Bladensburg Road Grows a Little Greener with Little Wild Things

W.S. Jenks & Son Hardware (910 Bladensburg Road NE) announced yesterday that Little Wild Things, an urban farming operation that specializes in microgreens, shoots, and edible flowers, will set up shop in an unused portion of the Jenks building (906 Bladensburg Road NE). The full press release appears below, but this is an exciting development in that builds on the presence of Cultivate the City's H Street Farms, located on the roof of Jenks. It's also a welcome addition to the stretch of Bladensburg Road NE that separates Trinidad from Carver-Langston. On the stretch was once known largely for used car lots and automotive repair shops, some have floated the idea of revitalization as a sort of garden district.

Jerry Siegiel, president of Jenks, explained “Given the success we have had with Cultivate the City on our roof, the opportunity to add another urban farm to our building was a natural fit.” He added “We enjoy our role in the neighborhood, and we like bringing other businesses into the fold. Particularly, unique business like these farms that not only provide goods and services, but also a blueprint for sustainable living practices.”



Little Wild Things sells its harvest to DC area restaurants, and creates edible arrangements for weddings and other events. But LWT also sells to home chefs. You can find their products in some local stores, and they also offer online purchase with home delivery in the greater DC area through a courier. Little Wild Things is set to move into their new space next month.
Press release:

LITTLE WILD THINGS TO MOVE TO JENKS BUILDING ON BLADENSBURG ROAD

WASHINGTON – Today, W.S. Jenks & Son (Jenks) and  Little Wild Things Farm announced they will be partnering to expand Little Wild Things’ urban farm business at 906 Bladensburg Road. Little Wild Things is scheduled to move in August of this year and will have their own separate entrance on Bladensburg Road. Little Wild Things was founded in 2014 by Mary Ackley. The woman-owned business got their start in the basement of The Pub and the People, a popular Bloomingdale-Eckington neighborhood bar, and more recently has been operating out of the Union Market District Since 2017. As the premier grower of microgreens, shoots, and edible flowers in Washington D.C., Little Wild Things serves many restaurants, bars, hotels, groceries, farmer’s markets, and home chefs throughout the city and has grown a reputation of being the gold standard in urban farming.

“We are excited about taking underused space in our building and adding a very successful local business to the H Street Corridor. As development continues up and down Bladensburg Road, bringing established local businesses to the neighborhood will go a long way in making Bladensburg Road an economic hotspot in our city,” said Jerry Siegel President of Jenks. “This is also a signal that Bladensburg Road is a place that can attract new businesses, an exciting prospect for everyone in this area.”

Little Wild Things will be the second urban farm in Trinidad, with Cultivate the City operating one floor above them on 906 Bladensburg Road. “Given the success we have had with Cultivate the City on our roof, the opportunity to add another urban farm to our building was a natural fit,” said Siegel. “We enjoy our role in the neighborhood, and we like bringing other businesses into the fold. Particularly, unique business like these farms that not only provide goods and services, but also a blueprint for sustainable living practices.”

“We are excited to make our home in the H St. corridor, a vibrant area that allows us to increase the size of operation, while staying close to many of our customers. Moving here is an ideal fit for us and will lead to new and exciting partnerships with other local businesses in the neighborhood,” said Ackley. “Northeast DC is a booming area; we enjoyed being a part of the growth in Union Market, and we are eager to be a part of this blossoming community.”

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Established in 1866, W.S. Jenks & Son is Washington’s oldest hardware store. Specializing in tools, machinery, paints, housewares, and hardware, Jenks is DC’s one-stop shop for all your home improvement needs.