Johnnie Mae Farm: Growing Healthy Families
Partner
Who is our collaborator?
Johnnie Mae Farm is a farm located southeast of Fort Wayne, designed to bring neighbors together and get to know their community. Additionally, they grow and sell fresh produce, creating access to healthy local food. In 2018, the City of Fort Wayne connected with Purdue Extension – Allen County for its agricultural expertise.
Opportunity
What needs to be addressed?
The partnership brings together Purdue Extension’s agricultural expertise with the City of Fort Wayne’s focus on community development. Together, they are building Johnnie Mae Farm into a community gathering point and model for urban agriculture in the Midwest.
Connection
How did Purdue get involved?
Johnnie Mae Farm and Purdue Extension’s dynamic partnership is shown in their education and community events, such as a commercial-quality kitchen used for cooking events. The ‘Plant, Pick, Plate’ program is offered to kids in partnership with the Dream Center. The kids participate in gardening and cooking classes to teach them about growing a garden and preparing healthy food, while parents get to sit in and learn alongside their children.
Want to engage with Purdue’s resources?