Business Details
Urban Agriculture Education & Community Farming in Columbia, MO
Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA) is a community-driven nonprofit dedicated to enhancing public health through urban agriculture and hands-on education. Founded on the belief that access to fresh food and agricultural knowledge transforms lives, we operate two primary locations: Columbia's Agriculture Park and the Mark and Carol Stevenson Veterans Urban Farm. Our programs, including Opportunity Gardens, Veterans Urban Farm, and Youth Education initiatives, provide practical gardening skills, fresh produce donations, and therapeutic opportunities for diverse populations.With over a decade of experience, our team combines expertise in regenerative agriculture, community outreach, and educational programming to address food insecurity and promote sustainable practices. We maintain authoritativeness through partnerships with local institutions like the Truman VA Hospital and Columbia Public Schools, ensuring our services remain transparent, community-focused, and grounded in measurable impact.
Services
Opportunity Gardens
Veterans Urban Farm
Planting for the Pantry
Youth Education
Food Forest Tours
Farmacy Market
Gardening Workshops
Volunteer Programs
Educational Resources
Community Events
Highlights and features
- We offer free gardening workshops and mentorship programs for home growers.
- Our veterans' farm provides therapeutic gardening and job training partnerships.
- We donate 100% of harvested produce to local food pantries and VA hospitals.
- Our youth programs integrate agriculture education with health and environmental awareness.
- We maintain public demonstration gardens and food forests for community learning.
Services
Opportunity Gardens
This program provides materials, mentorship, and gardening education for low-income individuals. Participants gain hands-on experience growing their own produce while learning sustainable practices. The initiative addresses food insecurity through practical skill development and community support networks.
Veterans Urban Farm
A specialized farm offering job training, therapeutic gardening, and community events for veterans. Partnerships with the Truman VA Hospital enable tailored support programs that combine agricultural therapy with social connection opportunities for military veterans.
Youth Education
Educational initiatives connecting children to food systems through hands-on activities. Programs emphasize environmental stewardship, nutrition education, and agricultural science through school partnerships and public events at the Agriculture Park.
Food Forest Tours
Guided tours of our edible landscape featuring fruit trees, berry bushes, and native plants. Visitors learn sustainable landscaping techniques, plant identification, and harvest practices while exploring our demonstration food forest during monthly public events.
Farmacy Market
Free farmers market distributing locally grown vegetables to veterans at the Truman VA Hospital. This seasonal program provides fresh produce grown by veterans for veterans through weekly markets operating May through November.
Questions
Can CCUA teach me how to grow food or help me start a garden?
Yes! Join our workshops, participate in the Opportunity Gardens Program, or volunteer to learn practical gardening skills.
Do you have programs specifically for veterans?
Yes! Our Veterans Urban Farm offers volunteering, therapeutic programs, and special events for veterans in partnership with the Truman VA.
Does CCUA sell or donate the food it grows?
All produce is donated to hunger relief organizations like the Central Pantry and Truman VA Hospital programs.
How can I volunteer with CCUA?
Sign up for individual shifts, organize group volunteering, or participate in drop-in gardening opportunities at our farms.
How do I make a donation to support CCUA's work?
Donate securely online at ColumbiaUrbanAg.org/Donate or mail checks to PO Box 1742, Columbia MO 65205.
Will CCUA come to my school for an educational presentation?
Yes! Our staff educators can visit schools or clubs for presentations about urban agriculture and gardening.
Videos
Reviews (4)
Sara Esse
Oct 05, 2019
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A volunteer was quite rude to me at the last hootenanny. I asked for a trash can (to my knowledge wax paper is not compostable/biodegradable). She responded in a terse tone, "we don't have a TRASH CAN" as if even the idea disgusted her. I don't plan on going back.
Gregory Kirchhofer
Nov 02, 2018
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Come Volunteer!!! CCUA grows and provides fresh local produce and eggs to the central Missouri food pantry (18,000 lbs in 2017). CCUA also assists Columbians plan and implement vegetables gardens at their own homes as well as conducting educational programs for community members.
Caroline
Jul 26, 2018
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A great resource for the community. The staff and volunteers are incredibly helpful to people trying to learn more about gardening, urban chickens and sustainability. They have fantastic programs aimed at teaching refugees and low-income families how to raise produce so that they can have better access to fresh, healthful food. Much of the produce they grow on the farm is donated to the local food bank.
Rhett H.
Aug 22, 2010
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This is the spot of the farm for the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, whose office is actually at 214 Saint Joseph St. So it's where the dirt is. Literally and figuratively. On Mon/Wed/Fri they have a vegetable sale, 4-8ish, or until they run out. They have herbs, squash, greens, etc. And it's cheap. They even take EBT. The farm also has chickens on site, and they occasionally give classes, recently (summer 2010) they had a demonstration for culling chickens. Not for the urban squeamish. There is also a lot of composting going on, and they have that worm-composting, too
