Pay as You Go Office Planting Seeds Space Rentals of Urban Farming
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ropeller, the social innovation incubator, has expanded its offerings for small businesses and nonprofits to include a punch-card system at its 4035 Washington Avenue facility. Now in addition to renting out offices, cubicles and desk space in the communal business complex in Broadmoor, growing enterprises looking for office space can pay as they go, and hopefully grow. Somewhat like a loyalty card, instead of paying $10 for every visit, users of the space can buy a punchcard for $60, which is good for 10 visits. Alternatively, they can pay for an unlimited membership for $150 a month, which entitles them to all of the benefits of a co-working space during that time. The facility has 10,000 square feet of space with 13 private offices and 20 private desks. The large front room, which overlooks Washington Avenue, has more than 50 desk spaces available for rent. The tenants enjoy complimentary coffee and tea. Use of the conference rooms, by reservation, is another benefit, as well as printing, scanning and faxing for a small fee. Propeller, A Force for Social Change (formerly Social Entrepreneurs of New Orleans) hosts the yearly PitchNOLA at Tulane University, where individuals with good ideas have a chance to receive $5,000 to start their ventures. Propeller also facilitates the 10-month Social Venture Accelerator program for early-stage enterprises. For more information on programs and work space, visit GoPropeller.org.
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aving moved to new digs, the New Orleans Food and Farm Network(NOFFN) recently launched two new and exciting initiatives – the FarmCity Initiative and Growing Local NOLA. FarmCity, which is being developed through NOFFN’s participation in the Propeller Social Venture Accelerator program, aims at helping people access land to start a farm, community garden or other land-based project. The program will also help these aspiring farmers and gardeners with training, apprenticeships, and identifying financing and markets. On November 6, NOFFN and Recirculating Farms Coalition broke ground on Growing Local NOLA, an urban farming and food center to be located on two vacant lots in Central City, near St. Charles Avenue. The center will include a community garden with raised soil beds and fruit trees, event space, an outdoor classroom, farmers market, and an agriculture resource center. Uniquely, this project will feature waterbased techniques that do not require soil, such as hydroponics (growing plants in recirculating, nutrient-rich water) and aquaponics (growing fish and plants together in a single system where water and waste are recycled and reused). The sites are being developed in collaboration with the Gulf Coast Housing Partnership. NOFFN invites visitors to their new home at 1838 Feliciana, in the Upper Ninth Ward neighborhood, where residents interested in growing their own food can also pick up free seeds provided free of charge thanks to Ed Hume and Parkway Partners. “Exciting times indeed!” a recent NOFFN newsletter reads. “Our work is advancing the growth of urban agriculture while also helping neighborhoods reduce blight and create vibrant projects.” For more information on NOFFN, FarmCity and Growing Local NOLA, visit NOFFN.org or call 504-872-0745.
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natural awakenings
December 2013
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