Eco City Farms seeks PGCPS partnership for Bladensburg community garden near Port Towns Elementary

Eco City Farms CEO Margaret Morgan Hubbard and Deputy Director Kayla Agonoy presented a community-garden and outdoor learning project adjacent to Port Towns Elementary in Bladensburg during the Feb. 18 Climate Change Action Plan Ad Hoc Committee meeting.

The project, funded in part through a Green Space Equity Grant, envisions a 10,000-square-foot garden that combines youth learning plots and community garden beds and includes composting and a summer youth employment program. Hubbard said the group has secured Park and Planning land under a 15-year use agreement but identified a small, adjacent piece of school property and water access that are necessary for the full design to proceed.

"Our slogan is we grow great food farms and farmers," Hubbard said, summarizing the nonprofit’s mission and educational focus.

Presenters asked PGCPS staff to help secure an MOU and access to water from the school for irrigation; board and staff members repeatedly noted water access as a common logistical barrier for school gardens. Board member Amy Olivo, whose district includes the site, said she and school stakeholders — including science teachers and the principal — were strongly supportive and confident the logistical issues could be resolved.

Eco City Farms outlined that the project is intended to function as both an adjacent community garden and a school-facing outdoor classroom (the plan includes youth plots and adult community plots). Presenters emphasized connections with CTE and environmental education programs and said the garden would be used for curricular activities, workforce training and community engagement.

Next steps: Eco City Farms and PGCPS staff will pursue follow-up meetings to resolve MOU and water-access details and to coordinate timing and scope for site improvements and curriculum integration.