The 2014 Class Project: Bonton Urban Farm

Just ten minutes from our work place is one of the most underserved and isolated neighborhoods in Dallas.  Its infant mortality rate and crime rate are among the highest in the state. Bonton, with its physical isolation and concentration of poverty is literally dying from being undernourished. Malnutrition is virtually unavoidable as there is no grocery store or basic health services in the neighborhood.

The ELP Class of 2014 met with Bonton Farm-Works leadership starting in April to assist building sustainable food systems in this impoverished community.

The mission of Bonton Farm-Works is to create a replicable model to foster food sustainability through access to healthy, local organic foods, and education. Various innovative urban gardening methods will be used to create a micro-farm where the local community can come to learn to build one and to have access to food that can be harvested there.

Partnered with Manhattan Construction and Kimley-Horn, the Class is designing the plan layout for Bonton Farms which includes greenhouses, a water collection system, animal husbandry facilities, and a training center/caretakers quarter. The Class has also put together a marketing brochure that will be used to raise money.

Seeing the Bonton Farm-Works in operation and learning about the community has been inspiring experience for the Class. Here’s how you can find more about the Works.

www.goodworkscompany.com

www.facebook.com/bontonfarms

Be a part of impacting change!

Cha-Hyung Hunt, FKP Architects