ForGrowers

St. Louis owns thousands of vacant parcels through its Land Reutilization Authority (LRA). Programs exist to transfer land to growers for $1, and to subsidize water hookups for farms — but you have to ask.

• Identify a parcel on the LRA online map.
• Apply through the LRA's garden lease or purchase program.
• Pair your land application with a water-access request through the city's urban-ag office.
• Loop in Heru Urban Farming, GFGP, or A Red Circle for technical guidance — you don't have to navigate alone.

Food hubs aggregate produce from multiple small growers into one delivery — making it possible to sell to large institutional buyers (school districts, hospital cafeterias, grocers) without a 50-acre farm.

• Connect with regional aggregators like Known & Grown STL or Food Outreach partners.
• Get GAP-certified or food-safety-trained — many institutions require it.
• Pre-contract acreage in winter so you know what's sold before you plant.

Apprenticeships are how knowledge stays in community. Paid apprenticeships for young people, returning citizens, and new immigrants build the next generation of growers — and qualify your farm for additional funding streams.

• Partner with a workforce program (e.g., MERS Goodwill, St. Patrick Center, SLPS career pathways).
• Set hourly pay above local minimum — many grant programs reimburse wages.
• Document curriculum so apprenticeships count toward credentials.

Most ag extension programs were not designed for urban, immigrant, or Black farmers. Co-designing TA — peer-to-peer training, in-language workshops, culturally relevant crops — closes the gap.

• Join or form a grower co-op for shared compost, tools, and TA.
• Bring TA requests directly to MU Extension and the city's urban-ag office.
• Document what works — your data shapes the next round of grants.