Bountiful Backyards is an edible landscaping cooperative based in Durham, North Carolina.  In the last 5 years we’ve planted more than 1,500 fruit trees and berry bushes, thousands of useful plants, and dozens of organic vegetable gardens. We work throughout the Triangle with people at their homes, schools, community centers, and parks.  Our mission is to help people to grow more of their own food where they live, work, and play.

For the past year and a half, in addition to our edible landscaping work, we have immersed ourselves in urban agriculture.  On May 1st, 2010 we broke ground at Two Ton mini-farm in North East Central Durham.  This pilot project transformed a previously ordinary 1/4 acre backyard in to an abundant, productive, and beautiful mini-farm.  Two Ton provided us the means to run a sliding scale Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program for 6 households, sell produce to local restaurants, host workshops, run a summer youth program, and hold weekly workdays that generated a solid and supportive network of neighborhood gardening allies.

Now we are ready to begin our next urban farming venture at a site that is three times as large as Two Ton. There is a vacant lot in the neighborhood that we have had our eyes on for some time, and we have the opportunity to purchase it with your help. It is ideally situated on a main street across from our office, and will be visible and welcoming to all who cross its path. No tall fences here! We will build an abundant and beautiful community farm that is self-sufficient and not dependent on grants or other subsidies.

We are pursuing funding that will help make this grassroots effort have an even greater social, economic, and ecological impact on the North East Central Durham community. We know that it is possible with cooperation and the investment of time, talent, and resources to create abundance in a once empty lot and connect many more would-be urban farmers and community gardeners in the neighborhood. We plan to expand the workshops and community workdays at the site for folks to bring the knowledge back to their own homes and shared spaces.

Because we’ll own the lot, we'll be able to plant perennial fruit trees, berry bushes, medicinal and other useful perennial plants that will thrive for generations. This living inheritance will remain a community resource for decades, providing the knowledge, momentum, and plant DNA to create more gardens and gardeners.  

We’re ready to move.  We have in place solid community relationships, the necessary skills, and a strong base of interest and support.  Now we need your help to raise $10,000 in order to purchase this vacant lot so we can build a prolific garden for learning, growing, and sharing resources.

We would like to thank Alex Maness for making our video! http://www.alexmaness.com