Website: http://the6thbranch.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the6thbranch/
Email: colinlyman@the6thbranch.org
About our Farm
The 6th Branch is a veteran led nonprofit that was founded in 2010 as a community service club that has evolved into the nonprofit we are today. The basic mission of The 6th Branch is to revitalize abandoned green spaces and transform them into productive spaces for the community.
In 2013, The 6th Branch worked alongside the Baltimore Oliver Community Association to turn a vacant lot into a community farm. Over the years, The 6th Branch has continued to care for the site, expanded the orchard, built one high tunnel, and grown thousands of pounds of free food for the Community. The Oliver Community Farm operates just under 1/6th of an acre of bed space.
After the great success of the Oliver Community Farm, The 6th Branch continued to grow their farming endeavors and partnered with ReBuild Johnston Square Neighborhood Association to start the Johnston Square Farm and Garden in 2019. This site in Johnston Square has focused on creating beautiful traditionally landscaped and naturalistic plantings for the Community in addition to growing food. In 2022, The 6th Branch continued to expand the orchard at that site as well. The Johnston Square Farm and Garden operates just over 1/10th of an acre of bed space.
Farmer Profile: Colin Lyman
Colin Lyman grew up in Columbia, MD and attended Stevenson University until graduating in 2012. During his time there he stumbled upon The 6th Branch and has been a member of the team ever since. When asked to be a VISTA for The 6th Branch to work on the Oliver Community Farm (OCF) he gladly accepted and has been learning to farm ever since it got started in 2013. Since Liz’s arrival to the team, Colin has become the new Urban Canopy Program Manager and continues to manage the volunteering opportunities at both farms.
Farmer Profile: Liz Lamb
Liz Lamb, joined The 6th Branch in late spring of 2022 as Community Farming Program Manager and manages both farm sites. She started farming in Baltimore City in 2017 at Whitelock Community Farm, while participating in the FH CASA Beginner Farmer Training Program. For a few years she worked at Butterbee Farm, a cut-flower wholesale operation in the County. Back growing vegetables in addition to flowers and building relationships with the Communities of east Baltimore, she couldn’t be happier.
Where we grow:
Oliver Community Farm is located at 1600 Ellsworth St.
Johnson Square Farm and Garden is located just south of Greenmount Cemetery at 1310 Hillman St.
Baltimore, MD 21213
Where we sell:
We host one free market night at each farm most weeks of the month except for the nights when the community associations meet. We also donate food twice monthly to The Baltimore Redevelopment Action Coalition for Empowerment, BRACE.
Other Programming
The 6th Branch works in 12.5 acres of space in four East Baltimore communities and three public schools to provide green space development envisioned by the community leaders. We also provide strategic and project support to these three neighborhood schools.
Volunteer With Us!
Please reach out to Colin Lyman, Program Manager, at colinlyman@the6thbranch.org to get involved. We are able to take groups and individuals with little to no farming experience
