Hallie Austen Iglehart ‘65

Hallie Austen Iglehart ‘65 knows that you don’t have to know everything to share an interest with the world, “I’m no expert on urban farms,” she said, “but I am an enthusiastic advocate for them.”  So enthusiastic that Iglehart has been researching them,  and with some of her cousins created a special fund called the Urban Farm Fund to help farms with fundraising efforts. Here, Iglehart is sharing her interest and passion, In Her Words.

How would you describe urban farming to someone who has never heard of it?

Urban farming is urban farming. It's farming in an urban area, which might seem like a contradiction to some people, but it’s a really important way for people to feed themselves and improve the social and physical environment at the same time. 

In what ways is urban farming important? 

It’s beneficial to the community in many ways. It feeds people. It provides open space. It’s good for mental health. Being outdoors, being with people, growing things - all are good for the soul. Good for the community, with people coming together, working with plants, growing something and nurturing new life, is an essential activity.

There is a whole other level—one of the farms was selling food at a farmers market, to be financially independent. When COVID hit, they pivoted to providing food to the community as CSA boxes at pay-what-you-can prices. There is an important food security aspect to urban farming, especially in parts of Baltimore where people have to take two busses to get to a grocery store. 

What are the basic needs of an urban farm? 

Access to space, access to land— none of the farms that I know of own their land. They are able to lease it and use it. However, that can always be revoked, as has happened in New York City. Most of all, what urban farms need is money; they are getting some grants, but not a lot. A couple of the farms said they need money for access to land, tools, seeds, irrigation, to pay the managers. It’s a ton of work.  

It is also bringing fresh life to Baltimore on many levels.  There’s a lot of promise in urban farms.  It’s something that hasn’t been supported much and addresses many areas that need change.  It puts the power and responsibility in the hands of the community, which is really important.  And what is more basic than food? I see urban farms as a way of acknowledging the power of the community and creating space for the community to fulfill themselves. 

How did urban farming come to your attention?  

Due to the pandemic, I got a notice over a year ago about an online forum on climate crisis, which I think is the biggest crisis of our time. I thought, ‘I’m not doing anything, I can watch that.’  In one of the breakout groups, in this forum, was a Black man originally from Oakland, who had started an urban farm outside Portland called Black Futures Farm.  And that was my introduction. He spoke about the psychological and spiritual aspects of farming, how healthy it was for him and how it totally transformed his life.  Also thanks to the pandemic, some of my cousins started a reading group on racism and I knew they were interested in issues in Baltimore.  I suggested to them urban farms as a possible focus and place to donate money.  I am happy to say that we set up a fund at the Baltimore Community Foundation, called the Urban Farm Fund.  This is a fund that anybody interested in urban farms can give money to.