The CWE Farm is celebrating 10 years and
10,000 families fed!

The Central West End (CWE) Farm will celebrate its 10-year anniversary with an online fundraiser to benefit local food pantries on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22. 

Arthur Culbert, Ph.D., and Nancy Culbert, M.A., are the founders of the urban farm, located at 5057 Waterman Blvd. in St. Louis. They have a goal of raising $10,000 to support local food pantries and have donated the first $1,000 toward the goal.

“Right now, our local food pantries are working harder than ever to serve the growing number of families in need during the pandemic. We can think of no better way to celebrate 10 years of serving the community and to honor our mission than by bringing people together in support of feeding our neighbors,” said Arthur Culbert.

Donations to this fundraiser can be made online beginning April 22 at the donation link above. The event will continue until the goal has been reached or exceeded.

As we approach the anniversary of our tenth growing season we want to thank the myriad of volunteers that have helped feed more than 10,000 families this past decade. As Nancy and I step back from the day to day operations of the CWE FARM, we would like to introduce the new farm managers Lee Cagle and Julia Woodard. These woman are competent, compassionate and committed to our original mission of helping to feed the hungry in our community. Join me in wishing them well as we know they will continue to do an incredible job. 

The Farm

Walking to work one morning, Arthur got an idea as he passed the empty lot located at 5057 Waterman Boulevard—what a great place for a community garden. The lot had been vacant for almost 15 years, ever since the apartment buildings located on the property were destroyed by fire. 

When approached, the owner of the land gave permission to use this beautiful vacant lot to build a community garden;  we in turn promised not to open a car wash using the water the owner so generously provided.  A partnership was formed that day with the property’s owner,  built on trust to maintain the land with the highest respect at all times. Unique to our urban community farm is our Gift Garden that gifts all the vegetables and fruits  to food pantries—not even tastes for those who work and volunteer. 

The Central West End Farm broke ground on Earth Day in 2011.  We will celebrate our ten year anniversary on April 22, 2020.  During these years, the farm has delivered 12,000 pounds of fresh organic vegetables and fruit to our two community food  pantries weekly May through November. Our Gift Garden in 2017 helped feed 2,500 families. The Central West End Farm is an important resource within the community  to help eliminate  hunger through urban farming 

Saturday morning is harvest day and special at the farm.  Help begins to arrive after 7:30 am.;  neighbors, families, STL Village members and many more. Depending on the time of season as much as 120 pounds of vegetables and fruits can be harvested in as little as 90 minutes. If you are interested in volunteering your time to this wonderful service click here!

Help us feed St. Louis by donating to the CWE Farm today!

Video producded by: Nomadic Frames // Vân Nguyen & Morgan Paar

Learn more about the Central West End Farm!