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Newarker turns Barksdale Road yard into an urban farm

“When you invest in $5,000 of soil mix, there’s really no turning back,” Carey said.

By Matt Hooke
Newark Post
Sept 16, 2021

Excerpt:

Matthew Carey has transformed his small Barksdale Road yard into an urban farm, with the front and back yards covered with tomatoes, squash and other vegetables instead of grass.

Carey sells the produce to local restaurants and stores, as well as to everyday Newarkers.

Carey was inspired to create a farm after learning about the agricultural biotechnology corporation Monsanto, objecting to the company’s copyrights on genetic material and the possible negative health impacts of genetically modified crops.

He felt that growing his own organic food would be a great way to avoid the problems of industrial agriculture.

“You can’t present a problem without presenting a solution or else you’re just playing with your own muck,” Carey said.

The business is named Ava’s Matoes, after his daughter and her nickname for the vegetable when she was younger.

A native of Landenberg, Pa., Carey began farming a few years ago at a community garden in West Chester Pa., quickly growing a strong tomato crop. He learned a method of tomato growing, the string method, from Chef Mark Eastman, the owner of Chef’s Haven in Hockessin.

Carey moved to Newark three years ago because Ava’s mother was originally from the area.

Read the complete article here.