Filbert Street Garden Filling Basic Needs In Curtis Bay

Curtis Bay. For decades, Curtis Bay was known as a food desert. Area residents say the lack of grocery stores and other resources in the community has made survival difficult, and many rely on community gardens.

Located in Curtis Bay, Filbert Street Gardens is a one-stop shop where locals can shop for fresh produce, enjoy free Wi-Fi and hang out with their furry friends.

“The food desert we are in cannot be underestimated. The closest grocery store in Brooklyn Park is a 40-minute walk…so residents use about two-thirds of the car. "It's very expensive to be poor," said Charles DeBarber, a livestock expert.

Therefore, this garden is free for the public. Everyone can take food from your pantry during the day.

Additionally, community members, especially children, can enjoy free Wi-Fi in the garden as Curtis Bay does not have a library.

"Only a third of our residents have internet that isn't on a phone, so we installed free internet here and made it a public access point," DeBarber said.

The community also lacks recreational activities, with organizers saying children are often seen playing in abandoned homes because the parks are unsafe, which is why workers work so hard to maintain the park.

“We pay local youth workers in the area to look after our gardens. Every spring we have open hours here, we have four days a week for four hours when it happens ... kids can pet different animals, honestly come here and play,” DeBarbar said.

The garden is designed to raise awareness by providing opportunities and support.

"Such lessons and what they learn here, that's what they do. And what I love is our administrators, who are all teenagers. Kids are literally copying them, we have trendy shirts and a certain aesthetic. It's like rangers here for them, and there are guys who want to be like that,” DeBarber said.

Plus, thanks to new legislation awaiting Mayor Brandon Scott's signature. Plots in gardens can be sold in the city. And last year, the state agreed to a bond issue that will invest thousands of dollars in landscape improvements, such as restrooms and other ADA facilities.

The park is open from May 1 to November 1, Wednesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For more information about the garden, click here.