Raleigh City Farm

Raleigh City Farm is a nonprofit urban farm founded in 2011 on a formerly vacant 1.2 acre lot in downtown Raleigh. We believe in the power of urban farms to create healthier communities and reconnect city dwellers with healthy food production through more frequent encounters with agriculture. We believe that turning vacant lots into productive, nourishing farmland can create something from nothing – an amenity from an eyesore. We invite our community to “dig in” and advance our mission by signing up for a workshop, taking a tour, attending a special event, and volunteering to help maintain our farm site. Mission, Vision, Values•Our Team•Board of Directors•Advisory Council•Our Roots To connect and nourish our community through regenerative agriculture A healthy community supporting the next generation of farmers We are committed to the following NICE Core Values that guide the culture of RCF: Nutrition- Championing the importance of growing accessible and affordable local food. Innovation- Cultivating the entrepreneurial spirit and sustainable practices of farmers to protect and steward the land. Collaboration- Building partnerships that increase our mission impact and strengthen bonds of community and trust. Equity- Addressing the deep roots of racial and gender inequities and injustice through promoting and supporting economic equity for farmers in NC. Raleigh City Farm was founded as a place where all members of ourdiversecommunity could learn about farming. We believe in growing the next generation of farmers by connecting our community to sustainable agriculture. By this, we mean ourentirecommunity. We recognize the transformative power of cultivating the soil to promote the health and well-being of both the individual and our community. And we believe in building our community from the ground up. We commit to do our part to listen, learn, and be a part of the solution. We commit to warmly welcoming all to the Farm. We commit to being inclusive of everyone in the Triangle community and beyond. We commit to stewarding the site through sustainable, regenerative means. We commit to providing healthy food to our community and our non-profit partners who are addressing food access and insecurity. We commit to providing a beautiful space for gathering, sharing, and learning. And we commit to cultivating each other as we seek to build a more equitable and just future for all. To learn more about how you can support greater diversity and equity in farm ownership, check out these organizations: National Black Farmers Association Black Farmers & Urban Gardeners Lisa Grele Barrie, Executive Director Lisa began digging in as a volunteer since the Farm’s inception, and is passionate about sustaining this very special urban green space around the corner from her home. Her professional background encompasses over 40 years of sales, marketing and nonprofit management and she leverages all three daily to keep the Farm growing. She helped develop and lead the Farm's "New Season of Stewardship" strategy in 2020 that resulted in robust growth in plants, people and profit as well as the "Future Farms Plan & Fund" in 2024 to ensure a sustainable future. Her love of gardening was handed down by her father and blossomed after living for two years in England. Lisa was certified as an NC State Extension Master Gardener Volunteer of Wake County in 2022 and is inspired and humbled by the plant world. Maria Williford, Co-Farm Manager Mariais a regenerative fa