First seeds in the ground: Huron Street Farm brings Toledo's urban agriculture initiative into production

A formerly vacant lot now holds growing beds, irrigation, and the initiative's first crops

The urban agriculture initiative backed by the Vistula Foundation and United Way of Greater Toledo marked its first planting day this week at Huron Street Farm, a formerly vacant lot on Huron Street in Vistula converted over the Spring into a working farm site.

The lot, vacant for over a decade, now holds seven (7) growing beds and a full irrigation system, built on ground prepared through the Spring with the support of community members. The initiative operates the farm directly, growing tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, and two (2) types of carrots.

“Every city talks about turning vacant lots into something productive. Huron Street shows what that actually takes — a lot of soil and site work before the first seed, and a plan for where the harvest sells before anything is planted,” said Tom Waggoner, who leads the buildout.

From first site work to first planting took roughly 30 days. That build cadence now drives the initiative's planning: more sites are in view, and multiple farms will be built simultaneously as funding allows.