The Sky's the Limit for Blackwood Educational Land Institute
For Houston-area foodies and farm enthusiasts this year, all roads lead back to Blackwood Educational Land Institute, a 33-acre nonprofit teaching farm in Hempstead, Texas.
In October, the farm was the setting for the Houston edition of Outstanding in the Field, an event that seats hundreds of guests each season at one very long table to enjoy an inspired meal in, quite simply, the most outstanding places in the world. And Blackwood was one of them.
Then, in the official announcement for the grand opening of POST Houston, the dynamic adaptive reuse of the former Barbara Jordan Post Office in Downtown Houston, it was revealed that the 5.5-acre skypark, the largest in the nation, has dedicated one acre to what will be known as the Blackwood Skyfarm at POST Houston.
While Blackwood might be a new discovery for many this year, deeply entrenched nature lovers and educators in the region have known the names Blackwood and Cath Conlon for over 30 years. Conlon—the founder and CEO of Blackwood— and her son, Cade—Blackwood’s chef—are perhaps the clearest testament to the nonprofit’s stated vision: “to create a conscious generation for a regenerative agricultural future.”
Driven by a desire to raise “an eco-conscious individual in a sprawling concrete jungle of millions,” Conlon set off on a hero’s journey of indefatigable study, teaching and practice around regenerative agriculture, one of the most practical approaches to mitigating the effects of climate change through carbon sequestration—quite literally drawing atmospheric carbon down into healthy, vibrant soil.
Using family land as a living laboratory, Conlon employed the “If you build it, they will come” approach. She built architecturally stunning facilities, including a straw bale farmhouse, a gathering hall with rainwater harvesting, and an educational program “to model the indispensable role of regenerative food systems in all our lives.” As a working farm, venue and educational institution, Blackwood now reaches thousands a year.
For Conlon and the Blackwood staff, this is all in a day’s work— wearing multiple hats as growers, educators, makers and more. The fruits of their labor can be found in the colorful produce, sumptuous herbs and inventive agricultural goods (teas, pickles, dressings and more) they offer each week at Urban Harvest Farmers Market, Central City Co-Op and other havens for local food, as well as its unforgettable farm-to-table dinners. While the winter farm-to-table dinner installment is already sold out, sign up for their newsletter to make sure you don't miss the spring installment.
With food as its DNA, the organization’s heart is clearly that of an educator. In addition to operating its banner summer nature camp program for ages 8 to 14, Blackwood hosts area schools and groups throughout the year for interactive nature and food education—even as a show-stopping setting for private events from weddings to weekend getaways. Every guest leaves understanding a little bit more about the relationship between humankind and the land, no matter how luxurious the experience.
As it plans to launch the Skyfarm this fall, Blackwood intends to double down on its mission to model a better way of eating and living on the land while taking daily climate action. They will soon launch a capital campaign to bolster not only the Skyfarm as a model for urban agriculture but all of its educational and experiential offerings as a 21st-century farm and the established land institute for the region. Blackwood is an experience, a culture and gratefully at the heart of a local movement.
Find out more at blackwoodland.org and @blackwoodland.
