How do you know you live in a food desert?

Hint: There’s no place to buy veggies
By Aleece Raw

Many of you already realize that Park Hill is a food desert, with the nearest grocery store at least one mile away from at least 33% of the families that live here. Our goal is to change that by creating a Park Hill Food Hub at 35th Avenue and Albion Street.

When we opened The Garden restaurant in February and went looking for local fresh food, I learned that the entire supply is typically sold to Whole Foods. I’m thrilled Whole Foods supports local farmers and healthy foods. It’s simply a supply and demand problem. Lots of people are looking for local, fresh foods (it’s the number one trend according to National Restaurant Association surveys), but there aren’t a lot of people growing it here in Colorado in the middle of winter, especially within Denver and Park Hill.

But this isn’t just about having fresh local veggies in the middle of winter. We want to work with amazing local partner farmers and producers to provide affordable, local food to the mix: preserved foods, pantry items, pasture-raised meat and dairy, organic seeds, starters, gardening supplies and more. Ultimately, the products sold will be chosen by you, the community we serve. By creating a food buying club, we’ll let members help decide what is grown, purchased and sold as well as get access to wholesale pricing. Add to that, support for supplemental nutrition programs and alternative work currencies and we’ll have options that make sure everyone has access to good food.

My family opened our restaurant, formerly Kate’s at 35th Avenue, to provide residents of Park Hill and Denver with healthy, local, affordable and sustainable food. After four short months, we now have the opportunity to further our mission by transforming our entire block into a fresh local food hub – a place to watch fresh vegetables growing year-round, to go on a family bike ride, to rest your feet and chat with friends while admiring the golf course grounds and the charming renovated 1892 Victorian farmhouse across the street.

The parking lots are being sold by the City of Denver in a sealed auction. Bids are due July 20th. GPHC wants to ensure your voice is included in the process.

We want good food
If you are interested in the development of a greenhouse and farmstand in Park Hill at the parking lots along 35th Avenue between Albion and Ash Streets, across from the Park Hill Golf Course, please voice your support by visiting our website at thegarden-parkhill.com/foodhub.

We are also seeking passionate, smart people with relevant human and/or financial resources that can help make this concept a reality. If your heartstrings are pulling at you to learn more, please call Aleece at 303-321-5231.