Help Dex Activate an Urban Farmhouse

Hi, my name is Decker Gabriel-Woods, and many know me as Dex Arbor. I am an urban farmer with the Omaha Sunflower Cooperative. I stepped into urban farming in 2020. Within a year of planting my first seed, I discovered I have a green thumb and became a leader in the community, inspiring people on their journey to become more self-sufficient. But now I’m ready to integrate some of my other interests and skills into the food movement.

In 2024, I am starting a housing development business called Manifest Acres. Our first project will be to create a hub for grassroots urban agriculture in North Omaha’s Orchard Hill neighborhood. For years, a single family home in the Orchard Hill neighborhood has sat vacant right next to our farm. I want to activate this house into a community farmhouse for members of the cooperative. The property will provide residence for 1-2 urban farmers with storage space to support our urban farm next door. A serene green landscape will provide a gathering site for education, celebration, and ritual.

I am asking for funds to help with the costs of starting this project and getting my business up and running. This will include purchasing the property, making renovations, permitting, inspections, and appliances. I began this project with a $1500 fellowship from SPARK and I would challenge anybody who believes in my vision to match that amount if you can! The total budget of this project is over $200,000 and I would love at least a quarter of that to come from my community.

Luckily the house that I'm hoping to purchase is in decent condition with a new roof and furnace, but it needs a few major renovations including new windows and appliances. I need to buy it soon to secure the property. I also plan to build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on the property, which has ample space for new construction. ADUs are smaller houses connected to an existing home. The ADU at the Urban Farmhouse will allow us to house an additional farmer on site.

I have to be honest. With so much suffering in the world, it feels weird to ask for money to start a real estate venture. But I know this project will strengthen the efforts of my friends and neighbors to build a self-sufficient community. Your gift will support local agriculture and help people become less reliant on corporate farming! So please donate today.

Please visit my new website to learn more about my vision and discover other ways to support! Today I am starting with one little house in my neighborhood. In the future, I hope to work on cooperative housing, eco-villages, and a just transition of our nation’s farmland to the next generation. Thank you for helping me leave a legacy of regeneration for our planet.