha Williams-Boyd at awilliams@app.com.