Frogtown Farm and St. Catherine partnership blossoms

Frogtown Farm and St. Catherine partnership blossoms

In June of 2021, six St. Catherine University faculty members stood on the grounds of Frogtown Farm, 13 lush acres of green space in the otherwise industrialized heart of St. Paul, mesmerized by the words of co-founder Soyini Guyton as she painted the vision for this sacred space meant to cultivate soil and community. The two-week summer workshop on community-engaged teaching through the Center for Community Work and Learning inspired Ambria Crusan, PhD, RD, LD, and Rafael Cervantes, PhD, to bring their respective CORE classes back to the Farm this fall.

Profiles In Prevention -- Frogtown Park and Farm

Profiles In Prevention -- Frogtown Park and Farm

Take one part ingenuity, one part perseverance, one part community engagement, one part neighborhood dedication, and mix generously over a period of multiple years. The result? Frogtown Park and Farm.

St. Paul's unique urban farm not planting due to COVID-19

Frogtown Farm, which has grown and distributed more than 40,000 pounds of fresh produce over the past four years, will not plant or harvest a vegetable crop in 2020. Soyini Guyton, a farm co-founder and board chairwoman, said officials decided they are unable to follow protocols to sterilize equipment and maintain safe distances, and the farm refuses to put workers and volunteers at risk.

As it looks to evolve, Frogtown Farm welcomes new director

As it looks to evolve, Frogtown Farm welcomes new director

A few years ago — after 20 years with government and nonprofit agencies, including managing political campaigns — Dave Colling went back to school to study nonprofit management at Hamline University. He determined his ideal next move would pair community organizing with food, a passion he shares with his wife, their son, and even his dog.

Give to the Max Day, Minnesota’s annual ‘Giving Holiday,’ turns 10

Give to the Max Day, Minnesota’s annual ‘Giving Holiday,’ turns 10

But it’s also a give that lasts more than a day or a month or a season: The giving website, GiveMN.org, is available year-round to link people with nonprofits and schools. More recently, RaiseMN, a special initiative to help smaller nonprofits move beyond simply accepting online donations, has been launched. The nonprofits get help with goals, strategies and … fun.

Take Frogtown Farm, for example.

“We’re a fairly new organization, and it’s been helpful to get input on the work we’ve been doing,” said Frogtown Farm Executive Director Dave Colling. “We’re getting creative in our communications — telling our story and not just asking for money.”

Food, Artists, Community And Parks At Frogtown Farm

Food, Artists, Community And Parks At Frogtown Farm

Frogtown Farm was born out of anger five years ago. Jones, Minneapolis’ first Artist-in-Residence and Frogtown native, found himself getting “more and more angry” when a 300+ unit apartment building was to be built in the community open space. It took Jones, his wife, and another couple years before founding what is now a 13-acre public park with 5 acres devoted to a certified organic farm, collectively known as Frogtown Park and Farm. And it could not have been done without the support of the entire neighborhood. 

At Frogtown Farm, neighbors do a share of the work for a share of the harvest

At Frogtown Farm, neighbors do a share of the work for a share of the harvest

Nina Escriva dunked heads of a large Chinese cabbage called pak choy into a tub of water, one after another, cleaning off mud at the base so they could be bagged and set aside.

It was a sunny, cool Friday morning on Frogtown Farm in St. Paul. A group of nine workers, including volunteers and staff, moved through rows of ripe produce, harvesting buckets full of vegetables that would be distributed that evening at a local food shelf or sold the next morning at the market.

The Art of Food in Frogtown and Rondo

The Art of Food in Frogtown and Rondo

The Kresge Foundation has awarded a partnership of four St. Paul-based organizations a $200,000, two-year, Fresh, Local and Equitable Initiative grant. The grant will…

With its large urban farm, Frogtown wants to be St. Paul’s greenest neighborhood

With its large urban farm, Frogtown wants to be St. Paul’s greenest neighborhood

St. Paul’s Frogtown seeks to become the most sustainable and eco-friendly neighborhood in the city.

The neighborhood already encompasses various urban farms, parks and gardens, including Frogtown Farm, one of the largest urban farms in the country. And later this month, residents will host the Green Gathering, which has become an annual event to network and share information on gardening and urban farming activities.

Frogtown Farm receives SB52 Legacy Grant

The Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee Legacy Fund has now awarded $2 million in grants to Minnesota community projects focused on the health and wellness of kids.

On Tuesday afternoon, through its 52 Weeks of Giving campaign, the MNSBHC made a stop in St. Paul.

A $50,000 grant was awarded to Frogtown Farm to help build an outdoor kitchen and education space.

Frogtown Park and Farm

Frogtown Park and Farm

Take one part ingenuity, one part community engagement, one part neighborhood dedication and mix generously over a period of multiple years...

Parks for all seasons

Parks for all seasons

Frogtown Park and Farm, with natural and recreation areas and an urban demonstration farm...