DC Fire Station E-26

Engine 26 was Everybody Grows’ first garden site and continues to be our largest space, containing ten raised garden beds! At E26, we host school groups and organizations in order for them to learn about urban growing. Growing a significant variety of veggies, the produce is primarily used by the firefighters and emergency personnel who live and work out of this busy station. There is also a productive three-bin compost system on site.

Our History with E26

We have built relationships with the firefighters here, and have had several dinners and community events together every season.

Engine 26 played a starring role in our short film.  Thanks to Captain Thomas for organizing this with us, and to firefighter/chefs Mike and Eric for cooking with us in the film.

In June 2016, Tricia McCauley from Leafyhead Lotions and Potions led a first aid medicinal herb workshop for the firefighters and guests.  She taught about how to use herbs growing in the garden to treat injuries.

In the fall, DC Parks and Recreation donated the three bin Compost Knox system constructed by our friends at Urban Farm Plans.  We are composting food scraps from the station to support the garden.

In the spring of 2017, we added three new garden beds with volunteer groups from Howard University and Sidwell Friends school.  Our staff member Ariel Rubens installed drip irrigation on all eight beds.  These changes will greatly increase the productivity of the farm, and will allow us to create many delicious baskets of fresh food for the firefighters.

In 2020, during the Covid-19 shutdown, we have produced an abundance of produce that is going to firefighters on site as well as part of food boxes to families from a local Fort Totten school.