How Urban Farming Saved a Dallas Community
Bonton Farms cultivates more than fresh food in South Dallas – it’s igniting hope for an entire community.
Freethink
5 Feb, 2020
Excerpt:
In an impoverished community in South Dallas, urban farming is growing not only fresh food but new opportunities for residents. Sprouting unexpectedly from the middle of the Bonton neighborhood, Bonton Farms boasts more than 42 acres of land.
Founder Daron Babcock was drawn to this downtrodden community where he now oversees one of the largest urban farms in the United States. Walking its grounds, you’ll find a goat mansion, chicken palace, turkey village, and an organic garden.
The farm also houses a market, which doubles as a cafe and a place to purchase fresh produce. This couldn’t have been accomplished without residents in the community and support from Stand Together.
In Dallas, one of the wealthiest cities in the world, the Bonton community and 48% of its residents suffer daily from the effects of urban poverty. To name a few, Bonton residents have disproportionately high rates of incarceration, joblessness, disease, and a lack of transportation.
The rate of cardiovascular disease in Bonton is 54% higher than the rest of Dallas, and the rate of diabetes is 45% higher. Residents also suffer from a problem that’s surprisingly common in urban locations – a lack of access to fresh, healthy food that’s affordable.
