Tucked away on South Oxford Street in Arlington, a 3,000 sqft facility operating in a former paper warehouse, is a local farm serving more than 200 people across the DMV. Meet Area 2 Farms.

I recently toured the facility and learned how this indoor farm is bringing fresh, locally grown produce to the community. Step inside, and you’re instantly greeted by the rich smell of soil and faced with the glowing light that brings these plants to life.

What is Area 2 Farms?

Founded in 2021, this community farm utilizes soil-based techniques to cultivate a diverse range of produce, including root vegetables, herbs, and leafy greens.

The farm operates on a “Move the farm, not the food” philosophy. Instead of produce traveling hundreds of miles to reach grocery store shelves, losing nutrients along the way, Area 2 Farms delivers freshly harvested crops directly to nearby communities within about 10 miles of its Arlington location.

As a USDA Certified Organic farm, it works to avoid synthetic fertilizers, genetic engineering, and other potentially harmful practices, ensuring clean and sustainable food for the community.

Here's an inside look at the mechanism that Area 2 Farms uses for its crops. | Photo by NOVAtoday

How it works

In the photo above, you’ll see the heart of the farm: a towering, slightly daunting, metal rack lined with green buckets, each holding a different crop. Adjustable lights mimic a full day-night cycle, while a built-in irrigation system ensures every plant receives just the right amount of water. Witness the magic yourself.

How to stock up

Once harvested, the produce is packaged and delivered weekly. Area 2 Farms offers three subscription options:

A 4-week harvest
A 10-week harvest
A year-long harvest

You can also purchase Area 2 Farm products through Too Good To Go, a service that provides surplus food for a discount from local businesses.

The produce you get varies week by week, allowing you to try a variety of goodies. | Photo via Area 2 Farms

What’s in my bag?

Each produce bag is filled with a rotating selection of seasonal items. The weekly menu is posted in advance, and you can skip a week if the offerings don’t suit your taste. An in-house chef also provides recipe suggestions tailored to that week’s ingredients.

Take a look at what the new Fairfax location will look like. | Photo via Area 2 Farms

Future of Area 2 Farms

This local farm aspires to continue growing not only in its garden, but also across the United States. The ultimate goal is to open one farm within about 10 miles of 90% of the population. Wondering what this would look like? A current example of a company that is doing this is Walmart.good context

The next step? Opening its Fairfax location by the end of the year at 9571 Fairfax Blvd. This location will be smaller, as this community farm does not plan to make future locations as large as the one in Arlington.

Area 2 Farms is always looking for helping hands. | Photo via Area 2 Farms

How you can get involvedthis should definitely go in the NL

Area 2 Farms is always looking for volunteers to help bring good food to the community. Sign up here to stay up-to-date on community outreach opportunities, community clean-ups, and compost management.

You can see it all in person with a farm tour, offered on the first Sunday of every month from 1 to 2 p.m. Tours include a tasting of some of the fresh produce, giving visitors a firsthand look at the farm’s bounty.