the well\u2019s greenhouse. (alexia massoud)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nbreaking new ground<\/h2>\n\n\n\n dc greens opened the well in june 2022. \u201cit was really a collaboration by community members, government agencies, and nonprofit agencies who dreamt of a space where community members could come and reconnect with nature, the land, and take wellness classes,\u201d rominiyi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
washington, d.c.’s ward 8 councilmember trayon white was one of the well\u2019s largest donors, rominiyi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
councilmember white said he has been working on ways to curb food insecurity in anacostia and the well was a way of doing that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cwe\u2019re looking to bring in more grocery options to the ward, especially healthy grocery options, but it\u2019s becoming tougher. we put a lot of energy, in the last couple of years, into the well at oxon run, a state-of-the-art community farm. it\u2019s probably one of the biggest community farms in the city and in ward 8,\u201d white said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
cultivating community<\/h2>\n\n\n\n this year, march 18 marked the well’s opening week, for which there were several on-site events. there was a seed giveaway, a \u201cplant a seedling\u201d workshop, a senior lunch, tours of the well and a community volunteering day \u2014 all shared with the community through the dc greens newsletter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
rominiyi said the events had a great turnout, with attendance varying from 20 to 50 people per event. \u201copening week was great. it\u2019s really when we can get everyone excited and let the community know about all our plans for the year. we think it was a great success,\u201d rominiyi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
when entering the well, people are greeted by mimi the tree, which stands as a witness to the success of the community through the years, even in the face of adversity, rominiyi said. when the land was being excavated, the original plans were to cut the tree down. however, community members wanted to preserve this hundred-year-old sycamore oak tree as a reminder of how far the well has come, rominiyi said.<\/p>\n\n\n
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mimi the tree, placed next to the entrance gates of the well. (alexia massoud)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\u201cwe ask the community what we should grow, and we grow what they ask us to,\u201d rominiyi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
greatness on the horizon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n according to the well\u2019s farm manager, kenneth bridgers, the farm has eight growing fields scattered across the space which grow various foods such as bok choy and kale in the spring, strawberries and figs in the summer, and swiss chard, and snap peas throughout the year, among other crops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
most of the seeds are provided by johnny\u2019s seeds, a national seed provider, but members of the community can also drop off seeds at the farm\u2019s seed exchange bench, rominiyi said.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
the well\u2019s \u201cseed exchange bench,\u201d where community members can drop off and\/or take different seeds. (alexia massoud)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nthe well is not the only community farm in anacostia, according to rominiyi. however, what makes the well unique is that the staff also conducts wellness and peace programs, which engages the community in several ways, such as in the youth section of the farm, rominiyi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cwe partner with the green scheme, which brings young people to the well to use the youth garden beds, learn about environmental literacy, environmental sustainability and environmental justice,\u201d rominiyi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
another unique aspect of the well is the programming pavilion, the structure of which allows for rainwater collection during the off season. the staff treats this rainwater and uses it to water plants in the greenhouse when the well is closed to the public, rominiyi said.<\/p>\n\n\n
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the well\u2019s \u201cprogramming pavilion\u201d with built-in barrels for rainwater collection. (alexia massoud)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\u201ci\u2019ve been here since the start and we\u2019ve seen tremendous growth in engagement. we can\u2019t wait for all the great things that are happening this season,\u201d said bridgers. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
located in washington, d.c., the well at oxon run is a community farm and wellness space that grows fresh produce for the local community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30051,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4919,4896,4900,5195,4914],"tags":[],"storyfest_categories":[],"class_list":["post-41103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-agriculture","category-food","category-green-living","category-justice","category-sustainability"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
the well at oxon run is open for the 2024 season - planet forward<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n