Faith & Farming for a Sustainable Future: The Urban Farm Church

In the summer of 2020, Reverend Ryan Grace and his family traveled around southeast Ohio learning about small, sustainable farms.  They tasted raw paw-paw pulp, milked a grass-fed dairy cow, and tried locally made cheese and yogurt.  What they found is that local foods are better for the planet, better for the economy, and better for people.

A year later, Reverend Grace started wondering if his church, with its 4.5 acres of land in the middle of the city, could become the site of a sustainable urban farm.  The answer was a resounding YES!  In partnership with Maize Manor United Methodist Church, the Urban Farm Church is a new kind of faith community that cares for both people and the planet in very tangible ways.

Its Mission & Vision

The mission is to create a sustainable urban farm where people center the heart, mind, body, and spirit, and serve their neighbors.  Its vision is for the Urban Farm Church to grow crops and community on the north side of Columbus by developing green space in the middle of the city, providing fresh, locally grown produce for its neighbors, modeling green farming techniques people can use in their own backyards, and building local resilience to the global crisis of climate change.

Sharing with the Community

The Urban Farm Church is a private nonprofit organization that exists to promote greater food security by offering fresh, local produce at its on-site Farm Stand, at no cost to anyone in the community.  Everyone can be part of its Farm Share Program, which offers free produce once a week during the growing season (June through October).  Anyone can join the program for free, and anyone can support it through a seasonal membership donation Support the Farm Share Program.  In the summer of 2025, the Urban Farm Church grew more than 9,000 pounds of fresh produce, giving away over 8,500 pounds onsite.

Volunteers Welcome!

There are also many volunteer opportunities, all are intergenerational and open to all ages. Farm kids work as much as they want, then have fun climbing giant mulch piles or taking a break under a shady tree.  Older adults who may not have the energy for farming can bag and give food away at the Farm Stand or help prepare or clean up after a meal.  The Urban Farm Church is a place where everyone has room to grow!

Improving the Grounds

The Urban Farm Church has also made other environmentally friendly changes to the grounds of its partner church, the Maize Manor UMC.  Besides a Community Blessing Box and a Little Free Library, there is a half-mile Story Book Trail that winds its way around the property, taking families past 22 different species of trees, a pollinator garden, native wetlands, and a wildflower prairie.  These changes encourage neighbors to make use of the property, enjoying all the benefits of spending time outdoors in the middle of the city.

The Urban Farm Church is located in the north Linden area just south of Cooke Road at 3901 Maize Road, Columbus, Ohio 43224. Learn more by visiting their website at www.urbanfarmchurch.org. And don’t forget that The Urban Farm Church is hosting the Simply Living Annual Meeting on December 18th at 5:00 pm!